1967 Norton P11/Atlas 750 Race Bike

The Norton P11 was one of the most interesting British competition motorcycles of the late 1960s, created by combining Norton’s powerful Atlas-derived 745cc parallel-twin engine with a lighter Matchless-based competition chassis. The result was a high-powered hybrid built for the fast and demanding American desert racing scene, where big British twins were still highly competitive before lightweight two-strokes began to dominate the market.

The P11 was developed during a transitional period for Norton and Associated Motor Cycles, when factory-built “hybrid” machines were being produced using Norton engines in Matchless/AJS-derived frames. The P11 concept was reportedly driven by California Norton distributor Bob Blair, who saw the potential of fitting the strong Norton Atlas 750 twin into the lighter Matchless G85CS competition frame. This created a machine with a much stronger power-to-weight ratio than the heavier Atlas-based scramblers of the period.

Production of the P11 series began in 1967, with the early P11 followed by the P11A and later Ranger 750 variants. P11 number records show the first P11, number 121007, was dispatched in March 1967, while later P11-series machines continued through 1968.

This particular motorcycle is a Norton P11 / Atlas 750 Race Special, carrying a 1957 P110-series engine, but built in a classic racing style, inspired by the Norton Manx.