Original, un-restored, one-owner, stock, 1962 Norton Manx for sale
This is the 1962 Norton Manx of Tony Murphy. Tony purchased this Manx new and owned if for more than 60 years. Tony passed away recently, and we are looking for a buyer that can appreciate its original, stock, one-owner nature and it's incredible racing history. Tony campaigned this in California in the 1960s, earning him the informal title of the King of Willow Springs. It is stock and original with one twist.
Tony Murphy was my father-in-law. He was a professional roadracer, Motorcyclist Magazine Editor in the '70s, and 40-year U.S. importer of Rotax two-stroke engines. He had a long history in the U.S. motorcycle industry with a little time in the auto industry as well.
Tony was the original owner of this Norton Manx. He bought this brand new from McLaughlin Motors in Duarte in 1963 for $1,000. He bought this instead of a Ford GT40 that his friend Bob Bondurant offered him for $5,000. Who knows what that GT40 would be worth today...
This Manx took Tony to three AFM 500cc Championships. It held long-standing lap records at Willow Springs and it helped him earn the title in the 1960s as “The King of Willow.” https://riderfiles.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/fast-motoring-murphy/ It only raced locally at California tracks.
Tony began racing factory Yamahas in the late 1960s and the Manx sat. It really only ran three full seasons. It has also been ridden by Don Vesco, Don McLaughlin and Buddy Parriot. It’s only fall was Buddy’s low-speed slip in Turn 6 at Riverside. It’s final race was in 1982 when Don Vesco and Tony took their Manxes out to an AFM race at Willow to see what they could do with them. They beat dozens of Yamaha RD400s to take second and third in the 450 class the race organizers put them in.
The Norton Manx is unique. The 500s made over 100 horsepower-per-liter at the time. In fact, the last front-engine Formula One Car to win the F1 Championship was the Vanwall, which had an engine that was four Norton Manx 500s stitched together.
Since then this Manx has been stored in Tony's workshop. Tony spent years tinkering with it and maintaining it. It has a new piston in it now. All the old pistons and bottom ends that have been in it, including the original parts that were in the bike when it left the Norton factory are included. It also includes a second race tank.
Tony lives in the arid mountains above Southern California where there is almost no humidity, so the bike has no rust or corrosion. It is un-restored, but cared for well.
It is serial number 102755. Looking at records from the Norton factory, this places it as the 66th-from-final Manx built in the last batch of bikes built in 1962. There were 40 Manxes built in early 1963 with the remaining '62 parts, and then the Manx went out of production.
A few years ago Tony noticed that the original California title listed this as an "on-road vehicle." Of course, it wasn’t. Manxes were purpose-built racers. But because the title said this, and with a lot of free time on his hands, Tony took it to the DMV to try to get it registered.
After numerous trips to the DMV pleading his case, they agreed to give him a license plate. It had to be inspected, so he fitted lights, a horn, turn signals and a mirror. All of these parts are removable in about 30 minutes to make it 100% original with no holes or damage to the bike. The original race fly-screen fairing is included. While a little odd, this makes it the only street-legal Norton Manx in the U.S. or perhaps the world! The speedo, horn, brake lights and turn signals are all operational. The license plate is “Manx 62.”
This motorcycle was a part of Tony's life for 62 years. We want to make sure this goes to someone who appreciates it and will give it the care and love that he gave it.