Industry | Motorcycle manufacturer |
---|---|
Founded | 1990 in Wiltshire, England |
Founder | Bernie Allen |
Defunct | 1994 |
Headquarters | , United Kingdom |
Products | Norton Manx replicas |
Allen Norton is a defunct British company that supplied replicas of 350 and 500 cc Norton Manx road racing motorcycles. [1] [2] The company was run by Bernie Allen in Great Bedwyn, near Marlborough, Wiltshire. [3]
The company started to build replicas of the famous Norton Manx racers in 1990, [1] based on the final 1961 Manx. [4] Allen had been given the rights in 1989 after the death of Norton tuner Ray Petty and had received special permission to use the name "Norton" in England. [1]
Except for the magnetos, all the components used were of new manufacture. [3] The engines were supplied by Summerfield Engineering of Derbyshire, [1] [4] the frames came from Goodman Engineering and were made from Reynolds 531 tubing. [4] The machines were fitted with a 5-speed gearbox [4] and a belt primary drive. [3] (The originals used a 4-speed gearbox and chain primary drive.) [5] Although the original Manx machines were pure racers, Allen fitted a speedometer, horn and brake light so the machines could be ridden on the road. [3]
The machines were renowned for their quality. [1] Former Norton race engineer and designer Doug Hele commented on the Allen machines "They are better than when we made them". [4]
Production numbers were low. Allen delivered the first machine in 1992, but was only able to build one every two weeks. He was 61 years old at the time. [3] In 1994, the manufacturing rights passed to Preston, Lancashire engineer, Andy Molnar. [6]
Industry | Motorcycle manufacturer |
---|---|
Founded | 1990 in Wiltshire, England |
Founder | Bernie Allen |
Defunct | 1994 |
Headquarters | , United Kingdom |
Products | Norton Manx replicas |
Allen Norton is a defunct British company that supplied replicas of 350 and 500 cc Norton Manx road racing motorcycles. [1] [2] The company was run by Bernie Allen in Great Bedwyn, near Marlborough, Wiltshire. [3]
The company started to build replicas of the famous Norton Manx racers in 1990, [1] based on the final 1961 Manx. [4] Allen had been given the rights in 1989 after the death of Norton tuner Ray Petty and had received special permission to use the name "Norton" in England. [1]
Except for the magnetos, all the components used were of new manufacture. [3] The engines were supplied by Summerfield Engineering of Derbyshire, [1] [4] the frames came from Goodman Engineering and were made from Reynolds 531 tubing. [4] The machines were fitted with a 5-speed gearbox [4] and a belt primary drive. [3] (The originals used a 4-speed gearbox and chain primary drive.) [5] Although the original Manx machines were pure racers, Allen fitted a speedometer, horn and brake light so the machines could be ridden on the road. [3]
The machines were renowned for their quality. [1] Former Norton race engineer and designer Doug Hele commented on the Allen machines "They are better than when we made them". [4]
Production numbers were low. Allen delivered the first machine in 1992, but was only able to build one every two weeks. He was 61 years old at the time. [3] In 1994, the manufacturing rights passed to Preston, Lancashire engineer, Andy Molnar. [6]