Race pedigree

After a race-prepared G9 had appeared at the 1951 Clubman’s TT, later the same year a more heavily modified version appeared at the Manx GP, the pushrod twin-cylinder engine mounted in an

AJS 7R. That this was clearly a worksprepared prototype didn’t stop it racing in the apparently amateur Manx races – Robin Sherry,winner of the Junior race on a 7R, following home three Manx Nortons.

The G45 was improved the next year, allowing Farrant to win, while the model entered limited production for the 1953 season. Although never really a great success, it did shine a few times and there were rumours that some AMC works riders in the period actually preferred it to the revered Porcupine, and if allowed to chose, would pick the humble G9-based racer over the spiky-finned exotica. The G45 was dropped for the 1958 season, to be replaced by the G50, when AMC did what might have seemed more logical in 1953, simply enlarging the popular and successful 350cc 7R. But whoever chose to pursue the G45 development should be praised for one thing – they made what is inarguably one of the finest looking motorcycles of all time.