1968 Norton Commando

In 1968, Norton did the unthinkable – it ditched the legendary ‘Featherbed’ frame to create the Commando. True, the model wasn’t an entirely new design – the basic engine dated back to 1949, but the 750cc Commando breathed fresh life into what had been an ailing brand. That engine was now suspended on rubber mounts within the new frame to cure the vibrations that had reached their nadir with the Atlas. The Fastback Mk1 embodied bold new styling for the cycle parts, which was a big hit in Norton’s biggest market, the USA, and just in time. In 1973 the engine was further stretched to 850cc which extended the model’s (and Norton’s) life until August 1975