Infor on Norton Commando 850

I have acquired a wreck of a commando 850. It has a fibreglass tank. and engine number 321086. Is there a register that can give me information on model numbers such as date of manufacture etc?
Thanks

Mark,
If you havent already, you can download the parts manual via a link under "Technical and how to post photos" of this forum. I have a Riders manual, parts book for 73 and 74, and a service manual. I can email them to you if you send me your email.
You will find the most knowledgeable folks on Norton Commandos in the world on this forum. You can look up your numbers at the Norvil website...cant remember the address but you can google it.
From looking at your numbers, it looks like a late 73 or 74 Year. I am sure someone will chime in here in a bit and correct me if I am wrong....
Welcome to the forum!

Trav

mark,
I am going to say your Commando is a 1974. Oh, and WE LOVE PICTURES AROUND HERE so post us some photos of your new Commando!!
Everyone agree??? :mrgreen:

Trav

marknorton said:

I have acquired a wreck of a commando 850. It has a fibreglass tank. and engine number 321086. Is there a register that can give me information on model numbers such as date of manufacture etc?

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Originally, there would have been a red certification plate riveted to the frame headstock which would normally have had the month/year date of manufacture stamped on it?
If you want more detailed information, then you could apply to either the NOC or VMCC records and machine dating departments, as they both have access to the remaining factory dispatch records, however, there are many gaps in the later factory records, so there's no guarantee any information about your particular machine exists.
Your 850, serial 321086 should make it a MkII or MkIIA model, and would probably have been built as either a Roadster, Interstate, Hi-Rider in the latter part of 1974.

TravNorton said:

You can look up your numbers at the Norvil website...cant remember the address but you can google it.

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Personally I prefer to steer clear of that list, because it is incomplete the information it contains is often misleading.

Thanks Guys, This is useful stuff.
And yes I will post pictures...I will start a restoration thread here once I get started. The bike has been stored (badly) for years. Looks like a very long term restoration project, and I will need some hand holding to get it sorted.Thanks for all the advice to date...