Please Note: Information regarding these museum display vehicles was provided by the National Military History Center and has not been independently verified by Auctions America by RM ("AA"). As such, AA does not verify, warrant or guarantee any of this information. Prior inspection and research by the buyer is highly encouraged and recommended.
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Please note this is being sold on "Bill of Sale" only.
Manufacturer: Norton Motors Ltd., Birmingham, England
Production Year: 1940
Engine: Norton side-valve, 490-cc, 12-hp, air-cooled, one-cylinder, gasoline
Transmission: Four-speed foot-change gearbox
Brakes: Mechanical
Length: 85-1/2-inches
Width: 30-inches
Height: 39-inches
Wheelbase: 54-inches
Weight: 388-pounds
Armor: None
Armament: None
Maximum Road Speed: 65-mph
Markings: British Army olive drab paint scheme
The Norton 16H was already in service with the British military prior to World War II. The 16H, in its basic 1939 form, was little changed from the 1931 Norton model. During the course of the war, a number of improvements were implemented. The front forks continued to be the standard Norton girder-type, but buffer stops were added. The frame was strengthened, a crankcase shield added and the ground clearance increased. Powerplant changes included an adaption to dry-sump lubrication and the magneto was moved behind the cylinder. The valve-gear became fully enclosed as opposed to only a pressed-steel cover featured on earlier models. The rear fender-stay was extended out so that it could act as lifting handle when using the rear stand. Rubber-covered footrests were replaced with all-metal tubes and the handlebar grips were changed from rubber to heavy cloth webbing---all due to wartime economies. Instruments were moved from a gas tank to front fork mounting. Late war models had smaller headlamps mounted. Some Norton 16Hs were built with sidecars and a special desert version was introduced that featured an enlarged air cleaner. Norton manufactured over 100,000 model 16H motorcycles.