Back in my day there were no such thing as replica bikes, well, almost no such thing. There were a plethora of models available from all the Japanese manufacturers, working on the principle that they could cover for every possible taste and preference in the marketplace. Besides this, none of the Japanese manufacturers had been around long enough for them to have created an iconic model that deserved a replica after a reasonable period of time.
British manufacturers, all of whom had been around since the dawn of time, were much better placed to make replicas of past models, models that evoked an older, more successful era. The problem was that they were flat out producing the catalogue models that were needed to try and stave off the inexorable tidal wave of Japanese bikes. Imagine how great it would have been if someone had produced a 1970’s model Vincent, for example, or a water-cooled and reliable Ariel Square Four. That might have helped to delay the inevitable. But, for all the reasons detailed above, it didn’t happen.
There was one bright spot, however, and that was from Norton, that most august of British marques. As the fruit of an unexpected partnership between the tobacco companies who were splashing cash around in all areas of motor sport at the time, and Norton who were on their last legs as a manufacturer, the John Player Special Norton was a road-going bike that was meant to evoke the super-successful production racers that were still ruling the roost in racing and especially at the Isle of Man. The factory’s “works” team had done well in the early Formula 750 races and the factory saw an opportunity to trade off the racing success in the process.
The bike was a limited production run (c.200 altogether) and, while the bike looked fast and swoopy, it was stock standard road bike under its flash exterior. More than half of the output went to the US where passion for British bikes was still high but, with a premium price, no performance advantage over the stock bike and the styling being a little too avant garde for the day, the bike was doomed. The kiss of death came when John Player Tobacco pulled out of sponsorship at the end of 1974. It was just another case of too little, too late.
Of course, in hindsight, the project was doomed anyway. At the same time as Norton was trying to convince the market that an obsolescent bike at a high price was worth a show, Kawasaki and Honda were flooding the market with their superbikes that beat the JPS in every department AND cost less in the process.
Having said all that, it was, even by modern standards, a beautiful bike. There is something that is just so “right” about its proportions, its lines and its construction. It truly is far more than the sum of its parts. So, imagine my surprise when this picture popped up in my news feed today..
I know nothing about this, I don’t even know if it exists or is just a PhotoShop lash-up job, but I reckon it’s just the duck’s guts. Unlike the over-supply of replica bikes around today, this one just hits the spot. The proportions are right, it has a real seat and tail unit and it looks like it could go straight from here to the showroom, where, I am tempted to believe, it would sell like hotcakes, high price or not.
I’d love to know what you think of it.
Martino says
Yep, does look good. I think the only thing, other than the name on the tank, that it has in common with the original is the chrome ring around the headlights..
Phil Hall says
Well, that’s right. And Norton isn’t Norton any more either!