Purchase Price Norton 650SS Dominator

The 1962 price is the equivalent of £ 7,446.49 today.  The 1965 price would be cheaper at £6,968.92, if I read the posting correctly.

Pint of beer in 1963 about 1s.  Today about £4.00. 80 times as much. If a Norton was £350 then, it should be about £28000 today! Inflation is very odd. As is tax...

Good morning Andy,in 1962 the price would have been £351 &10 pence.

2 years later still the same price and £10 more a year later!

Financial Analysts use the historic change in the price of a Mars Bar to compare prices of goods in times gone by with today. Using this index, the price of a 1962 650 Dommie would have increased 24 times. If this is the case, then your £351.10 becomes £8426.40.

If only you could get a new Norton for that kind of money today!!

Perhaps the old saying, 'Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics' could usefully be updated to 'Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics and Calculations of Inflation' because, whenever comparison figures are given, on TV or wherever, they are invariably at odds with the personal experiences of those of us who have actually lived through the time over which the comparisons are being made. Back in 1958 I was a junior pen-pusher earning the princely sum of £250pa. The equivalent office drudge of today would probably be on about £18K which, if my calculations are correct, is 72 times higher, making the 'New Norton' figure £25,308, according rather well with David's 'beer index', on which basis, today's Nortons are something of a bargain.

That’s because different things increase by different amounts, which is why the RPI and CPI was created. When I was working in the holidays as a farm labourer I was paid 50p an hour,  petrol was 50p a gallon, the minimum wage is now about £7.80 so in comparison the price of petrol is about the same as it was in the 70s! 

This site makes the cost £7447 in today’s money 

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1633409/Historic-inflation-calculator-value-money-changed-1900.html

'That’s because different things increase by different amounts...'

Ain't that the truth. In 1970 I bought a two-bedroomed maisonette in Teddington for £4700 and the price today is about £470K; a one hundred times increase. So, 'Lies, Damn Lies etc.'

That was about 8 month's money for me as an apprentice in those days!

Previously andrew_english wrote:

Good morning sages of the Norton world, Has anyone any idea how much it would have cost to buy a brand new Norton Dominator SS650 in 1962? Just wondered.

Andy English

Approximately £7218,05 in today's money - a bargain!!

Kevin

That's interesting, I'm sure I remember that a '61 Bonneville (wash my mouth out) at that time was £321. A big difference in price from an SS or is my memory playing games with me?

Bob

Even then, Norton was unapproachable for some poor souls. Back then, remember had to work a long time to buy one.

Nowadays there is still a price gap between new Nortons and the other marque mentioned.

Mike

It also illustrates the effect of depreciation. My December 1959 99 cost me £30 in November 1969. 90% depreciation. I wonder what the depreciation will be on the current Nortons.

Bob. Yes, the Bonnie was that bit cheaper than the Norton, which would have aided its popularity.

Previously ronald_milton wrote:

Good morning Andy,in 1962 the price would have been £351 &10 pence.

2 years later still the same price and £10 more a year later!

Hello NOW FOR A CORRECTION £351.10 pennies there was 240 pennies in a pound we were all Ripped off by 140 pennies when we joinedthe EU and gone backwards ever since and the railways Had Steam locomotives running I grow up with them next to our house what wonderful days they were, to see a double header WD austerity 2-8-0 coming into Goole canal sidings with a 120 x 16 ton wagons full of steam coal for export and even Bracebridge street sent their Nortons by rail to the ports of the UK or to dealers my secondpassion is the love of Steam locomotives they were hard work but glorious and in some ways majesticto just take a ride out and visita steam run railway near you. they do vintage events from time to time, a very good day out yours anna j

