1954 Matchless G80S, 500cc, Registration number HFV 278. Fra...

Hammer

£2,900

1954 Matchless G80S, 500cc, Registration number HFV 278. Frame number not found. Engine number 51/18 16446.

In the early 1950s, the most popular British four-strokes were still pushrod singles. The Matchless G80 is typical of this era.

By 1951 the G80 had an alloy cylinder head and the barrel fins now went all the way to the base on competition models. The magneto on an AJS was in front of the cylinder, and the Matchless magneto was behind.

The 500 cc "long stroke" G80CS was produced from 1951 through 1955. In 1956 it was replaced by the shorter stroke, larger bore models that used the same numeric codes. The C is for Competition (Scrambles) and the S for Suspension (not a rigid rear frame).

HFV is one of those old school bikes that is a good runner in good condition and obviously well cared for. It started on second kick when brought in for the auction. It come with R.F.60 for a Matchless G80S, but the frame number on the bike cannot be found and the engine has been changed. It is a 1951 unit recorded on the V5C as 511816446. It has history back to the day the initial bike was sold in 1959, the R.F.60 last recorded owner being Vernon Nolan in 1978 and his appears in the V5C, bought by Keith Oldroyd in 1997 our vendor bought it from him in 2014. It has an MOT from 2004 at 23,154 miles, today it is 23,321 miles.

Sold with the V5C, R.F.60 and various receipts