Phoney Baloney? Prototype MKIII? needs confirmation

A few years back a number of crated new Nortons went on sale in Holland. Will be one of those.

Looks wrong to me. Engine/frame number very odd. VIN plate attached with pop rivets not correct type of rivet. Indicators missing. Strange plate between inner primary chaincase and crankcase. Master cylinder wrong. Strange lettering in side covers. Earlier exhaust pipes. MK3 timing cover.

Person selling it only sold one other thing and that was a CCM which seemed to have sold for a crazily high price with glowing feedback.

Previously james_murray wrote:

I am thinking phoney baloney , unlesswe could find some factory records and prove it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Norton-Commando-Roadster-850-MK1-NEW-from-1974/142684364972?hash=item2138a6a0ac:g:-swAAOSwsZJafMVQ

Front disc on the wrong side, rear brake light switch missing, no indicators

I think that they're Mk3 crankcases. The number punch style looks more Continental than British and, as has been mentioned the pop rivets on the headstock plate are not Norton.

The cases may have been blank spares...I've seen a few prototype case and they were stamped 'EXP'...

I wouldn't buy it (but I'm a rivet counter. Other opinions may be available).

...and why does the speedometer not have a trip mileometer?

The numbers (engine and gearbox) are invented, one doesn't even need to look them up in the despatch records. The thing is a bad fake- see the plate between crankcase and chaincase already pointed out- and it probably originates from the Midlands where somebody has assembled "new" Commandos from a collection of parts, a lot actually not new, for a number of years.

Would be interesting to see what paperwork exists, 1974 bikes were still being produced?, so seems less likely that "fake" new machines would be worthwhile at that time. Perhaps built at later date to 74 style and so "dated" 74. There were a number of genuine new crated bikes sold at auction in Holland. Included a number of off road machines that interested me at that time.Plate to allow belt drive or Atlas case?.

There were only crated 850Mk3s and a crated Harris Matchless. That was in Belgium, but nevermind. You mean the Podevyn auction I believe.

The plate for one shows this bike was fumbled together from a collection of parts and has never left the Norton factory in this state, ever, new. the fake numbers tell the rest.

A purchaser may have a problem registering it in the UK, as I am sure the club would be unable to issue a dating letter. I am sure Joe wouldn't issue one either!

That master cylinder is a Triumph unit. I fitted one to my Commando years ago and it just didn't work with the Norton caliper. The other couple of oddities are the mismatched clocks - the KPH speedo is Smiths whilst the tacho is Veglia; no indicators, and look at the angle of the cable coming out of the rear speed drive!

I think the phrase that includes "...with a barge pole" comes to mind, but some poor misguided buyers are already bidding on it.

There have been quite a few dodgy bikes up on ebay recently, and this appears to be just another one.

Yes, the speedo cable looks as though the bike's been ridden with the wheel spindle not tightened up.

Yes . . . and someone just paid £12,600 for it

Crazy price. Well and truly ripped off I reckon.

The amazing/sad thing is that a dozen or so different people were prepared to bid on this mongrel

There used to be Norton dealer in Schaijk, still trading parts here.