Dave Porter, Customer Service and Tech Support
AMC
Looking back on some of the more revered names in the annals of British motorcycle history, it’s hard to overlook the impact that AMC had on the industry with iconic manufacturers such as Matchless, AJS, Sunbeam, James, Francis-Barnett, and eventually Norton, all under the umbrella of the parent company. AMC was founded in 1938 by H. Collier and Sons and represented an amalgamation of the aforementioned marques until 1966, when financial collapse caused the firm to reform as Norton-Villiers. By this time, the AJS and Matchless machines were mainly single-cylinder models, while “Featherbed” frame Norton Atlas twins were the desired models in the US, soon to become the Commando with their famous rubber-mounted “Isolastic” engine and chassis.
AJS
1953 16ms model that Dave worked on
AJS was founded by Joe Stevens in 1909 at Wolverhampton, England and named for Albert John (Jack) Stevens… apparently the most famous of the four Stevens sons. The family was into motorcycle competitions and Jack had some racing success prior to the first World War. The AJS marque was associated with overhead valve four-stroke single-cylinder models and side valve V-twins.
AJS and Matchless
1958 Matchless G11 Dave worked on
In 1931 AJS was acquired by Matchless, a well-established marque in London, and motorcycle production was moved to Plumstead after BSA failed to obtain control of the AJS assets. This arrangement continued until Associated Motor Cycles was founded prior to World War II. Matchless and AMC shared models that were badged as either marque, with AJS models still active in racing. Matchless was well known for their venerable G3 single-cylinder military dispatch model, which would continue production as a civilian model after the war. Development of badge-engineered twin-cylinder models ensued during the austere post-war years, as well as the legendary AJS 7R overhead cam single.
Norton joined the AMC empire in 1952, now comprising a powerhouse organization that offered a diversified stable of motorcycles with designs courtesy of the iconic Bert Hopwood, until he resigned to join Triumph in 1960. Although the Matchless/AJS singles and twin cylinder motorcycles were comfortable, well-made, and economical, they were not sold in large enough numbers to keep AMC afloat on their own. Continuing poor sales led to AMC becoming part of the newly formed Norton-Villiers company in 1966. The last gasp for the AJS and Matchless twins was the AJS Model 33 and the Matchless G15, which was a Norton 750 engine in a Matchless G80CS frame, produced through the 1968 model year.
Norton-Villiers went into liquidation in 1974, then was reformed as Norton-Villiers-Triumph, with the assistance of the British government. This was short-lived due to the master plan envisioned by NVT director Dennis Poore, where Triumph’s Meriden production plant would be sold to Jaguar and Triumphs were to be produced at the Small Heath BSA plant and Norton production continuing at Wolverhampton.
The Meriden workforce balked at this plan and imposed a sit-in strike and a partial blockade of Triumph units, effectively ending the 1974 Triumph production early in September 1973. Interestingly, the AJS name was bought by former works rider Fluff Brown, who revived the 250cc and 360cc AJS Stormer motocross models for the 1974 model year. The Brown family still owns the AJS Motorcycles brand and imports small capacity Chinese-manufactured motorcycles under the AJS name.
