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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Collectors' Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia
• Sale Date:
  19 Jun 2016 ~ 3pm
• Lot #:
  64
• Lot Description:
  1948 AJS MODEL 18 500cc SINGLE
  Engine no: 48/18 8179 B; Frame No: 32756; This motorcycle will be sold unregistered.
• Notes:
  The Wolverhampton based motorcycle manufacturer, Albert Johns Stevens, founded A J Stevens & Co. Ltd (AJS), in Retreat Street, Wolverhampton. The first model appeared at the Motor Cycle Show in 1910. The company went broke in 1931 and Matchless, owned by the London-based Collier Brothers, bought the spoils, but not before AJS had taken tremendous wins at the Isle of Man TT in 1914, 1921 and 1922 as well as a myriad of other motorcycle world records. This assimilation of brands led to the formation of Associated Motor Cycles, or AMC, while the fusion of ideas and technology enjoyed celebrated racing and commercial success, until 1969. Essentially, AJS was always out there on the track and in the marketplace and not at any time the lesser of the 2 revered British makes. This 1948 AJS Model 18, a Matchless by any other name, featuring the patented 'Teledraulic' fork with three rate springs and shuttle-type hydraulic damping. Aka the Matchless G80, this classic AJS is arguably the quintessential English post-war heavyweight single. Solid, handsome, reliable and economical these big singles became known for long-distance cruising. The 500 'thumper' was more or less a direct development of the WW2 350cc Matchless G3/L, which in turn was developed from the long-stroke Matchless singles of the mid-1930s. In 1945, the AJS Model 18 and the Matchless G80 were launched and remained virtually unchanged for the following 3 years. The 82.5mm bore by 93mm long-stroke 497cc motor at 6:1 compression used traditional British pushrod-operated overhead valves; dry sump lubrication with an external oil tank; a four-speed separate Burman gearbox; a single down tube ridged frame; a manually-operated Lucas magneto and Lucas 6-volt chain-driven dynamo and an Amal 13/32 inch carburettor making these AMC singles quintessentially and proudly British. This charming example retains the signs and patina of an older restoration. According to the vendor, it has been stored and remained untouched for about 8 years. This motorcycle retains many original features and period parts and the engine turns over freely, although it has not been started for some years and the internal mechanical condition is unknown. For the keen British bike enthusiast or the young metro-rider this presents a great opportunity to acquire a complete, intact classic British 500 single of the post war era that will require some sensitive adjustments and restoration work.
• Estimate:
  A$6,000 - 8,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.