Matchless 2539286 220432012 2008-06-19T20:52:03Z TR001 6861075 /* History */ added image {{dablink|For the amplifier manufacturer, see [[Matchless Amplifiers]].}} [[Image:Matchless 350 1953.jpg|140px|thumb|1953 Matchless 350]] '''Matchless''' is one of the oldest [[marque]]s of [[United Kingdom|British]] [[motorcycle]]s with the first models manufactured at the start of the 20th century. Matchless branded motorcycles produced in [[Plumstead]], [[London]] from 1899 to 1966 when the name was dropped by its owners. A wide range of models were produced under the Matchless name ranging from small two-strokes to 750&nbsp;cc [[Four-stroke cycle|four-stroke]] twins. Among the most famous early models were the [[Matchless Silver Hawk|Silver Hawk]] and the [[Matchless Silver Arrow|Silver Arrow]]. Matchless had a long history of racing participation and success. A Matchless, ridden by [[Charlie Collier]], won the first single cylinder race in the first [[1907 Isle of Man TT|Isle of Man TT]] in 1907 with an average speed of 38.21&nbsp;mph in a time of 4.08.08. Their machines won again in 1909 and 1910. Matchless have participated in many [[Isle of Man TT]] and [[Manx Grand Prix]] races up to 1997 with varying success.<ref>[http://www.iomtt.com/home/TTDatabase/races.aspx?mach_id=1] Matchless ''Isle of Man TT & MGP race results'' (Retrieved [[30 August]] [[2006]])</ref> The Colliers bought [[AJS]] in 1931, and in 1938 both Matchless and AJS became part of [[Associated Motorcycles]] (AMC), both companies producing models under their own marques. During the amalgamations that occurred in the British motorcycle industry in the 1960s, the Matchless four-stroke twin was replaced with the [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]] twin ending a long history of independent production. By 1967, the Matchless singles had ceased production. It was over. ==History== === Matchless (1899-1938) === The first Matchless motorcycle was made in 1899, and manufacture began in 1901. Matchless was the trading name of Collier & Sons, the father H. H. Collier and his sons Charlie and Harry. The Matchless tank badge was a winged "M". Like many motorcycle manufacturers of the time they had started as [[bicycle]] manufacturers. They produced a [[JA Prestwich Industries Ltd|JAP]] V-twin powered bike in 1905 which boasted one of the earliest swing-arm rear suspensions, coupled with leading-link front forks. Charlie won the inaugural TT singles race in 1907 with an average speed of 38.21&nbsp;mph and a time of 4 hours 8 minutes 8 seconds. Harry did not finish in 1907, but won in 1909, and Charlie won again in 1910, bringing Matchless motorcycles to the attention of the public. Matchless made mostly singles, but they also made V-twins from 496&nbsp;cc to 998&nbsp;cc. They made their own engines from 1912 on. Matchless was not given a contract to make motorcycles for the army during the [[First World War]]. Peacetime production resumed in 1919, concentrating at first on V-twins for [[sidecar]] use, leaving singles until 1923. In 1926 H H Collier died, and by 1928 Matchless was a limited company. In 1930 they launched a narrow-angle 400&nbsp;cc V-twin called the Silver Arrow, designed by Charlie, and in 1931 they launched an (advanced for the time) 593&nbsp;cc V-four, the Silver Hawk.<ref>[http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/britbikes/otherk_q.html#m] Ian Chadwick ''Histories'' (Retrieved 21 October)</ref>The Hawk was designed by youngest brother Bert, who was now active in the company, and he was responsible for design right up to the War.<ref name="lemon">[http://www.is-it-a-lemon.