1938 Norton Superior

Motorcycle Monday

1938 Norton Superior

An extraordinary motorcycle will be joining us in the Exceptional Motorbike class [1900 – 1939] in the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance. The machine started life as a 500cc single cylinder 16H Norton, and was subsequently fitted with a 1000cc J.A.P. vee twin – acknowledged as the ultimate motorcycle engine of the 1930s – exactly as used by Brough Superior and in Morgans.

Given Norton’s pedigree for handling and braking, together with Brough’s powerful motor, here was a logical (if quite complex) challenge to combine the outstanding features of both brands… resulting in a truly unique “one-off”.

With its authentic engine and gearbox built by Maurice Cross, a great deal of attention was applied to the chassis, ensuring that the finished article – with a slightly reduced wheelbase, and increased ground clearance – was both lighter and faster than the original.

Upon completion, the Norton Superior duly won Classic Bike magazine’s 2014 Bike-of-the-Year, and went on to scoop a number of additional awards.  Let loose on the highway the following year, the owner began participating in some traditional VMCC events, as well as the Malvern to Isle of Man Run, where the bike performed faultlessly throughout TT Week. In more recent times it has successfully thundered up Shelsley Walsh and Prescott.

This has been an exclusive Motorcycle Monday, stay tuned for our weekly Car of the Week Friday – Discover the full list of classes for the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance here.