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1963 Model 88SS - correct color scheme?

Submitted by dawson_strickland on Wed, 27/01/2016
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Nortons - General

Hello everyone

i am new to the club and this is my first post. I have a 1963 88ss and currently my tank is black and the fenders are silver. The paint chipping, fading, and I was going to sand blast it then repaint. I believe the 88s was geen and dove white and the 88ss was silver and black but is the tank black and the fenders silver or visa versa?

thank you in advance

Dawson

Submitted by david_cooper on Wed, 27/01/2016

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Welcome, Dawson.You'll soon benefit by owning some of the - Bacon's Norton Twins has lots of details, and also his 'Norton Twins Restoration"He lists green with 'dove grey' for the 88SS in 1962, followed by black (frame) with silver tank in 1963. Chrome mudguards were optional (at least they were in UK).If painted green and dove grey- the mudguards were in the 'grey' (off white really). The tank was green above the trim and grey below it. Or silver-grey allover. I don't think the slimline twin mudguards were ever black but maybe someone else knows better? Slimline twins don't have black guards very often. I have seen tank with black top and grey below but don't know if that was a usual colour option.Your bike, your colour!Have you a picture?

Submitted by phil_hannam on Wed, 27/01/2016

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Full Catalogue page attached for 1963 Model 88 SS.

Black painted guards appeared on several of the early Slimline models but soon went out of favour by 1963, when most owners were chosing the Chrome option. However, export orders for overseas Military Forces using bikes with Black tanks and Black Mudguards remained strong and sales continued through until 1969. Most being 650 or Atlas engined machines.

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Submitted by robert_tuck on Wed, 27/01/2016

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If it has the splayed carbs then I would go for green/dove, if the downdraught head then black/silver. It will at least look right (even if its not!)

Submitted by dawson_strickland on Wed, 27/01/2016

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I am going with silver tank with black mudguards. The catalogue Phil sent really helped! Interesting though that the military and police option was black tank. I live in the USA but bought this bike from a friend who brought it home from Australia. Maybe it was used as a police bike at one time explaining the black tank. I see only primer under the black no other color where it is chipping.

Thanks for the help.

 



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