Live in-person sales aren’t the only way to bid at auctions. Car & Classic is a sales website mainly aimed at classic cars but it also has a large motorcycle section with regular online auctions. This 1974 John Player Norton 850cc Commando is on sale there right now.
It’s a limited edition model of around 200 celebrating the successful Norton racing team of the early 1970s that was sponsored by John Player Special cigarettes – the Lotus F1 team was also sponsored by the same brand.
The riders were Norton engineer Peter Williams and professional racer Dave Croxford. They had two good years in 1972-73, winning three races in the annual Transatlantic Trophy, a Formula 750 TT in the Isle of Man, the British 750cc Championship (Croxford) and MCN Superbike Championship (Williams).
The Commando up for auction is a 1974 model, registered in 1975, and in ‘highly original condition with all the key John Player Norton parts present and correct’, according to the auctioneer.
John Player Norton 850cc Commando
The auctioneer continued: “The current owner has been a fastidious custodian of this rare motorcycle to the point of even removing and preserving the now unobtainable black chromium exhausts and silencers. This fine motorcycle is in an eminently useable condition and ready to use and enjoy immediately.”
The current owner (now seller) acquired the motorcycle in 2015 from specialist dealers Spinning Wheel Classics in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. They serviced and lightly recommissioned the motorcycle before delivery, when the odometer was reading 35,090 miles.
Apparently, the Norton has since been garaged and diligently maintained, with very little use – just 100 miles.
There is a ‘good level of paperwork’ with the Norton including the V5 in the name of the current owner. The Norton is categorised as a Historic Vehicle so it is MOT and VED exempt in the UK.
Various earlier MOT copies are included in hard copy, plus an original John Player Norton riders’ manual. A letter is included from the Norton Owners Club providing additional provenance.
STOP PRESS: The auction ended at £13,500 with the reserve not met. There were 19 bids.
