Norton 16H RAC Combination

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“The men of the RAC depend on their Nortons to give the service for which they and Norton are renowned. We are justifiably proud that such a body relies upon Norton machines and feel that no better expression of confidence could be given” - RAC advertisement, 1950.

A lusty and popular machine, the 490cc Norton 16H side valve made its debut in 1911 and remained in production for an astonishing 43 years, going through various stages of development before it was finally pensioned off in 1954. Along the way it became the workhorse not only of the British Army but also of the RAC and was a familiar and reassuring sight on the roads of post-war Britain. Resplendent in its blue RAC livery, it was at the beck and call of the stranded motorist 24-hours-a-day. The sidecar box contained the spares and tools for the mechanic/rider and its rugged power plant provided the means of salvation for many broken down vehicles.

According to a plaque that accompanies the machine, this particular Norton 16H Combination was in service with the RAC in Hertfordshire and was used to patrol the A1 and the A41. On retirement it was lovingly restored by a patrol in Bedfordshire before being donated to the Stondon Museum some years ago.

At the time of cataloguing no file was available for the bike, but a computer check shows it to be a 1951 model that was registered on the DVLA database on 1st October 1982. As it is already on the DVLA system, a V62 application should soon see it reunited with a V5C if the existing document does not come to light in time for the sale. We could not make out the frame number as it was obscured by the sidecar mountings.