The end of World War II marked the beginning of a period of enormous automotive expansion, as well as the birth of a market hungry for cheap transport. This era boomed with demand for small-capacity motorcycles, and British firm BSA was one of many eager to enter the two-stroke arena. In the end, it was a German company that provided the necessary inspiration for one of BSA’s best-loved bikes, and at more than 250,000 examples built over more than two decades, one of the best-selling English motorcycles of all time: the Bantam.
Sketchbook Travels
The Artwork of Martin Squires
STOCK Stories is an ongoing series of articles for Hagerty.com documenting the more commercial side of motorcycle history. Having drawn many customs and specials Martin was intrigued buy the motorcycles that were used as a starting point for many of these machines.
From this curiosity came his personal discovery of the importance of STOCK motorcycles. Not only does each article give Martin an insight into the business side of motorcycles with the developmental decisions made by the many marques and companies who have been and still are involved in this industry.
Moto Morini 3 1/2
Alfonso Morini founded his namesake motorcycle company, Moto Morini, in Bologna, Italy, in 1937. Bouncing back after WWII, production resumed and the company’s T125 two-stroke, based on the successful DKW engine design, was so successful that that many marques copied it—the most famous being the BSA Bantam. Throughout the next two decades, Moto Morini would fulfill Alfonso’s passion for motorsport and win hundreds of races.
However, it wasn’t until after Alfonso’s death in 1969 that one of his company’s most celebrated bikes came into existence: the Moto Morini 3 1/2.
Norton P11
The Norton P11 is among the rarest and most sought-after motorcycles of the 1960s. At the time of its release in 1967, it was advertised by Norton’s U.S. importer, the Berliner Motor Corporation, with slogans such as “Dynamite on wheels!” and “The world’s finest all-purpose motorcycle.” It was a bike specifically aimed at a riding audience keen on both performance and adventure. Adapted from the Norton Atlas and Norton/Matchless N15CS and G15CS models, Norton envisioned the P11 as a motorcycle for desert racing.