norton model 77 Archives

Norton Dominator: an Australian investigation. Part 4

21st April 2021 RowenaH Features

What else do we know about the unusual Norton 500 twins which seem to be an export special, sent to the Australian market? Were these machines intended to be sidecar tugs? Bruce J Tinworth thinks otherwise… In 1947, Gordon ‘Shorty’ Purcell commenced a five-year apprenticeship with Hazell & Moore in Newcastle in New South Wales. H&M were agents for Norton,…

Norton Dominator: an Australian investigation. Part 3

1st April 2021 RowenaH Features

In previous episodes, Norton enthusiast Bruce J Tinworth established the existence of a special version of Norton’s twin with a rigid rear end instead of the usual plunger suspension. This export-only ‘Dominator 500 Rigid Sport’ was sent to Australia, where the evidence mounts up that it was far from being a cobble-job of overstocked components… An iron cylinder head would’ve…

Norton Dominator: an Australian investigation. Part 2

12th March 2021 RowenaH Features

Bruce J Tinworth continues his investigation into the intriguing Australian export model of Norton’s famous sporting twin. He discovers the Model 7R, a rigid-framed Dominator, trimmed in iridescent colour-schemes, often incorporating innovative and upgraded components… In August 1950, 84 motorcycles were displayed in Brisbane at Australia’s annual motorcycle exhibition. The models displayed by Andersons Agencies included a new rigid-framed twin-cylinder…