Production: 1948-1955

Power: 29hp @ 6,000rpm

Top speed: 90mph

Engine type: 497cc overhead valve, air-cooled parallel twin

Weight (dry): 413lb / 118kg

Price New; £216.00

Norton's first parallel twin was designed by Bert Hopwood. It was designed to be similar to, but not the same as the Triumph Twin.

The Model 7 Dominator engine and it'd darivatives stayed in production much longer than expected.

The first Dominator, the Model 7, had a 497 cc parallel twin engine with iron cylinders and cylinder head and a Lucas K2F magneto. The crankshaft was of 360-degree layout. A single camshaft at the front of the engine was driven by gears and chain. The rocker box was integral with the head, so there were fewer gasket faces to leak and less valve noise. The engine was a long stroke design with 66.0 mm × 72.6 mm (2.60 in × 2.86 in) bore and stroke and mild tuning, resulting in more torque low down. For the first few years a plunger frame was used, but in 1953 the Model 7 was upgraded with a single downtube swinging arm frame, 19-inch front wheel and 'pear shaped' silencers, still known as a Model 7. The Model 7 continued in production through to 1955 and was often used with a sidecar, which could not be fitted to the later Featherbed frame Dominators.

 

Other information ……..

 

11,552 Model 7's were manufactured in all. The first production bike was completed on 10th November 1948 number 19617, and the last one left the factory on 30th June 1955 number 64364.

 

These numbers are for all Model 7's, plunger and swingarm, as yet it is not known how the split is.

Professionally rebuilt and refurbished by David Newitt of Hinckley, this plunger model has had thousands of pounds spent on it to restore every part of the bike. Nothing has been overlooked to maintain originality with detail such as the stripes on the wheels and petrol tank that have been hand painted, these two items alone cost £1600.00 to restore by specialists.

Needless to say the engine and gearbox have been completely stripped and rebuilt to produce a very strong and powerful unit.

The bike has been in dry storage since it’s completion in early 2013 and started periodically but never fully used on the road. The bike is immaculate in all respects and could be a potential show entry or museum piece for a future owner. Starts easily and has a smooth gear change, all electrics and suspension units are correct and in working order.

95% of the bike’s parts that were retained and refurbished in the rebuild, using only a few pattern parts but this bike is stunning in all aspects.

The reason for selling - I am just looking for another project and would consider a part exchange ideally for another 30’s / 40’s Norton/Velocette/Rudge  or what have you ...... the bike is located here in Menorca but still has UK papers.

Please contact me with any questions you may have - david@digitaldiving.co.uk

1950 497cc NORTON MODEL 7