Belgium crated MK3 resurfaces still in crate.

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Agree, close up shows corrosion. it appears to be degrading in the crate.
If for some odd reason I were to become the owner its value would immediately go down as I would have to uncrate it, then......
 
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Look at the article far enough and saw it has 17.5 miles. Would normally expect
that or less for a factory test ride. Maybe they used it for a lunch run before going in the crate?
My MKIII only has 5 miles on french odo so no tenths.../never registered.
 
Good catch Dave except it's Kilometers.
Interesting how the trip meter show 16.3?
That's probably the test ride, or lunch or...........
 
Did Norton ship their crated bikes with lubricants in place or was that responsibility left up to the dealer/purchaser?
43 years without being turned over is a long time, should be interesting if purchaser decides ditch the crate.
A lot of collectors might view that crated motorcycle as more of a mechanical piece of artwork, and leave it as is.
I can appreciate its present state because it is so damn rare. How many 44 year old bikes are out there (much less an original Norton Interstate) with under 20 test miles still in the original crate?
If I could latch on to that bike I'd put in my living room...until she who must be obeyed booted it/me out.
 
maybe from a bunch?

Belgium crated MK3 resurfaces still in crate.
Belgium crated MK3 resurfaces still in crate.
 

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Millis Cycles Massachusetts) had 3 MK IIIs in crates back in the early 90's. I don't know what became of them. The owner seemed somewhat eccentric - said he wanted to be buried with them.

Paint shop screwed up my red, white, and blue paint scheme and he let me reach in the crate with tracing paper to copy it the one he had. He had a Roadster, Interstate, and Hi-Rider.
 
Wow, it even states that it is capable of speeds in excess of 115 mph. I don't know if that's dropped from an airplane, with or without the crate?
 
In excess of 115, eh? That's with the WW2 captured Luftwaffe RATO units attached I'd wager. My Mk ll has always run really well when it felt like it and it never felt like 115 on the best of days...... must be cuz they're old new.

I'd flog the truth out of it.... Don't care how valuable it's imagined. If it don't run it's just a big paperweight.
 
This batch of Kph speedo Commandos were bought by Laurent Podivyn, a Belgian Norton importer in Aalst, Belgium after their 1977 build. Podevijn was semi-official host for us when I went to Zolder in 1972 and Spa in 1973 with Richard Negus for the 24-hour races. He was "quirky" and many found him difficult to get on with but we laid out the warmest welcome for us. It seems just like him to keep a shipment of motorcycles in his warehouse for 35 years.
 
Those pics are from the warehouse in Belgium just prior to the auction, so some years ago, the bike for sale is in there somewhere. Its had 2 owners since those pics.
 
kommando said:
Those pics are from the warehouse in Belgium just prior to the auction, so some years ago
Click to expand...

2010
www.accessnorton.com

New 850 Commandos-Still In Their Crates!

Apparently they're up for online auction soon,-along with a lot of other stuff! Link updated http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/black ... lgium.aspx
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

www.motorcycleclassics.com

11 New 1975 Norton Commandos Found in Belgium! - Classic British Motorcycles - Motorcycle Classics

Here’s something you don’t come across every day: 11 brand new 1975 electric-start Norton Interstate motorcycles, still in the crate and awaiting final assembly! The horde of Nortons came to light recently following the death of the owner of Motoshop Podevyn in Aalst, Belgium. Incredibly, the...
www.motorcycleclassics.com www.motorcycleclassics.com
 
I think it's neat. There are plenty of bikes on the road so having one preserved as delivered is pretty cool.
 
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