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=781] Is-it-a-lemon ''Vehicle Histories'' (Retrieved 21 October)</ref> [[Image:Matchless tank badge.jpg|left|250px]] In 1931 Matchless bought [[AJS]] from the Stevens brothers. Matchless bought [[Sunbeam (motorcycle)|Sunbeam]] in the late thirties, but Sunbeam was sold to [[Birmingham Small Arms Company|BSA]] in 1943. After that the only "true" AJS models, as far as AJS enthusiasts were concerned, were the racing 7Rs, Porcupines and the pre-war AJS Four. The shared models were considered by some AJS fans to be only [[badge engineered]] Matchless models. In 1935 the Matchless/AJS hairpin valve springs made their first appearance. Matchless supplied engines for the V-twin versions of the [[Morgan Motor Company|Morgan]] three-wheeler from 1933 until Morgan production was halted by the outbreak of World War II in 1939. From 1935 on they were Morgan's exclusive supplier of V-twin engines. A dozen surviving unused engines were still in storage at the Morgan works in 1946 and were used to build a final batch of V-Twin trikes for a Morgan dealer in Australia. === AMC (1938 - 1966) === {{see also|AJS}} [[Associated Motorcycles|Associated Motor Cycles]] (AMC) was formed in 1938, as a parent company for Matchless and AJS motorcycles. AMC later absorbed [[Francis-Barnett]], [[James Cycle Co|James]], and [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]]. In 1941 Matchless motorcycles introduced telescopic front forks called "Teledraulic" forks, considered by some to be the first major innovation in front suspension in 25 years. During the [[Second World War]], Matchless manufactured 80,000 [[Matchless G3/L|G3 and G3L models]] for the armed forces. By 1956 they had eight models in their line up, but the number had dwindled in 1965. The G3L was the first to feature the "Teledraulic" front forks. Post-war landmarks start with the production of Matchless/AJS 350&nbsp;cc and [[Matchless G80]] 500&nbsp;cc singles, developed from the legendary war-time Matchless G3 produced for the Army. From 1948 competition models of the singles were produced which gave the company some memorable wins. [[Image:Matchless-g80s.jpg|thumb|350px|1949 Matchless G80S at auction in 2007]] In 1949 the first Matchless/AJS vertical twin, a 500&nbsp;cc, was produced; later to be joined by 600&nbsp;cc and 650&nbsp;cc vertical twins in 1956 and 1959 respectively. On the racing front AMC were fielding the ([[supercharger|supercharged]]) [[AJS Porcupine]] and the [[AJS 7R]] alongside the Matchless G50, a 500&nbsp;cc variant of the 7R, and the 1951 [[Matchless G45]] 500&nbsp;cc vertical twin. Even when supercharging was banned, [[Leslie Graham|Les Graham]] won the [[1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1949 500&nbsp;cc world championship]] on a normally aspirated Porcupine.<ref>[http://www.jampot.com/History.asp] Jampot ''History'' (retrieved [[21 October]] [[2006]]),</ref> For 1952, the first Model G45 twin with its 7R style heads came into being, the engine still recognisably G9 based but housed in a 7R AJS based frame etc. This time Derek Farrant won the Manx Grand Prix at 88.65&nbsp;mph. AMC put the G45 into production and it was shown at Earls Court in November.<ref>[http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/1955_matchless.html] MotorBikeSearchEngine ''G45 article'' (Retrieved [[October 21]])</ref> In 1953 there was a Clubman range of Matchless/AJS 350&nbsp;cc and 500&nbsp;cc singles, and the production model Matchless G45 500 twin became available. AMC withdrew from the world of works and one-off road racing at the end of the 1954, with the death of Ike Hatch, and in the face of fierce competition from the other European bikes. In 1958 the Matchless/AJS road bikes were joined by a 250&nbsp;cc and in 1960 by a 350&nbsp;cc for a lightweight series of singles. The Matchless G50 single-cylinder racer was made generally available for privateers in 1959, and competed against the Norton Manx. Though its 90.0 x 78.0 mm 50&nbsp;bhp engine and top speed near 135&nbsp;mph (217&nbsp;km/h) were slightly down on the Manx, the lighter Matchless could take the day on tight and twisty circuits.