Posted on 02/13/2020 6:23:09 PM PST by Cronos
A motorbike firm which said the UK would thrive outside of the European Union has gone into administration just days after the divorce was officially settled.
Norton Motorcycles has hit the rocks after reportedly struggling to pay a tax bill, with the owner also blaming Brexit uncertainty for the firm’s demise.
In September 2018 Stuart Garner had claimed he had no fears about Brexit, saying that it would be a “huge opportunity” to negotiate trade deals around the globe.
He claimed that the UK was better prepared for Brexit than the media would have us believe.
“It’s what the country voted for so let’s get on with it,” he told the Leicester Mercury.
Commenting on the future for his iconic British business, he said: “I believe we will thrive outside the EU. There may be some short-term speed bumps but we’ll come out of it stronger.
“We’re a strong-willed nation and will make it succeed.”
Beautiful bikes. Wish I held on to them
The Brits don’t need this particular business as much as they need to ditch Marxism, environmental extremism, and too much immigration.
Definitely good looking.
Norton Commandos were quite the deal back then.
They are beautiful. I had a 65 Matchless. Remember those? Also had a 72 and 76 Triumph Bonneville. Wish I still had mine too. Except for the lousy Lucas electrical system!
India? Don’t drink the water.
Lucas, Prince of Darkness
Speaking as a former BSA owner
Brexit had nothing to do with it. Mismanagement is blamed on everything but.....mismanagement.
Damn shame too. I really wanted to see Nortons back on the road.
If they made something similar to that now, it would sell like hotcakes!
The Brits made the best looking bikes back when, no doubt about that. Partly why I bought my BSA. I loved it, but I should have bought a Japanese bike. Would have got where I was going more often LOL
I’ve seen the old Norton 500 single running with Harleys.
It’s one of the few foreign bikes that had respect.
To be fair, Norton seemingly goes bankrupt on a biannual basis.
Norton has gone bankrupt in good economic times, bad economic times, when they’ve had more orders than they could ship, when they couldn’t get customers, etc., etc.
“Is it Friday? Norton must be bankrupt again.”
Back in ancient times. Now Harley is the laughingstock except among the aging Boomer and older crowd.
I had a 66 BSA 441 Victor when I was in college. It was a single cylinder beast that would climb anything that it could get traction on.
My BIL says the Brits pick a bad design and stick to it!
Great photo.....a motorcycle that looks like........a motorcycle!
Beautiful machine.
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