Nortons for Rhodesia

Previously thane_gillies wrote:

Around 1966 PM Harold Wilson put an embargo on goods for Rhodesia. A shipment of 650 Nortons for police work was diverted. Perhaps Anna or anyone could give further details.

Hello To answer this I have no data on 650's police machines or other wise being shipped to Rhoesia, But this dose not say they there not shipped there. But what its dose say I have Not a Clue!!! on this one!! More Research Needed , yours anna j

I was just curious as to the general knowledge on this subject. The shipment ended up in Canada. The machines were 650 cc twin carb models painted all white. They were sold at bargain prices andat least one belonging to a long time friendis still in its original shipping box never unpacked. Used parts still show up with the white paint showing.

well very interesting now this has opened up a new can of worms

Just to finish the story, the blockade of land locked Rhodesia started from 1965 and was a battle of minds between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith. Smith declared UDI (Unilateral declaration of Independence) and with support, especially from Southern neighbour, South Africa, Smith won out and remained the breadbasket of Africa. That is until years after black majority rule from 1979/80. That is another story and sadly not one for these pages in light of some recent comments.

Ten years after this shipment of 650 Norton's were diverted to another part of the Commonwealth, I was stationed several hundred miles North of what is now Zimbabwe, in Kenya. There I was amazed to see the Kenyan Police riding round on BSA A10's, while the Kenyan Army had brand new Mercedestrucks.

I was just wondering which countries used Norton's for their Police and Military as this could be a source of original parts. Several new old stock parts for my 16H for example came from India...

Just to finish the story, the blockade of land locked Rhodesia started from 1965 and was a battle of minds between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith. Smith declared UDI (Unilateral declaration of Independence) and with support, especially from Southern neighbour, South Africa, Smith won out and remained the breadbasket of Africa. That is until years after black majority rule from 1979/80. That is another story and sadly not one for these pages in light of some recent comments.

Ten years after this shipment of 650 Norton's were diverted to another part of the Commonwealth, I was stationed several hundred miles North of what is now Zimbabwe, in Kenya. There I was amazed to see the Kenyan Police riding round on BSA A10's, while the Kenyan Army had brand new Mercedestrucks.

I was just wondering which countries used Norton's for their Police and Military as this could be a source of original parts. Several new old stock parts for my 16H for example came from India...

Previously Neil Wyatt wrote:

Just to finish the story, the blockade of land locked Rhodesia started from 1965 and was a battle of minds between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith. Smith declared UDI (Unilateral declaration of Independence) and with support, especially from Southern neighbour, South Africa, Smith won out and remained the breadbasket of Africa. That is until years after black majority rule from 1979/80. That is another story and sadly not one for these pages in light of some recent comments.

Ten years after this shipment of 650 Norton's were diverted to another part of the Commonwealth, I was stationed several hundred miles North of what is now Zimbabwe, in Kenya. There I was amazed to see the Kenyan Police riding round on BSA A10's, while the Kenyan Army had brand new Mercedestrucks.

I was just wondering which countries used Norton's for their Police and Military as this could be a source of original parts. Several new old stock parts for my 16H for example came from India...

Hi Neil, I was born in Kenya 1957 and the police BSA's were a feature of all visits by bigwigs and were always on traffic patrol in Mombasa. I rememember them as being 500cc machines, I was pulled over by one when being a hooligan on my Yamaha 175 Trail bike in 1975. I was let off with a few stern words about safety. My dad brought a Norton Jubilee Deluxe over from Liverpool for my brother. Definetly the only one in Kenya! Needless to say he removed the bathtub tinware and fitted megas. The hooligan thing is clearly in the genes! I recall that there were Nortons and Triumphs racing in Nairobi so maybe there is some rust gold still out there. Nick

Hi Nick, I doubt we were far apart in 75 & 76. I didn't spend much time in Mombasa though, a bit of time up county in Nanukibut mostly in Kahawa, near Nairobi. I used to Spend Sundays at the Safari Park Hotel pool and playing snooker with the old colonials. Doubt there are many left now.

I expect you are right about the BSA's, perhaps they were actuallyA7's but a policeman I spoke to said they were good machines. (Not as good as Norton's of course) Away from home I did miss my bike but funny enough, I did get a short ride around on a locals Ya*aha DT 175!

I saw Athletics in Nairobi and even Pele but no Norton's, so nice to know they existed out there. Thanks for the memory, Neil.