Henry Manney III’s Manx Norton

The argument over best-loved automotive writer of all time would last far into the night, but among the finalists has to be the late Henry Manney III. No finer wordsmith ever grasped a steering wheel or set of handlebars. For decades his pieces were required reading in Road & Track magazine, especially his “At Large” column, which often signed off with his trademark shorthand coda, Yr Faithfl Srvnt. It was Manney who famously characterized the sexy swoop of a Jaguar E-type as the “greatest crumpet-catcher known to man.” He also wrote for R&T’s sister magazine Cycle World, where his good humor, keen wit and wonderfully obtuse writing style were always welcome entertainment. This was his 1956 Manx Norton project bike. :continue: