AMC’S LIGHTER SIDE

As with the prices of Norton lightweight twins, so too with the values of AMC’S lightweight singles. There’s definitely a trend here. These models might’ve been sneered at 30 years ago, but the combination of a peppy engine in a practical package seems to be winning hearts and minds in the 21st century. So you’ll see immaculate 350s (the Matchless G5 and the AJS Model 8) being retailed by dealers for £3500 or more, alongside the sporty CSR versions of the 250 (the G2 and the Model 14). The final version of the 250 CSR is in fact The One To Have, and some people will pay as much as £4000 for one…

Back at the budget end of the spectrum, the unrestored G5 seen here would be an ideal purchase. It’s been advertised at £2450 recently, being sold by a chap in his 80s who’s owned it for many a year and even fixed the kickstart return spring (which do tend to fail) a few hundred miles ago. Recently it’s taken up residence in his kitchen, and comes with some spares, an extensive history spanning several decades, V5C manuals and more.

This 1960 AJS Model 8 is the direct equivalent of the Matchless G5; another 350. It was offered for sale in February with 12k miles on the clock; ‘The mileage will go up as I will be riding whenever possible!’ said the seller. The kickstart return spring has also been replaced on this machine (told you so) and it’s also had a recent new battery, gear selector springs, exhaust and other items. The vendor was asking £2950 but was open to offers – although we weren’t entirely convinced by his sales pitch that it’s an ‘investment piece, as these old bike values are sky-rocketing…’