Norton Commando 1967?

Hi there,
i would like to help me determine what kind of motorbike is this.
A friend's father has it and i am looking into buying it. and the VIN number is
212167
I was told that it is an interstate norton 750 commando,but i can find no informatin on 1967 norton bikes production.The bike has a disc brake in front.
Any ideas?[/img]

212167 would be a number from late 1972- early 73.

What leads you to believe it could be a 1967 model, which is really too early for a Commando Interstate anyway (or any other Commando model really)?

Is the 212167 the same for both frame and engine numbers?

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The disc brake suggests 1973 ish

A disc brake could have been fitted from early 1972, as the Combat/Interstate version had them from whatever production number it is believed they started from (depending on which information is being consulted!). Not the 212278 number that has been reported as the start of Interstate production I think? And the disc kit was available as an option a short while before that but certainly nowhere near as early as 1967.

Most likely you are looking at a 1973 Commando 850 Interstate. First year for the Insterstate was 1973, and though a few 750s were produced, few were sold, at least in the U.S. market. I do not believe the 750 was ever offered in Interstate guise, but I could well be wrong.

Regardless, if it's a Commando, and the price is not way out of line( which it probably won't be, since they don't even know what they have!), you should snatch it up,before someone else(ME!) does. You will never be sorry.

Whatever else, good or bad can be said about the Commando, it was the most beautiful motorcycle ever produced. If yours needs restored, parts are readily available, if not exactly cheap, and they are simple to work on, compared to modern bikes.

Just remember, owning a Commando is like dating a supermodel. Gorgeous, but high maintainance!

CommandoRoadster said:

Most likely you are looking at a 1973 Commando 850 Interstate. First year for the Insterstate was 1973, and though a few 750s were produced, few were sold, at least in the U.S. market. I do not believe the 750 was ever offered in Interstate guise, but I could well be wrong.

Click to expand...

Yes you are certainly wrong about that, as the 750 Interstate model was produced in quite large numbers during 1972 for both home and export markets, many being Combat models, 850 production starting from engine number 300000. The 750 continuing to be produced until late 1973.

http://www.nortonownersclub.org/models/ ... etail.html
Quote:
"The 745cc Interstate first appeared in 1972, fitted with the hotted up 745cc Combat engine, which combined with slight under gearing gave sparking acceleration figures, but alas, reliability was not its strong point. It was also probably the most numerous of all Commando variants."
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Ad from a US magazine:

http://www.reproductiondecals.com/image ... 0_72_1.jpg

I stand corrected. Thank you.
( How could I have forgotten that advertisement ?)

AmiJim:

I worked at N-V in the Wolverhampton factory as a development engineer and test rider from spring of 67 to early summer of 68. The Commando was in intensive development when I arrived there and the first three examples were on the Norton Stand at the Motor Cycle Show at Earl's Court Exhibition Centre in Jan/Feb 1968. It went on the market at that time, with deliveries to dealers probably starting in March.

1967 saw the end of production of the Atlas. A few of those may have gone out as 68 model year bikes.

At the time I left (emigrated to Boeing), development of a disc brake for the front was in work, but going badly because of basic design concept problems. I didn't keep close watch after I left, but I'd be surprised if a disc front end showed up before about the 72 model year. A workable design couldn't have happend if one or two upper-management people were still there! Of course, a lot of people have retrofitted the disc brake to older models.