Help with Engine Number

Colorado

Joined
Apr 17, 2012
Messages
21
Hey everyone,
I just bought an interesting (what seemed to be typical barn find) Atlas.
It looks like a period correct 60s Norton rat bike.
The Serial Number on the engine is D6-7717. Can someone tell me what year this engine is?
The frame is another mystery. No factory numbers on the frame but it is registered and tagged in the State of California and it came with a 1963 Atlas title.

Thanks for your help
 
Are you sure its a Norton motor?

I don't know much about Triumph, but Pre-unit Triumph 650s used a 'D' prefix on their engines, and unit 650s were prefixed 'DU'. I think D 7717 and DU 7717 are both valid numbers for 650 Triumphs, the first from maybe 1960 and the second from around 1964.

Atlas frame numbers were stamped on the gusset running down the back of the frame loop around the engine on the left side, just above the swing arm pivot. An Atlas number would look like:
20
1
0
6
0
0
0

Where '20' stands for Atlas, and the sequential number, somewhere between around 101000 and 130000. A '63 would be in the 106000 range, give or take a couple thousand.
 
Man this just doesn't make sense. Any chance a California speed shop would have restamped this Engine. Anybody ever run into this?
The bike really looks like a 60s street drag bike. Everything is drilled out for weight loss. There's even an Aluminum Swingarm on this old relic.
 
Colorado said:
Man this just doesn't make sense. Any chance a California speed shop would have restamped this Engine. Anybody ever run into this?
The bike really looks like a 60s street drag bike. Everything is drilled out for weight loss. There's even an Aluminum Swingarm on this old relic.
Click to expand...

A picture is worth a thousand words. Sounds like a typical motorcycle hotrod of the period, which is why I suggested a Triumph motor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top