Well said David. I have a book written in the early 80s with a test and photo of the 60s/early 70s 4 valve 'works' paton and the earlier 2 valve version and if you ask me they look pretty similar to the current one. At least as similar if not more similar than a 95 bore manx looks to a 86 bore version. So to say that the 4 valve paton was concieved in the 80s is wrong.

Whether or not you should be able to build a replica of a 'works' Paton when I know that Ken Platt was refused permission to build a replica of the outside flywheel 'works' Norton is more questionable. As is the clubs refusal to allow replicas of 'period' homemade 4 valve heads despite the fact that they were a lot more available than a works MV. Mularney would have sold you his 4-valve manx.......there is no way MV would sell you a works bike!

Lets not forget that Oversby has lapped at over 108mph on a Manx Norton and so did Bill Swallow in the 1999 singles TT (i think it was 1999).