<ref name="lemon"/> In 1960 [[Bert Hopwood]] resigned from AMC and went to Meriden. That same year AMC posted a profit of a bit over 200,000&nbsp;pounds, not so good compared with BSA's 3.5 million. Then in 1961 they posted a loss of £350,000. With the closure of the Norton plant at Birmingham in 1962 and the merger of Norton and Matchless production, the future was beginning to look rather bleak. In the sixties, with sales declining AMC made the commercial decision to focus on the Norton twins and the Matchless/AJS singles but they were not to be successful and the factory ceased production shortly afterwards. With the G15 line, AMC built on the merits of the G12 but there were numerous changes to frame, forks, swinging arm, primary chaincase, transmission, cycle parts and lubrication system. The P11 was the last line of bikes with bonds to AMC. It used a modified G85CS frame but there were stronger forks, completely new cycle parts (making some was rather costly), altered lubrication and modified primary chaincases, to mention a few. The G15 series was offered as 3 brands: Matchless G15 comprising G15Mk2, G15CS and G15CSR; AJS Model 33 comprising M33Mk2, M33CS and M33CSR; and last not least Norton N15CS (no Norton-branded roadster made as it would compete against the Atlas). The G15 series was produced from 1963 to 1969. They were initially for export only, but by 1965 these models were available in UK and Europe too. The Matchless G85CS used a 12:1 compression 500&nbsp;cc with an improved bottom end, and a Norton gear-driven oil pump replacing the old reciprocating design that dated back to the 1920s.<ref>[http://www.ma.org.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Online_Classics&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=10134] MA ''1958 500&nbsp;cc AJS 18CS Scrambler'' (Retrieved [[25 October]] [[2006]])</ref> The revised bottom end was introduced for 1964 and is shared by 350/500 roadsters and the 500CS (G80CS and M18CS), the engine of which was later adapted to the G85CS. The new lubrication system helped lubricating the big end and piston as well as the top end on the high-performance singles. The G85CS was further tuned for 1966, and received a new piston providing a CR of 12.5:1. An Amal GP carburettor was standard fitting, making the bike hard to start. Maximum power rose to 41&nbsp;bhp @ 6500&nbsp;rpm. Matchless/AJS built predictable handling, comfortable, well-made, reliable and economical motorcycles, for their day. Unfortunately such attributes were not enough to keep them in business. Continuing poor sales led to AMC becoming part of a new company, called Norton-Villiers in 1966. === Norton Villiers (1966 - 1973) === {{main|Norton-Villiers}} In 1966 Associated Motorcycles AMC went bankrupt and were taken over by [[Manganese Bronze]] Holdings who formed Norton-Villiers to oversee operations. At the time Norton was the only motorcycle marque in the company that was making money. There was a P11 series which comprised the following 4 models: P11 (1967), P11A (1968) and P11A Ranger (1968/69) and the P11 Ranger 750 (1969). It is believed that production of the G15 series was halted late in 1968 (model year '69) with unsold samples on offer through 1969. The P11 series carried on in production until the spring of 1969. The P11 was offered either as Norton or Matchless, but by heritage it is a Matchless bike. === Les Harris (1987) === A new Harris “Matchless G80” single, with Rotax SOHC motor and single front disc brake is released. Electric start and twin discs are options. ==See also== {{Commonscat|Matchless motorcycles}} * [[List of AMC motorcycles]] * [[Matchless G3/L]] * [[Matchless G80]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.jampot.com/ AJS & Matchless Owners Club] * [http://www.freewebs.com/ajsmatchless/ AJS & Matchless Owners Club] Unofficial egroup * [http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ajsmatchless/ AJS/Matchless Yahoo group] * [http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Matchless%20Bikes/Matchless%20Index.htm Matchless images] * [http://www.dropbears.com/m/models/classic/matchless.htm Short history and images] * [http://www.ajsmoc.com AJS & Matchless Owners Club, North American Section] {{British motorcycle manufacturers}} [[Category:Companies established in 1899]] [[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]] [[de:Matchless]] [[fr:Matchless]] [[nl:Matchless]] [[sv:Matchless]]