How many Commando R were produced?

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JVigs

JVigs

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Hello All,

I've got a restored 1969 Commando R that I am considering selling. Phil Radford told me it is a rare model, but how rare? I've looked all over trying to find out how many were produced in total. Any info on production numbers would be appreciated.

Best,

JVigs
 
It's a nice model which uses a mix of Fastback and "S" parts.
See here for an answer to the same question.

www.accessnorton.com

1969 R Ident

Hello Picked up a 1969 Commando VIN 1307** Tach drive is out for front of motor. Would this be an R model ? Thank you Will get pictures up asap
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com
 
Thank you for the useful info. Wish there were more solid production numbers.
 
JVigs said:
Hello All,

I've got a restored 1969 Commando R that I am considering selling. Phil Radford told me it is a rare model, but how rare? I've looked all over trying to find out how many were produced in total. Any info on production numbers would be appreciated.

Best,

JVigs
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Best I can tell, they were produced from Mar 69 until Sep 69 and others were being produced at the same time. According to Mick Duckworth's book, there were less than 2500 total bikes produced during that period. So, not many!
 
According to information from AN/Joe Seifert if I remember correctly, the first 'R' type was 129928 and the last was 135885 with, of course, Fastback and 'S' type (and perhaps some early Roadsters?) also within that range of serial numbers so some 'R's could have been built as late as 1970, however, 'R' production would still be numbered in the hundreds, not thousands.
 
I got the despatch record from Andover Norton. It says Feb 14 1969 for number 1308xx so an early one before March 69. Dispatched to Seattle NVC Feb 20. Sounds like introduction to the US market in March but production a bit before that.
 
Seems as Norton was struggling with what the US market would buy in 1969. The R didn’t sell and the S model pipes broke so on to the roadster that lasted through the end of Commando production. In ‘71 the SS variant also did not sell very well so only lasted that one year. I remember going to Bill’s Motorcycles in San Bernardino in 1973 seeing a new ‘71 SS still sitting unsold…$1200 price.
 
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