Description
Norton 1936 Model 40 “International” 348 cc OHC single.
The Norton Inter story started as far back as 1927, when Walter Moore (formerly the Douglas chief designer) created the first Norton overhead camshaft engine with bore and stroke dimensions of 79×100 mm, giving 490 cc capacity.
Straight from the drawing board it provided Alec Bennett with a TT victory in 1927.
Known as the CS 1 (Camshaft Senior one) it was listed as a production machine for the 1928 season.
The smaller 348 cc version ( 71×85 mm) was known as the CJ (Camshaft Junior).
By 1930 Moore had left to work for NSU in Germany and for the TT that year Arthur Carroll , his successor at Bracebridge Street, redesigned the camshaft engine.
With this design Norton started its incredible run of success in road racing.
For the 1932 season two types of road going race replicas were listed as the “ International” in 348cc and 490 cc capacities.
These machines were equipped with Amal TT carburettor, racing magneto and close ratio four speed gearbox with foot control.
Year by year small improvements were made.
Detail modifications for 1936 were: slightly more ground clearance, steering damper fixed directly to the frame for more rigidity and a front brake adjuster that could be operated while the machine was in motion.
Later in the thirties the Inter got hairpin valve springs and after the war “Roadholder” telescopics and plunger rear suspension were added.
This Norton was acquired to participate in demo rides on race tracks and demos such as Coupe Moto Legends at Dijon, the Chimay race track in Belgium and other race tracks.
The bike features most of the period options a private rider could obtain from Norton’s racing department in Brace Bridge Street in 1939 when ordering a 40 M.
It has the very much sought after “large fin, bronze cast-in combustion chamber” cylinder head with downdraught inlet track.
Other features include:
– Special central oil feed to camshaft
-Amal RN TT “Remote Needle” race carburettor
-BTH racing magneto with platinum contact breaker points
-All electron (magnesium alloy) crank cases, rocker box and ignition timing cover
-Racing camshafts, high compression piston, Manx connecting rod, max 7200rpm
-Open primary transmission with 4 plate lightened race-clutch
-Close-ratio 4 speed gearbox with (long) Manx first gear (longer gearing ratio’s being stamped on dolls head gearbox)
-Magnesium conical 8″ Manx brake with racing levers
-Manx forks: narrower, with typical cylindrical compensation springs and André type steering damper
-Light alloy mudguards (incl. tax disk clip on front guard for the Isle of Man)
-Long Manx style clutch and brake levers
-Open megaphone, (107db at Chimay)
-Scalloped frame mounting lugs (only magnesium engine equipped bikes had this feature when they left the factory)
-Magnesium brake plate on conical front brake which is original and unaltered
-Manx type (narrower) girder fork with its specific compensation springs
-Typical pre-war Inter steel tank with “pie crust” reinforcement
-Oil tank with opening on left side of the bike as specified on racing type Nortons
-The cylinder has an embossed “B” at the base which could imply that it’s a Francis Beard tuning part being added during the life of the bike. Very special and nice detail!
-All nuts and bolts stainless steel with correct British treads and lightened where possible
The vehicle was restored over a period of 4 (!) years by Mr Stuart (“STU”) Rogers, well known as the International specialist.
It is in very good mechanical and cosmetic condition with some signs of use from the last years.
The paintwork has been done in nitrocellulose paint as was standard for 1939.
This bike was displayed at the special Manx exhibition at the Stafford Show in 2011.
Engine and gearbox were completely checked some 2 years ago.
New hairpin valve springs were fitted as a precaution.