AJS 7R 350cc Racing Motorcycle

• Set first 100mph Isle of Man TT lap for a standard-framed British 350
• Fred Walmsley short-stroke engine (rebuilt 2023)
• Winner of the Classic TT three times
• Winner of the Pre-TT classic twice

Built from 1948 to 1963, Associated Motor Cycles' AJS 7R - known as the 'Boy Racer'- was one of the most successful over-the-counter racing motorcycles of all time. Almost all of Britain's road-race stars of the 1950s and 1960s rode a 7R at some stage of their careers and the model remains a major force in classic racing today, being highly sought after by competitors and collectors alike. The 7R was conceived as a customer machine for sale to private owners, but was also campaigned by the works team.

Although a new design by Phil Walker, the 7R, with its chain-driven overhead-camshaft, was very reminiscent of the AJS 'cammy' singles of pre-war days. Despite the fact that the 7R was not, initially, as powerful as its main rivals - the Velocette KTT and Junior Manx Norton –its robust and simple construction endeared the model to the privateer responsible for his own maintenance. While the duplex loop frame and Teledraulic front fork remained essentially unchanged throughout production, the engine underwent almost continuous revision, latterly under the supervision of Jack Williams. To this end the valve angle was progressively narrowed; the inlet port downdraught angle made steeper; the crankshaft strengthened; and, in 1956, engine dimensions changed from the original long-stroke 74x81mm bore/stroke to the'squarer'75.5x78mm, permitting higher revs. AMC's own gearbox (also used on the Manx Norton) replaced the previous Burman in 1958, while engine development continued almost to the end of production, by which time the 7R was putting out around 41bhp. There was also a works-only three-valve 'triple knocker' - the 7R3A - which Rod Coleman used to win the 1954 Isle of Man Junior TT, while a Matchless-badged 500cc version of the production 7R –the G50 –was introduced towards the end of 1958.

Incorporating a frame made to standard pattern by Harris, this 7R is powered by a Fred Walmsley-built and tuned short-stroke engine (rebuilt in 2023). Other notable features include an NEB clutch; belt primary drive; PVL ignition; Gardner carburettor; magnesium front forks (Dick Hunt); K-Tech shock absorbers; a disc front brake; and a choice of two full fairings from Kirby and Peel.

This 7R has been ridden by Cameron Donald to win the Isle of Man Classic TT, setting the first 100mph lap on a standard-framed British 350. It has also won the Classic TT on three more occasions, with Chris Swallow, Adam McLean, and Paul Jordan as well as the Pre-TT Classic twice: with Alan Oversby and Mike Hose.