Norton Dunstall

Norton Dunstall

Manufacturer	Dunstall Motorcycles
Production	1966–1975
Predecessor	Norton Dominator
Engine	745 cc air-cooled overhead valve parallel twin
Power	72 bhp @ 7000 rpm[citation needed]
Transmission	four-speed, chain final drive
Wheelbase	55.5 inches (141 cm)
Seat height	31.5 inches (80 cm)

The Dunstall was a Norton motorcycle made by Paul Dunstall, a specialist tuner of 1960s and early 1970s twins using parts from Norton's Domiracer project when the Birmingham factory was closed in 1963. In 1966 Dunstall Motorycles became a motorcycle manufacturer in its own right, so that Dunstalls could compete in production races,^[1] and set a number of world records before sales of the Dunstall Nortons declined in the 1970s and Paul Dunstall sold the name in 1982.^[1]

Development

Paul Dunstall was a specialist tuner of Norton twins in the 1960s and early 1970s. He started modifying Nortons in 1957, at the age of 18, when he converted a Norton Dominator into a competitive racing motorcycle. As well as fitting a Norton Manx gearbox and wheels, Dunstall balanced the crankshaft and installed the Dominator engine into a Manx Norton frame. After two outright wins at Brands Hatch, Paul retired from racing to run a scooter shop and develop performance motorcycles^[1] from the parts left over from Norton's Domiracer project when the factory closed in 1963 and used them as the basis for a series of high performance motorcycles. The 130mph Dunstall Atlas roadster was the fastest motorcycle on the market at the time of its launch.

In 1966 Dunstall Motorycles became a motorcycle manufacturer in its own right, so that Dunstalls could compete in production races and the Auto-Cycle Union, which is the governing body for motor racing in Britain, approved Dunstall Dominators as a marque for the production race in the 1967 Isle of Man TT.^[1] The 1969 Dunstall Norton racer produced over 70bhp from a Norton Atlas 750cc engine. The frame was designed by Eddie Robinson and had a spine of large-diameter steel tubing that got it the earned it the nickname The Drainpipe. The design included 'pannier' fuel tanks inside the fairiing to lower the centre of gravity and improve handling but following fuel starvation problems a conventional fuel tank was fitted. Sales of the Dunstall Nortons declined in the 1970's and Paul Dunstall sold the name in 1982.^[1]

Racing Success

In 1967 Rex Butcher set a number of world records on a 750cc Dunstall at Monza in Italy, and in 1968, Dunstall rider Ray Pickrell won the Isle of Man TT on a Dunstall Atlas and secured 17 1st places on a Featherbed framed 750 Dunstall Dommiracer, including the titles 'Master of Mallory' and 'King of Brands'.^[2] Ray also won the '68 IOM production TT race with a new race record of 99.39 mph. In 1969 Pickrell also rode Dunstall Nortons to set a new national record for the 750cc quarter mile at 144.69mph at Elvington in Yorkshire.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Dunstall Motorcycles History". http://www.woodgate.org/dunstall/history+.html. Retrieved 2009-03-28. 
2. ^ "Dunstall Norton". http://www.nortonracing.co.nz/dunstall.html. Retrieved 2009-03-28.