Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Ajs & Matchless forum G3L Engine Query

I have just been given the remains of a G3L motor. Its too far gone to use for anything, but it might make a nice mounted display. Number is 47/G3L 4276. is there anything else to be gained from the number except that its from 1947? (month, destination?). Its in Australia but that may not have been its original despatch I suppose.

I don't know how complete the AJSMatchless OC factory records are, if at all, but I've not seen anything comprehensive quoted in that era. Australia was a popular destination for Ajays and Matchies, the Dealers advertised them extensively and whole shiploads must have come here. Perhaps literally ? There used to be vast quantities of bits and spares at swap meets, although that seems to have diminished of late. Switched over to ebay, at exorbitant prices maybe ??

The ohv 350's were quite a peppy motor, and the first rank of the big bangers available on the market.
At quite moderate prices - since more cc's cost more quids ...
https://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/matchless-1947/Matchless-1947-02.htm

I would suspect that quantities arriving diminished into the 1950s, merely from seeing less stuff about,
but have not sighted any numbers to verify this.

many years ago I owned an ex-WD G3L from 1943, which I acquired from a scrapyard in Hong Kong about 30 years ago. It was fitted with a McCandless spring rear end. I never got it finished but it went to a good home in the UK.

All Victorian Matchless engine numbers are still available. I’m away from home but from memory very few were imported in 1947. It took a few years postwar for imports to get going again. I can’t imagine other States would have a wildly different experience.
I’m home tomorrow and I can then tell you exactly how many 47/G3L arrived in Vic.

I'll be curious to see numbers too.
I'll comment there may be more than you think. !

When I assembled a 49 from a basketcase, and found that much of it wasn't the best and went parts hunting,
I came across a LOT of earlier stuff. None of which will fit a 49. as I discovered.
AMC must have changed about everything every 2 years back then. All in the name of improvement of course.
But wheels, axles, oil tank, gearbox plates, brakes, mudguards, fork yokes, forks, they all changed.
I must have gathered a near complete 47/48 from parts that looked the same, but weren't !!
Earlier parts seemed more common to find than 49, which were almost a one year only.
And everyone seemed to have a different opinion of what was 'right'. Pre-internet of course.

And these days you (frequently ?) see bikes which are an absolute smorgasbord of years all cobbled together.
Which can (mostly) be done, if you juggle enough parts around. Wrong engine plates in wrong frame, nyet !
Ain't old bikes fun ?

Well, I’ve assembled the Victorian figures for all models from 1945 to 1950 and can now tell you how many of each were registered new here. They are as follows.
1945 G3L = 0
G80= 0
1946 G3L = 7
G80=1
1947 G3L = 20
G80= 5
1948 G3L = 79
G80= 162
1949 G3L = 101
G3LS = 6
G80= 322
G80S= 22
G9= 2
1950 G3L=88
G3LS=14
G80= 144
G80S= 96
G9= 54
My memory is rustier than I thought but the figures are still small.
As you can see it took a few years for production to get back on a peacetime footing and of course this is only Matchless, AJS usually outsold Matchless.
You’ll also note the two 1949 G9. The AJSMOC firmly told me this wasn’t possible but the record cards are sitting there
Any questions?

Thanks for taking the time to look into this Villiers, much appreciated.

"very interesting" as they say in the movies.
It did take a while to get going postwar, didn't it.

You must almost be unique in being able to look into this stuff and draw out results. ?
Some of the Clubs with this info have produced diddly squat in decades, you did it in one evening !

It's only because I explored the Matchless world fairly thoroughly over the years I rode them and still have a lot of my notes, that's all.
Once I had the world of vintage two-strokes thrust upon me and discovered what a hoot they are I buried myself in Villiers and slowly left Matchless behind.
For our US friends "vintage" is 'antique" in American speak.