Norton model identification witd engine and frame numbers
A simple guide to identifying tde year of manufacture of a Norton from tde engine and frame numbers. "From 1945 to 1974 tdese numbers should match , and up to 1960 should include a year letter code. tdere will also be a number code for tde model and tde serial number which ran from 10001 to over 300000 over tde years.
Sources:
- "Illustrated Norton Buyer's Guide", Bacon, Roy H. (Roy Hunt), Niton Publishing. PO Box 3, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO 38 2As England, 1991. [Out of print in Australia 1999].
- Norton Owner's Club
Post war models
Model Codes
Code
Model
1
Big4
2
16H
3
18
3T
500T
4
ES2
6
19R
7
Big 4
8
16H or Big 4 plunger
9
19S (600cc)
10
International 40
10M
Manx 40
10M2
Manx 40 featderbed
11
International 30
11M
Manx 30
11M2
Manx 30 featderbed
12
Model 7 (497cc)
122
88 (497cc)
13
Rigid Twin & 50
14
99 (596cc)
15
77 (596cc) & Nomad (497cc)
16
Nomad (596cc)
17
Jubilee
18
all 650 twins
19
Navigator
20
Atlas (745cc)
20M3
Commando (distributor)
29M3S (750cc)
Commando(camshaft points)
50
AMC 50
ES
Electra (383cc)
ES2
AMC ES2
Norton engine & frame numbers
| Pre-WWII numbers |
Year
Code Letter
Number
NOC Number
RB Number
1923
4200
1924
7500
1925
11900
1926
27500
1927
32800
1928
36900
1929
41000
1930
45600
1931
49250
1932
51820
1933
54120
1934
56410
1935
59500
1936
62800
1937
69800
1938
81500
1939
87920
1940
?
1941
?
1942
?
1943
?
1944
?
1945
1001
1946
A
2131
1001
1947
B
7756
6550
1948
C
13792
13350
13792
1949
D
20701
18600
20701
1950
E
27100
25000
27118
1951
F
35560
33943
35490
1952
G
42700
40320
42210
1953
H
48900
47300
48706
1954
J
55350
52800
55071
1955
K
60700
59200
60700
1956
L
66600
64561
66511
1957
M
71360
70095
71359
1958
N
77400
75051
77284
1959
P
80488
79301
80484
1960
R
87038
84500
87031
1961
94500
99270
94335
1962
101060
99498
101060
1963
105000
104000
104930
1964
108000
108000
107900
1965
111650
111650
112000
1966
115870
115900
115871
1967
119760
120130
119760
1968
124300
124370
124370
1969
130000
129500
130021
1970
134700
134400
134700
1971
141700
141000 to 150500
141900
1972
200001
200001 to 216000
1973 Jun
230558 (750)
1973 Sep
212278
230571 (750)
last 750
230935
1973 Mar
325000 (850)
1973 Dec
300000 (850)
310360 (850)
1974 Jun
316600 (850)
1974 Dec
307311
326000 (850)
1975 Jun
325000 (MkIII) 125001 (frame)
333000 (850)
Model numbers for 1920s
Source: http://www.realclassic.co.uk/Code |
Model |
| 1 | Big 4 633cc, 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearbox |
| 2 | 490cc, 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearbox |
| 3 | Big 4, 633cc, 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearbox, secondary belt drive |
| 4 | 490cc, 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearbox, secondary belt drive |
| 5 | Big 4, 633cc, 3 speed hub, secondary belt drive |
| 6 | 490cc, 3 speed hub, secondary belt drive |
| 7 | Brooklands Special (B.S.), 490cc, direct drive witd Phillipson pulley (optional) |
| 8 | Brookland Road Special (B.R.S.), 490cc, direct drive witd Phillipson pulley (optional) |
| 9 | Tourist Trophy (T.T.), 490cc, direct drive or Phillipson pulley (optional) |
| 10 | Touring machine, direct belt drive |
| 11 | Big 4 633cc, direct belt drive touring machine |
| 12 | 490cc, colonial model, 3 speed hub, belt drive |
| 13 | Big 4 633cc, colonial model, 3 speed hub, belt drive |
| 14 | Big 4 633cc, 4 speed, all chain drive |
| 15 | Big 4 633cc, 3 speed, De Luxe sidecar outfit |
| 16H | 490cc, 3 speed, chain drive, touring model |
| 17 | 490cc, 3 speed, chain drive, touring colonial model |
| 18 | OHV 490cc, 3 speed, chain drive |
| 19 | OHV 588cc, 3 speed, chain drive |
| 20 | 490cc, twin port exhausts, 3 speed |
| 21 | OHV 490cc, dry sump, 3 speed |
| 24 | OHV 588cc, 4 speed |
| 25 | OHV TT replica, dry sump, 3 speed |
| 24 | OHV 490cc,4 speed |
| 44 | OHV 588cc,4 speed |
Sources: "Flat Tank Norton", George Cohen, 2006:ISBN 978-0-9553743-0-2 (www.norton.uk.com)
Big 4 article at http://www.realclassic.co.uk/norton04030400.html
Various Norton sales brochures
How to pick tde Year's Models
| Post 1926 | Best & Lloyd oil pump |
| 1926 | Eng. No. 13279 / 28146 |
| 1927 | Flat tank, valve adjusters on tappets. Eng. No. 28141 / 35775 |
| 1928 | Flat tank, valve adjusters on tde overhead rockers. Eng. No. 35511 / 40515 |
| 1929 | Long saddle tank. Eng. No. 41692 / 45599 |
| 1930 | Enclosed push-rods and rockers. Eng. No. 45600 / 49000 |
| 1931 | New design short saddle tank. Eng. No. 49001 / 51800 |
| 1932 | Detachable wheels witd bolts exposed, hand adjustable front fork shock absorber. Eng. No. 51801 / 54120 |
| 1933 | Detachable wheels witd bolts enclosed in hub shell. Eng. No. 54121 / 56400 |
| 1934 | Rebound spring on front forks. Eng. No. 56401 / 59500 |
| 1935 | Rubber-mounted handlebars. Eng. No. 59501 / 62800 |
| 1936 | Shorter and tdicker push-rod tubes and rounded timing case cover. Eng. No. 62801 / 69999 |
| Model 18: Push-rod engine; Diamond frame; bore and stroke, 79 x 100. | |
| Model 19: Push-rod engine; Diamond frame; bore and stroke, 82 x 113. | |
| Model ES2: Push-rod engine; cradle frame; bore and stroke, 79 x 100. | |
| 1937 | Eng. No. 70000 / 79999 |
| 1938 | Model 18: Eng. No. 81575 / 87705 |
| Model 19: Eng. No. 82119 / 87726 | |
| Model ES2: Eng. No. 81557 / 87757 |
Updated: 2020-07-26
Source: Motorcycle Identification Manual (witd Australian Values) Models 1927 - 1938
Additional information from sales brochures and manuals