Commando age

Hi Nick

My Mk3 Commando was purchased new (not by me ) in 1979 and the number is 336400. The plate on the headstock says that it it is a 1977 bike. The 38 or so bikes that were put together in 1978 at Andover by permission of the receiver were assembled using available parts and may have therefore used a headstock plate with 1977 stamped on it.

The records from this time are non existent or unreliable. Based on the fact that the engine and frame number is 556 before mine I would think it unlikely that yours was one of the last batch but who knows? The frame number is based on the engine number and if they had a previously stamped engine kicking around in the parts bin then??

Tim

Previously nick_brown wrote:

hi new to forum - i have purchased a Commando 850 mk111 interstate from a family friend and he bought it new in 1978, i was wondering if this was right at the end of production and may be a Andover Norton one?? the frame and engine number are matching 335846 - thanks for any insight.

The Andover Norton assembled Commandos are a myth, I am sorry to say. No bikes were assembled in Andover. The bikes sold by Andover Norton in the late 1970s were leftover production bikes. All bikes were assembled on the production line in Wolverhampton, then sold to Andover Norton by the receiver.

All later "new" bikes from various sources were bikes built using partly secondhand components.

Hi Nick,

I bought my MkIII from Gus Kuhn on 01/07/1977, the engine number is 336009 and at the time I was told it was the in the last batch of 300 to be made but as these 300 sold well the liquidators decided to make up the another batch of 300 using up everything that was intended to be kept as spares.

The last number I have any record of is 336539.

Regards

Tony

Previously Tony Ripley wrote:

Hi Nick,

I bought my MkIII from Gus Kuhn on 01/07/1977, the engine number is 336009 and at the time I was told it was the in the last batch of 300 to be made but as these 300 sold well the liquidators decided to make up the another batch of 300 using up everything that was intended to be kept as spares.

The last number I have any record of is 336539.

Regards

Tony

Hi Tony Ive just had a quick look at a Commando with frame and engine number 336257 in immaculate condition one owner from new 9000 miles on clock all receipts and sales brochure from new.

it doesn't have the correct silencers it has a Norman Hyde pair that are very similar . Would you be able to give me some advice on value as I'm not up to speed on late Commandos, any info much appreciated .

regards Ian

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