The AJS V4 lives

Further to our story on Dan Smith’s recreation of the near-mythical AJS V4 road bike, Paul Reed has sent a copy of the original sales brochure of what was to be called the Model 36/20 – the Model 20 denomination was later used for the post-war AJS parallel twin. All for 85 Guineas! Along with the brochure is a very interesting letter written in December 1935, from P&P Williams (NSW AJS distributors) in Sydney to Moss Williamson, who managed the P&R Williams branch in Newcastle, NSW. It reads, in part… “A.J.S. have produced a bombshell. It is a racing 4 cylinder termed the “Vee 4” which is almost sure to be used in next year’s Senior T.T. and will also be the most attractive motorcycle ever produced for a super sportsman who wants everything of the best. It will be listed in their general range and will be supplied either electrically equipped in complete form or as a straight racing bike. It is an overhead camshaft with 2 throw crankshaft giving, of course, perfect 4 cylinder balance, 2 magnetos housed very neatly and running off the timing case by direct drive, 2 carburettors absolutely symmetrically and accessibly placed… It should have tremendous speed and equal reliability… we should be able to get one out in time to use in the T.T. at Bathurst (in 1936 at the Vale Circuit)… so we have something really out of the box to uphold A.J.S. prestige, and we will be in a bubble of excitement until we see the first one of these and give it a run.”