Matchbox

49 minutes ago, garys39 said:

Another place to check for numbers is here on the rear frame section, not always stamped but worth checking.

good to know...we'll have to scratch x layers of paint...

36 minutes ago, welbike said:

Ok, interesting! Looking at the last picture, I see it has a  G3WO cylinder! (More fins than G3L) I hope the owner is not asking too much, as the bike needs much work and many parts!

Lex 

yes, I'm afraid it needs a lot of those expensive items such as Lucas head & rearlamp, levers (Bowden or AMAL), carb, a.s.o.

I'll forward him your thoughts..  : )

18 minutes ago, garys39 said:

I also have a G3/G3L variant, bought in Normandy, seller had originally got it from the Le Mans area, it has a G3 rear frame end, gearbox and chain guard but the front half is G3L, the frame and engine numbers had been modified I believe for civilian registration and so untraceable by the army. I have presumed the rear half  was from an abandoned G3, at the time of Dunkirk and then used and left by the Germans 1944, taken to a vehicle dump  where somebody acquired the remains of the G3 along with the remains of a G3L and out of the two wrecks put themselves together a bike.

...so the old G3WO rear frame is compatible with the "modern" 41/G3L front frame ... and it looks like having been done in a British army workshop. - so could have been your's then as well.

One more give away to the old G3 WO is the low toolbox mounting on #10430...

3 minutes ago, garys39 said:

Hello Claude,

yes, the bike might have been rebuilt by an Army workshop and any of the above combinations could have happened.

More photos of the bike would help identify what it is made up of, there are better Matchless experts here who will be able to help.

Regards Gary  

Gary,

I'd also like more photos, but the bike is in a bike crammed, very low ceiling basement and the seller is not so keen to pull it out unless I bring the money...so I am asking for his goodwill...

I've got one more pic when it was on exhibition some time ago...

best regards.

Claude

1 hour ago, welbike said:

I have 10429 and 10431 in my database, so there were certainly wartime bikes within that number range, most probably G3WO's from late 1940. is there a sidecar lug on the front downtube?

Are you in France?  Am in Normandy right now, and bad internet, but when I'm back, I can probably find out more.

The bike has most probably been rebuilt by the British army, during, or just after the war.

Cheers,

Lex

 

Hi Lex,

now this is very interesting reading - we found the missing linking number ; 😃

No sidecar lug on the front frame downtube - tank mountings  played V shape - 41/G3L specification...albeit with a "wrong" number.

The bike is in Luxembourg, left behind by retreating german forces in september 1944. The owner family laid their hands on it, got some petrol from liberating US troops...and had some fun before the germans saying hello again in december. 1944.

My guess is then a MAJOR rebuilt during the war...before being captured by the germans.

...the (radio) connections in Normandy 1944 weren't always good either...

best regards.

Claude

19 hours ago, garys39 said:

This might help.

http://www.matchlesswd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/P8a-Frame-section-copy.jpg

Thanx Gary! I've forwarded the identification aid to the owner...waiting for news...

Could the bike have been kind of upgraded in an army workshop during the war, so to say swap the G3WO front frame and forks for a 41/G3L replacement with teledraulic forks...and the G3WO engine for a 41/G3L power unit?

Could the new specification frame have been restamped with the old G3WO number - 10430?

Are there any such known examples around?

...this would be my idea considering the bike is (generally)untouched for the last 78 years.

best regards.

Claude

Hi,

I've been offered a Matchless motorcycle, engine # 41/G3L 57253 and frame # 10430. It's got the splayed front tank mountings.

Now the matchlesswd site quotes this frame # as postwar and this puzzles me because the bike is in the same village and family from the liberation on.

I believe the actual owner that no modification to the engine and frame have been made for the last 78 years. There were no surplus bikes here and certainly no money to buy a postwar #frame.

So what can it be ?

best regards.

Claude

Hi everybody,

I joined this site hoping to get some informations on a WD Matchless I've been offered...so I'm gonna switch over to the motorcycle section.

Cheers.

Claude