Lot details
Registration No: BTW677B
Frame No: A-85336
Engine No: 31CSR-X9672
cc: 650
MOT Expiry Date: None

By 1964 the AMC group were only two years away from complete collapse but still re-designing and developing their range of machines, which was becoming an ever increasing mish-mash of Norton, AMC and other proprietary components. The model nomenclature was, and is still, almost incomprehensible to all but the most dyed in the wool AMC anorak. Consisting of various numbers, not necessarily in sequence, and suffixed by a confusing combination of G, S,C, and R digits the model in question can usually be correctly identified by the engine number and will be within the AJS or Matchless marque designation. The two variants were identical except for badging but inexplicably AJS branded bikes could be some £25 cheaper than the Matchless equivalent when new. Many major and minor parts are still freely available and can be interchanged between many models making restoration simple, the big 650 twins in particular lend themselves to such projects and can be used satisfactorily under modern road conditions. The later versions enjoy the benefit of complete Norton Roadholder front ends, the excellent AMC designed gearbox and all the other long overdue improvements that the G. B. M. I. discovered when it was just about too late.
This 1964 31 CSR example was bought by the vendor in 1998 via Yeomans of Drayton, who kindly and honestly returned the extra £10 note he had mistakenly included in his payment. It was to be restored but never made it to the top of the pile of projects, so has lain untouched in dry storage since. First registered BTW 677B by dealers Claude Rye, evidenced by the accompanying buff log book, the bike spent it's early years in Middlesex and Hereford. This machine looks substantially complete and original and is a prime candidate for restoration.