RealClassic MATCHLESS G3
My garage tends to have a rolling cast of old bikes, but occasionally there’s one that survives the annual shuffle. This one has been with me since 2019 and I’ve no plans to sell it.
So, what is it? It’s a 1961 Matchless G3, a 348cc powerhouse of near to 16 of your modern well-whipped horses. A ‘heavyweight’ AMC single of late vintage, an unremarkable cooking model with coil ignition and an absence of the fetching dynamo chain casting but possessing of the later alloy chaincase and duplex frame. A Matchless of the AMC corporation that was fairly far from the technological cutting edge by the time it rolled out of Plumstead.
What is unusual is that it’s not painted black but a rather attractive olive green and that’s because it was bought by theWar Office and supplied to the Home Office as an Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) motorcycle, all of which were painted various shades of green. The AFS was a volunteer force established to support the regular fire service during World War 2, to help fight the large numbers of fires from German air raids.
After the war the AFS found new purpose in the cold war years when volunteers once again manned thelorries to tackle some of the many fires that would result from a nuclear strike and further help pump water to where it needed to be. Fortunately, the AFS capability was not tested in anger and nor was seeking shelter under the kitchen table batting off the fallout with a ‘Protect and Survive’ leaflet. Anyway, that was the plan and every Green Goddess convoy needed outriders to clear the way and enable the lorries to sail through red lights and junctions to their destination. Step forward the Matchless G3.
