The Norton Commando John Player Special was a 1974 limited edition version of the Norton Commando that was fitted with bodywork styled to reproduce the successful Formula 750 works racers that were sponsored by cigarette manufacturers John Player & Sons.

[4] Dennis Poore, chairman of Norton had instigated the formation of a works racing team to enter Formula 750 events in late 1971 with sponsorship from John Player to promote their John Player Special brand of cigarettes.

[8] These included three races at the Transatlantic Trophy[9] and the Formula 750cc Isle of Man TT.

[10][11] To capitalise on the success of the race bikes, Norton decided to produce a variant of the Commando styled to resemble the racers.

Initially it was to have been a cafe racer,[3] but when the works team started entering endurance races with an abbreviated fairing fitted with twin headlights,[12] the design direction changed.