1962 Matchless G80

Lot details
Registration No: Un-Reg
Frame No: A35756
Engine No: 62/G8041434
cc: 500

The "Heavyweight" Matchless singles and their cousins bearing the AJS badge which, traced their origins back to the pre war period, gradually evolved through the forties and fifties. AMC had been the first British manufacturer to employ telescopic forks when it introduced the military G3/L in 1941 equipped with "Teledraulic" units and were among the first to employ hydraulically damped pivoted fork suspension on a production motorcycle towards the end of the forties. Refinements were introduced into the singles range throughout the fifties, full width alloy hubs and automatic ignition advance had appeared for the 1954 season, whilst a revised frame design with was adopted in 1956 incorporating an enclosed battery/tool box on the left side and a long complimentary oil tank on the right. For the 1957 season the universally acclaimed AMC gearbox was introduced, replacing the Burman unit previously employed and the "Jampot" rear suspension units gave way to Girling items. Modifications for 1958 included the adoption of an alternator electrical system in place of the magneto and dynamo previously employed and the leak prone, pressed steel primary chaincase was finally consigned to history by a new all alloy unit. Little changed for the last year of the decade, but for 1960 a new duplex frame was adopted together with mudguards of a more rounded appearance and in an attempt to enliven the appearance of the machines, new, bold (garish?) tank badges. A range of colours was now offered in a further attempt to brighten the range and for the 1962 season names were adopted with the G80 becoming the "Major" to the AMC marketing department, although it remained the G80 to everyone else.
This example of the G80, dating from 1962 is offered in very good restored condition. The bright red paintwork is complimented by the large plated tank badges. It is offered with Spanish documentation.