Dating your motorcycle
Dating certificate
The original factory records contain a lot of information about the bike including all the basic details such as frame, engine and gearboxes numbers, the exact model of the bike and when it was manufactured.
The factory records also contain lots of additional information which may be of interest to the current owner. These are detailed in a separate letter which the Club supplies alongside the dating certificate. It can include information such as who the bike was originally supplied to, who performed the factory test ride and other such interesting pieces of information regarding your bike’s early history.
The Owner’s Club have managed to save and conserve these records which they now make available for searches by the motorcycle’s current owner, even if they aren’t actually a member of the owners club. Obviously it takes time to search through all the records to find the details of your bike so there is a charge – £8.50 for Owner’s Club members and £20.00 for non-members. Further information can be found by clicking teh following link to the Owner’s Club website:
Link to the machine dating page of the AJS and Matchless Owner’s Club website.
An example of a dating certificate is shown at the top of this page (click to view a larger version).
Online frame dating service
The majority of the original factory records are still in paper form, but increasingly the club is working to get these into an electronic database to make searching much easier. There is now an online frame dating service available which allows you to search the database for the fare number of your AJS or Matchless motorcycle.
If your frame number is found, you then have the option to pay a small fee (only £5 via PayPal) to gain immediate access to the basic information about your frame as it left the factory. This includes the year of manufacture, the make (i.e. AJS or Matchless) and model of the bike that the frame was originally part of. The information is not quite as in-depth as the full machine dating service offered by the Owner’s Club by post, but you do get access to the information instantly.
Click here to do an online search for your frame number in the factory records.
Contact details
You can get in touch with the Owner’s Club dating office by post (at the address shown below) or via email at [email protected]
Machine dating Officer
AJS & Matchless O.C. Ltd
Unit 3 Robinson Way
Telford Way Industrial Estate
Kettering
Northamptonshire
NN16 8PT
Reclaiming your bike’s original registration number
Many bikes may have lost their original UK age-related registration number of the years. In some cases, where it has not already been re-issued to another vehicle, it may be possible to reclaim the original registration number by applying to the DVLA. Documentary evidence that the number plate was originally issued to your motorcycle will be needed such as the original log book or old tax discs.
The Owner’s Club dating service can also help with this procedure and provide the required inspection of the motorcycle. For more information, please refer to the dating service page on the Owner’s Club website.
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how do i go about dating a nz 1948??? g3l matchless
Hi Pam. Follow the link at the top of the page to the Owner’s Club website for details of their dating service. Regards, James
mine is AJS 1926 V twin 800cc, would like to know the extact year and model of the bike, with the help of chassis n engine number! how can i do that?
I am trying to date my late father’s 500cc Matchless G80S with frame number G80S/13048. Are you please able to assist?
I understand there may be a fee for this service but I cannot pay by Paypal. However, I can send you a GBP cheque or transfer funds to a UK account.
Cheers
Tony Pyne
Dear James
Thanks to your detailed guide on finding frame numbers, I have at last found the number for my G3Ls. I will be submitting the engine and frame number to the dating service, but my frame number being 2704C begs the question, what is the ‘C’ for? Could it be there was a batch made especially for and sent to the Colonies?
Hi Dave. Sorry, only just saw your post. A lot of people get excited when they see a “C” appearing in an engine or frame number thinking that the bike must be some special “Competition” model. But from what I remember reading, it usually has little significance. Are you sure that your “C” isn’t a badly punched “O” with the right side missing? Maybe worth an ask on the club forum though. Regards, James
Hi do Matchless bikes have matching engine and chassis numbers like Truimph. I have a G9 1952 vintage.
Hi John. As far as I know, the engine and chassis number are NOT the same on AJS and Matchless bikes. At least they don’t match on either of my bikes and I am sure that’s how they left the factory! You can do a vehicle history check via the UK owner’s club who have most of the original factory records. Regards, James
Hi, i have bought a AJS job lot in bits with reg number, engine and gear box but no frame number can be located is there anyway of finding the matching frame number. Owners club need a frame number when contacted.
Regards Brian.
Hi Brian. Sorry but no, I’m not sure there is any way of finding the frame number without actually finding it on the bike itself. Have you looked in all the locations mentioned here?:
https://matchlessclueless.com/mechanical/identification/frame-number/
Regards, James
looking for the dating of my matchless 350 frame number 3519
Hi,
If you are the owner of a 1960 Matchless, VIN # 5226 and would like to have the 1967 title to this bike, please contact me. I found it in a box of memorabilia. The owner lived in Michigan, USA
Bernie C
AHRMA & AMA Member
Hi bought a ajs 350 model 8 worryed now I bought it thinking it was 1960s but my mate thinks it’s a 1990 bike how can I tell cheers
Hi there, I have found a picture of my grandfathers Matchless, and would like to know more about it, spec etc, even if it’s still around now. Could anyone help me?or direct me to someone who could.
Reg: 973 FMC
Many thanks!
Luke