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[[Image:1941-Matchless-G3L-Army.jpg|left|thumb| | '''Matchless''' is one of the oldest makes of [[:Category:English motorcycles|British motorcycles]] with the first models manufactured at the start of the 20th century. | ||
==History== | |||
[[Image:1941-Matchless-G3L-Army.jpg|thumb|1941 Matchless G3L Army]] | |||
[[Image:1962-Matchless-G50.jpg|thumb|1962 Matchless G50]] | |||
[[Image:1953-Matchless-G9.jpg|thumb|1953 Matchless G9]] | |||
[[Image:1933-Matchless-Silver-Hawk.jpg|thumb|1933 Matchless Silver Hawk]] | |||
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 stroke|2-strokes]] to 750[[cc]] [[Four stroke|3-stroke]] twin cylinder. Among the most famous early models were the [[Matchless Silver Hawk]] and the [[Matchless Silver Arrow]]. | |||
Matchless had a long history of [[road racing]] participation and success. A Matchless, ridden by Charlie Collier, won the first single cylinder race in the first [[Isle of Man TT]] in 1907 with an average speed of 38.21 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. | |||
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 badging. Matchless bought [[Sunbeam]] in the late thirties, but Sunbeam was sold to [[BSA]] in 1943. | |||
During the mergers that occurred in the British motorcycle industry in the 1960s, the Matchless four-stroke twin was replaced with the Norton twin ending a long history of independent production. By 1967, the Matchless singles had ceased production. It was over. | |||
==G80== | |||
[[Image:1946 Matchless G-80.jpg|left|thumb|1946 Matchless G-80]] | |||
Traditional British design from the 1930s updated in the early 1940s with [[telescopic fork]]s. The 350cc version of this machine, identical in appearance, was used extensively by dispatch riders during the WWII. The G-80 was a very simple design were maintenance could be done by the owner, a typical daily commuter bike where gas mileage and reliability were more important than speed and power. | |||
{{clear}} | |||
==Models== | |||
*[[Matchless G80|G80]] | |||
*[[Matchless G50|G50]] | |||
*[[Matchless G45|G45]] | |||
*[[Matchless G9|G9]] | |||
*[[Matchless Model X|Model X]] | |||
*[[Matchless Silver Hawk|Silver Hawk]] | |||
*[[Matchless G3L|G3L (Army)]] | |||
==See Also== | |||
*[[:Category:Matchless motorcycles]] | |||
[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]] | |||
[[Category:Defunct motorcycle manufacturers]] | |||
[[Category:English motorcycles]] | |||