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1957 Dominator 88 Frame and tinware colours

Submitted by michael_ingoldby on Sat, 01/04/2017
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Nortons - General

I have an 88 with matching engine, frame and correct year stamp numbers. It is however painted white on the frame and forks with blue(similar to Tahiti blue)on tank, oil tank etc.

Initially it was thought that this was a re-spray by an earlier owner but on stripping everything down the blue paint covers all of the tinwork including areas that are not visible without dismantling the machine. I would like to use these colours if it is an original specification.

Any information on this would be greatly appreciated, a picture would be most useful.

Mike Ingoldby

Submitted by Xanna_jeannett… on Sun, 02/04/2017

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Hello That'sNone Original blue on the oil tank and petroltank the light blue on the fork headlamp bracket is more like the colour of metalescent blue for export Norton twins some were post office red has well a forest green Some ES2 were Forest Green too in the wideline frame Yours Anna J

Submitted by jonathan_newton on Mon, 03/04/2017

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Previously michael_ingoldby wrote:

Thanks Anna, my bike has a darker blue see picture attached.

Mike

Mike; I bow to others knowledge on colour, but ... What a great looking bike. It stands well, has a lot of original parts and is one of Nortons finest models. A great ride when shes running!

Thanks for showing it...

Attachments DSC04342.JPG

Submitted by michael_ingoldby on Mon, 03/04/2017

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Previously jonathan_newton wrote:

Previously michael_ingoldby wrote:

Thanks Anna, my bike has a darker blue see picture attached.

Mike

Mike; I bow to others knowledge on colour, but ... What a great looking bike. It stands well, has a lot of original parts and is one of Nortons finest models. A great ride when shes running!

Thanks for showing it...

Kind words, thanks. There is school of thought that the blue might be original, it certainly was on the bike in 1960. Is there likely to be an official record of the original colours on frame and tin?

Submitted by richard_payne on Mon, 03/04/2017

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It's worth asking the NOC if the factory records show any reference to special finish, but it's a nice period polychromatic blue that suits it. I'd retain the colour if it was mine, original or not.

In those pre H&S and coshh days, many refinishers had a caustic dip tank and it's not unusual to find components that show no evidence whatsoever of original finish.

It could have been done for a dealer display or even an owner who wanted to match his car (or was pining for his old AJS !)

 


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