What model and year...

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Fast Eddie

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... was the red and blue stripe ‘JPN’ paint job introduced on the Roadster?
 
Interesting, thanks LAB, I always thought the blue of my ride was called Royal Blue, in the brochure they call it Pacific blue.
 
Interesting, thanks LAB, I always thought the blue of my ride was called Royal Blue, in the brochure they call it Pacific blue.

'Pacific Blue' according to the brochure, 'Fireflake Royal Blue' according to the parts books! :)
 
... was the red and blue stripe ‘JPN’ paint job introduced on the Roadster?

To the question, yes white with blue and red stripe was on the roadster (1975). As L.A.B mentioned the blue/blue stripe was on the roadster (1974).
 
To the question, yes white with blue and red stripe was on the roadster (1975). As L.A.B mentioned the blue/blue stripe was on the roadster (1974).

1974 was blue and red.
 
Look at the photo in the 1974 sales brochure you posted...clearly two blue stripes on white. Caption “New first time Blue Stripe finish.”
i have to agree - I have the 74 sales brochure in front of me - unless my eyes are playing tricks on me, i'm seeing two blue stripes and NOT a blue and red. i'm guessing it's possible that a sales brochure can differ from actual production models. o_O
 
Look at the photo in the 1974 sales brochure you posted...clearly two blue stripes on white. Caption “New first time Blue Stripe finish.”

I have looked at it, very closely, but what's shown in the brochure isn't what they sold as the Mk2/2A colour scheme was white, blue, red.

'163' is the white with blue stripe scheme listed for Mk2/2A and Mk3
The brochure pic looks more like the black and white scheme that made it into a '74 ad. (below) but I've yet to see an example of a double blue stripe version.

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Even though I have the brochure I never noticed the two blue stripes.
My memory tells they were White, Blue, Red
With gold logos.
 
a follow up to LAB's last post. i'm sure most of you have seen this, just re-posting for the details. click on the picture - you can enlarge and see all paint and stripping details. https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19679/lot/275/?category=list&length=10&page=26 one thing I've noticed, the tank stripping is not parallel to the bottom edge of the tank. also, note the uneven red and blue stripping on the right side cover.
 
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A friend of mine has a ‘74 still in the crate, pretty sure it’s blue and red on white. He had it at the Toronto bike show a few years back, some of you might have seen it at the Ontario Norton Owners booth.

B
 
one thing I've noticed, the tank stripping is not parallel to the bottom edge of the tank.

That apprears to have been deliberate and the examples in my previous post look the same. With the stripes parallel to the bottom of the tank it doesn't look quite right and if that is seen then it's almost certainly been repainted.
 
This would not be the first time the bikes detailed in the brochure were modified before they got the the showroom, hence the disclaimer in the small print on the bottom of the specs on the last page. The photos were taken months before start of production and really mock ups.
 
This would not be the first time the bikes detailed in the brochure were modified before they got the the showroom, hence the disclaimer in the small print on the bottom of the specs on the last page. The photos were taken months before start of production and really mock ups.

The JPN in the '74 brochure is a good example as that has the parallel horizontal stripes like the '73 John Player Nortons (the real ones)......

What model and year...
What model and year...


.......but this changed for '74 so the JPN got the similarly styled decals instead of what were probably painted stripes.

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What model and year...


I wonder what they did with the left-over red and blue JPN paint...? ;)
 
That apprears to have been deliberate and the examples in my previous post look the same. With the stripes parallel to the bottom of the tank it doesn't look quite right and if that is seen then it's almost certainly been repainted.
there has to be a reason for that "deliberate" angle. it has to be aesthetics. one thing I've noticed - the striping seems to aligned with the angle of the forward, chrome, seat trim. it appears to be that way in the original "crate" Norton at the Bonhams site. that might be the driving factor from the factory - ???

What model and year...
 
there has to be a reason for that "deliberate" angle. it has to be aesthetics. one thing I've noticed - the striping seems to aligned with the angle of the forward, chrome, seat trim. it appears to be that way in the original "crate" Norton at the Bonhams site. that might be the driving factor from the factory - ???

That almost certainly was the reason suggesting that probably more thought went into the design than just slapping on a couple of stripes!

The first example below, the design looks right in my opinion.............

What model and year...


.....unlike like the second example which I would have said doesn't (although 99% probably wouldn't notice :)).
What model and year...
 
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