Slimline seat

Its the same colour scheme as my 1960 bike although has a  replacement pattern cover.

Early slimlines had spring clips. Know 'cause seat came loose after a hump bridge jump. Later came the Dzus fastener at the rear. As far as I remember. But memory not very good nowadays.

I spent a lot of time and effort restoring and reinforcing the metal seat pan of the '61 99SS Dommie I bought in 1979.

Then Leightons told me it was a pattern part. They would know,.

Why would anybody fit a pattern seat pan to not very old bike? 

If my guess that a pattern part is a part made by someone else is correct.

A better question would be: Why make seat copies if nobody wants to buy them? If I'm correct that they were hold by two pegs in front and two spring clips, they can be easily removed without tools, some villains might take them. You can ride home without a saddle. Not comfortable. Or get them lost when long jumping. In my case managed to hold it between my leg and the battery box until a complete stop.

The spring seat was changed after a year or so. Not very secure and likely to fail an MOT . I still have mine but use an aerolastic to keep it down. Could add a Dzus to it ,may do that. 30 years ago orriginal seats were hard to find . A pattern was better than nothing. 

Hi Daniel, nice bike! Seat straps used to be common on bikes way back, but I can't say I've seen one on a Norton before. Handy for putting your MCN through on the way home for a first read! 

The 1968 Norton P11A Ranger 750 came with a seat strap, when new. 

When seat pans rusted away at the front, a pattern part made sense. I believe Leighton no longer sell the seat pan but I bought my entire seat from them some years ago. I don't know whether or not that means it is a 'pattern part', nor if that's how Leighton would describe it today.

… was available from the accessorises, likes of Feridax etc. In the early swinging sixties customising and being trendy was available as “bolt on” items for the modern motorists using a pretty dull offering of post war vehicles. The whole being addressed with the likes of the multicolour offerings such as Jubilee and Navigator or even the Nash Metropolitan for 4 wheels.  The American style was being taken up, machines were cheap but old fashion, putting a patterned seat on gave you street cred,  putting a “tiger in your tank” tail on your filler cap was hip. But now it looks like a fuse to light!!! Aftermarket or standard it looks right and will clearly start a conversation.  
Cheers

Jon 

Looking at the shape of the foam I would bet its an orriginal with a pattern replacement cover.

Thats only  a drawing.   The actual seat has a different line to the foam ,not as flat and does not ride up the back of the tank.. Artistic licence!. (pre production ??). How can i be sure its a drawing?,  no tyre valves, security bolts , tank badge screws and  plug leads should  not come from the ignition coil !!. How many other errors can you see?. I can see lots, well, at least 6, at a glance.   If your observation skills can't pick up the errors ,perhaps its time to hang up your riding gear before you become another statistic !!.

Looks like we are the only Nortoners that should still be out there !!  Going to be a bit lonely at shows and branch meetings.  You are currently the "leader of the pack"   with 8 , I wonder if I still have that recording,  Back then I could do a convincing  Marlon Brando,and menace the mods,  and the girls used to sing "I want to be "Bobbies girl"  ! ,     So long ago,   was that really me ??.

… they may think we are old.

Jonny….  …Remember me!