1968 Fastback Commando, finally here!

bwolfie · Jun 28, 2013

Got home a few days ago from my UK/Ireland trip.

Had a few calls about my CL ads, one of them about a spare seat i'm selling from my XS.

Guy shows up today and buys the seat, we get talking, I mention my Nortons,

he says he's got a 60's Norton Villers he wants to get rid of, he doesn't know what it exactly is.

I show him some pictures, he's got a 1968 fastback. It's complete minus head and a few small bits.

I'll be going to look at it and bring it home in the next week or so.

Lightning strikes again.

john robert bould · Jun 28, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

That's another project ,thread....winter reading? another few $s more, clint :mrgreen:

bwolfie · Jun 28, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

It would be commando #5, it will have to wait in line with the other 3 that need to be finished.

cjandme · Jun 28, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

Sounds like it might be a widow maker? The price must be right, too good to pass up

pete.v · Jun 28, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

I have an old Combat head for you. Poor geometry but works ok.

speirmoor · Jun 29, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

Score!

concours · Jun 29, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

I always thought it was a jinx to talk about it until it was IN THE GARAGE, lol Seller's remorse, Brother-in-law gets wind of it and scoops it out from under you, etc.. :lol:

bwolfie · Jul 11, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

Just got a call from him today, I will be going to look at it next week.

christulin · Jul 11, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

A guy can never have too many toys, huh?

bwolfie · Jul 24, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

Tomorrow morning I am taking the truck and some cash and picking up the bike, can't wait!!!

lawman · Jul 24, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

Can't wait to see the photos.

Frank

bwolfie · Jul 25, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

Voila!!

And it's home in my shop. Now what to do with it.
It was one of the lost in storage bikes. No title owner unknown.
I have a head and barrel for it and a few small bits, need to find the rest, or sell it as is.

And on top of it all it's a widow maker!

more here
http://s1029.photobucket.com/user/brent ... 20Fastback

Matt Spencer · Jul 25, 2013

Re: Luck of the Irish....

How many million do you want for it ? :?: ?

Now , Thats a set of Groovey Tyres . :shock:

Id do the James Bond bit ; Silver , Orange seat , & a few other things .

There appears to be a few bits missing , did you have a look around the back of the shed . :wink:

bwolfie · Jul 26, 2013

Looking around my parts pile I have the missing head, barrel, z plate, seat knobs, and a few other smalls.

It needs, oil tank, battery tray, side covers, air filter, intakes, primary cover, timing cover, tach drive, footrests.

I've located the primary cover and oil tank so far.

No other parts came with it, it was in a building that had stuff stolen out of it.

ML · Jul 26, 2013

Thats a great find. With the Widow Maker frame it should have the domed primary cover, all very desirable original equipment. In my opinion highly worthwhile rebuilding to stock specification a very collectable bike maybe in the first 1,000 production run? NOC UK may be able to date the build. I'd compare this to finding a Series 1 E Type Jag.

bwolfie · Jul 26, 2013

#590 off the line if 126125 was truly #1 and they didn't skip any.

I've had a few of the pointy primary covers, but they all are gone now. On the lookout for a reasonably priced one.

Also looking for the missing bits.

This is Commando #4 right now, #2 and #3 are in rebuild right now.

I might sell this one on. I don't have the time or money right now to do it half assed let alone right.

We'll see what offers surface otherwise off to Ebay it goes.

frankdamp · Jul 26, 2013

If it still has the ridiculous Italian 2LS brake, you could stick with the widow-maker frame to maintain the 1968 pedigree. It wouldn't be able to stop worth a shit, but that brake couldn't put enough force into the top tube to cause the fatigue failure. I'd be tempted to repaint it in the silver metallic finish with the orange seat cover that the bikes had on the N-V stand at the 1967 Motorcycle Show. I might even consider putting the green globe badges (turn signals!) on it!!

I think the first 100 or so off the line were identical to the show bikes. It would certainly be a talking point!

bwolfie · Aug 15, 2013

Having spent a little time staring at the bike and gathering the missing bits, I am starting to grow fond of it.

I have acquired all the missing parts except primary cover, LH cover (in works) and exhaust.

It's almost a whole machine again.

Now to find time and money to restore it.

Time Warp · Aug 15, 2013

frankdamp said:
I think the first 100 or so off the line were identical to the show bikes. It would certainly be a talking point!

Did I read that here ? or another site where it was stated one of those bikes was in New Zealand,brought new by the posters brother.

Rohan · Aug 15, 2013

frankdamp said:
I think the first 100 or so off the line were identical to the show bikes. It would certainly be a talking point!

Time Warp said:
Did I read that here ? or another site where it was stated one of those bikes was in New Zealand,brought new by the posters brother.

Has any of this been verified by the factory records ?

The early serial number Fastbacks have been keenly tracked by the owners, and there are none (presently) like that included amongst them ?

1968 Fastback Commando, finally here!

bwolfie

john robert bould

bwolfie

cjandme

pete.v

speirmoor

concours

bwolfie

christulin

bwolfie

lawman

bwolfie

Matt Spencer

bwolfie

ML

bwolfie

frankdamp

bwolfie

Time Warp

.......back to the 70's.

Rohan

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