Classic up for Auction

[Dale]

A Rotary, listed as one of the original 100 (?) , is on the Mecum 2019 Auction website. Any thoughts ?

[kanonkopdrinker]

Hi Dale,

Beware! This is not 1 of the 100 Classics made .....

It is one of the machines used by the police, and then converted to ‘civilian’ use afterwards.

If it were a Classic, it would have matching frame and engine numbers LE-xxx (001 to 100).

More likely than not, it will have a frame number of 3xxx, and possibly a matching engine number.

Its value would be less than 50% of the Classic IMHO.

David

[Dale]

Hi David. Thanks for you post. I was instantly suspicious for the same reasons. I have a genuine Classic, so am quite aware of clones being made,and passed on to unsuspecting Buyers. This sort of thing irks me,and I had already emailed Mecum to give them details of serial numbers, and the fact no Classics were sold prior to production, and certainly not to any Police depts. Haven't heard back, so will be interesting to see if they update the listing.
Dale.

[Richard Negus]

There are two air-cooled Norton rotaries in the Mecum catalogue.
One, as above, is a converted IP2 described as a 'Classic' but bearing little resemblance to a genuine Norton Classic. Badly done too.
But, there is also, according to the description as there's no photograph, genuine Classic LE001. That's the first production Classic, completed 21/12/1987.
There is also an F1, low mileage with its original Michelins, so unlikely to be a 'runner' without considerable work.
R.

[johnbirchjar]

I seem to recall someone telling me the first Classic is in a museum or in a private collection somewhere?J.B.

[Richard Negus]

You may be thinking of the prototype numbered PP001 which was used, amongst other things, the brochure photos.
It had a slab-sided tank and a very thin seat.
Now in a rotary enthusiast's private collection in Germany.
R

[Charles Wilson]

If I may be allowed to veer off slightly...

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/nortonwankelprototype.html (Top Picture)

The "Aurora 1010" Prototype has been let out of its playpen from time to time to be seen at various gatherings and such.
It has a very beautiful tank. What is the status of this bike?

Thank you,

CW

[Dale]

Just received a very pleasant email from Mecum. They have verified it has an ID no. of 3xxxx. They shall contact the owner to clarify, and I'm sure they do not intend to auction it as a Genuine Classic. Dale.