Hello THE 650 is now very rare motorcycle and worth every penny they were one of Norton best twins of all time now the market prices are £8000 to £20.000 depending on condition and rarity value the 650 started production on November7th, 1960 with engine and frame number 18-93601 shop number 7 - and not what's writtenin motorcycle books you can find your build date stamp marked on the top lug for the engine head steady. has all twins where if you care to look today the 650 are getting hardto find so if you buy one please treat it with respect has parts are now very thin to get hold of like good barrels and pistons and cylinder heads I said pistons yes original BHB pistons and not the after market ones exhausts are hard to get the right ones most aftermarket ones do not fit right. So ensure you get the right fit has this will affect the fuel consumption and the tune of the engine the 650 Manxman exhaust are none existence in the market no one has ever made them after Bracebridge street did in 1960/61 so any you may come across are originalones .like what's on my norton650 manxman, there are only 12 in this country of its origin and only 56 found to date worldwide and only some 560 ever made the sports special was introduced in late 1961 from august on it was really a 650 Manxmanwearing different styling parts made to cut costs and made a cheapermotorcycle for the masses but never the less still a very good motorcycle and one any Norton enthusiast will be proud to own and ride and we need to preserve our past Norton heritage has much has we can everyonecounts so please look after them and do have fun and make someone smile today yours anna j

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Not keeping pace with the BSA Gold Star though. One with matching numbers are now fetching a lot of money.

Previously richard_evans wrote:

Not keeping pace with the BSA Gold Star though. One with matching numbers are now fetching a lot of money.

Hello yes well that'sthe market but prices are you pay your money and takes your choice yours anna j

In the sixties I had a tuned and lightened 99, later a Gold Star Clubman for a short period. The 99 was a much better road bike. Faster, better handling and easier starting. Now the happy owner of a late 650SS.

Mike

Having ridden a DBD34 with RRT2 box and GP carb and no kickstart in heavy traffic, it is something I would NEVER attempt again. Fine on the race track or open road, but as a practical bike - hopeless.

I must be the only person in the world who declined an offer to swap my 99 for a Goldie. No regrets. But then my bikes are for riding.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Having ridden a DBD34 with RRT2 box and GP carb and no kickstart in heavy traffic, it is something I would NEVER attempt again. Fine on the race track or open road, but as a practical bike - hopeless.

I must be the only person in the world who declined an offer to swap my 99 for a Goldie. No regrets. But then my bikes are for riding.

Hello same here With my knees now I could not even kick a goldie over never mind start it give me my model 88 from 1954 anytime or my Norton Manxman 650 from December1960 build easy to start and top marks on handling good on jungle juice the 650 the best of the lots so you can keep your gold star or anything else I will stick to what I know , yours anna j

Previously bob_johnson wrote:

That's interesting, I'm sure I remember that a '61 Bonneville (wash my mouth out) at that time was £321. A big difference in price from an SS or is my memory playing games with me?

Bob

yes bob but if you bought the 650SS witch was 15 mph faster then a Bonneville and you get first class quality with every Norton built at Bracebridge Street workshops yours Norton Bracebridge street fanatic Anna J

Previously anna jeannette Dixon wrote:

Previously bob_johnson wrote:

That's interesting, I'm sure I remember that a '61 Bonneville (wash my mouth out) at that time was £321. A big difference in price from an SS or is my memory playing games with me?

Bob

yes bob but if you bought the 650SS witch was 15 mph faster then a Bonneville and you get first class quality with every Norton built at Bracebridge Street workshops yours Norton Bracebridge street fanatic Anna J

Every sane motorcyclist knew that the the pick of the bunch,but according to the Motorcycle magazine road tests, there is little or no difference in top speed, Norton 111 mph, Triumph 112 mph.on the MIRA test track.Triumph a bit lighter, Norton a bit more powerful.

Hello well i do have a copy cycle world usa magazine for 1962 and they track tested a standard 1961 norton manxman and it achieved and electronically timed speed of 119,244mph on a nice wind free sunny day so the 650ss should be around the same

Helo Anna Is possible to show or send this tests from magazine? thanks

Tomas

Previously Tomas Tesar wrote:

Helo Anna Is possible to show or send this tests from magazine? thanks

Tomas

hello I will sort something out and crank up my vintage computing equipment not used for some time now, and see if the big mullard valves are ok and get it to warm up a bit , and remove the thatched roof of the scanner all in fun yours anna j