Mighty Norton Knowledgeable,

Last Sunday after cutting my hand working on my roadster I was feeling sorry for myself and searching Craigslist around the country looking at different bikes (just for the fun of it). Sure enough if you look at to much candy you are bound to buy a piece. Found a 1970 Norton 750 Fastback in Detroit Michigan for a fair price.





Called the owner and we worked a deal and I arranged for an old friend to pick her up and store her in his garage until I could figure out the transport from Detroit to Nashville. Luckily I lived in Detroit for 4 years and had a reliable person to store her for me. He jumped right on it and sent me this picture of my new old girl waiting for me.



My wife and I rented a utility van and left on Saturday for Detroit. We picked her up at 8am on Saturday and immediately turned around and drove back to Nashville. 18 hours of driving in 26 hours. It was worth the trip and I'm glad i didn't hire a freight company. There's something nice about making the trip and picking her up myself.





Have to get back to work but as of last night she's parked up next to "Maggie" my 74 Roadster and both are safe and sound in Nashville ready to be stripped down and rebuilt one bolt at a time. As always, i will need a lot of help from you guys. She needs a lot of work. You can tell she was stored for a long time and I'm pretty confident she switched hands to lots of different owners over the last 40 years. From what I can see there really hasn't been anything upgraded or restored except a bad paint job on the tank and tail. She was just ridden and parked. Very neglected. You can't see it from the pictures but every piece of chrome is pitted, wiring harness is a total mess, all cables and hoses are stiff as metal and look to have never been replaced, etc.

This is going to be a fun one!

Cool.

Dave
69S

Nice buy Joe! It may pay to check your vin numbers as the bike looks earlier than 70, maybe old stock 69 as i beleive 1969 was the last year with tacho drive on the end of the cam and it also has the early primary cover, nice bike.
Al

possm wrote:Nice buy Joe! It may pay to check your vin numbers as the bike looks earlier than 70, maybe old stock 69 as i beleive 1969 was the last year with tacho drive on the end of the cam and it also has the early primary cover, nice bike.
Al

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe an early 70? Vin number is 129xxx. Matching Numbers bike, Titled as a 1970. Anyone have the Vin number book?

Joe,
126125 was the first production machine, Feb 68. Next record I have is 131180, Mar 69. I bet it's a late 68. That's the hayday of the first Commandos, they didn't even call them Fastback as there was no other model. Fastback name only started after they built the R, S and Roadster. Mine is 132031 April 69 on the plate. Lots of times these bikes never sold until much later than the production date and are registered as the sold date, not production date.

Dave
69S

Something to be careful of is the front fender. If you replace it with a 71 fender, the stays are about an inch longer and the fender will foul in the exhaust with hard braking. That chrome doesn't look bad enough not to replate. Plus you'll rarely find those stays and fenders. It will cost as much to rechrome but new ones are not available, not even pattern, just used ones once in a while.

Dave
69S

Thanks for the top on the fender. There is a slight dent in the front but i bet i can have someone pound it back. Beyond that i am hoping to re-chrome as much as possible to avoid buying new and aftermarket. I think most of the chrome is original.

Should i be worried about the fabled "Widowmaker" frame? If it is in fact a '68?

If it doesn't have a brace below the main tube in the front, yes, you need a new frame. There should be a triangular section in the front just below the fuel tank attached to the headstock about 3-4" below the main tube and it attaches back to the main tube about 18" back.

Dave
69S

Yes Joe you should check up on it those frames were mostly replaced but a few are out there.

No widow maker! It has the additional support bar.



It does appear to be the original frame (or at least the original Norton replacement.) as it still has the Castrol print on the main tube?



Couple interesting notes today. One of the previous owners added a Boyer, and part of the MKIII ISO upgrade.?. The rear ISO has been upgraded however the front is the original with shims.



Back on the road tomorrow for work. Hopefully i will make some time this weekend and continue the strip down.

My fastback stamped Feb 69 is 130xxx so yours is late 68- early 69.
Al

Looks like an early '69 to me. Many details present that were on the '69 but not on the '68 machines.

great find

pelican wrote:great find

thanks Pelican!

I would think that it would be a '69 as well. However, I keep digging online and all i keep finding is 1969 = 130,000. Any other identifying features or reference will be appreciated. Lab?