updated
The swansong
Even if in France we did not benefit of the Norton Girls charms,
till the end there was a steady flow of advertisements in the motorcycling
papers.
Atlas et Commando 1968
1968, the aftermath of motorcycling.
The old Atlas 's vibrations are just not enough to face the invading
japs. Something new must come, and this is the Commando, not yet known
as Fastback.
Commando Fastback Mk IV 1972
1972, the end is nearing
and in a last attempt to seduce, the Old Lady wears sparkling dresses
with psychedelic colours.
But don't mistake, the customers prefered four legged sushis to toffees.
Commando Fastback LR
1971, new silencers, gone
are the fork gaiters.
Wasp 1974
1974, the writing is on
the walls and the many victories in side car cross in both french
and world championships won't suffice to make forget the bad reputation
acquired by the Combat engine.
Commando Interstate Mk I A
JPS are among the finest racing machines ever produced.
One can only praise their sheer qualities and their riders skills.
To be true, in the Transatlantic Races, the Trident is in first line.
But The Sound of the Commandos at night during the 1974
Bol d' Or is something the lucky one who heard it will never forget...
Commando Roadster Mk II
Performance wise, the Commando is no match to competitors and has
to fight on another ground to attract : engine torque, comfort.. The
potential buyer has grown in age and his wife too needs to be convinced.
Perhaps should they have tried with Conolly leather?
John Player Special
JPS are among the finest racing machines ever produced.
One can only praise their sheer qualities and their riders skills.
To be true, in the Transatlantic Races, the Trident is in first line.
But The Sound of the Commandos at night during the 1974
Bol d' Or is something the lucky one who heard it will never forget...
Commando Roadster Mk III 1975
1975, last shot, they
put new isolastics, an electric foot, gearchange goes upside down.
Too late! And imagine that most of this was on the blueprints back
in 1967...
1976
1976, it's
all over now,
NVT belongs to the past and,
like Cromwell and Climax, Norton will forever be mythical.
see also afterwar to sixties