LOT 466

Property of a deceased's estate 1930 AJS 500cc R8 Registration no. ET 6036 Frame no. R144563 Engine no. R8/144563

Sold for £7,475 inc. premium

Lot 466

Property of a deceased's estate, 1930 AJS 500cc R8

The Autumn Stafford Sale – The Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show|14 October 2023, 10:30 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

Property of a deceased's estate
1930 AJS 500cc R8
Registration no. ET 6036
Frame no. R144563
Engine no. R8/144563

Originally built only as a 350 - latterly known as the 'Big Port' - the overhead-valve AJS became available as a 500 for the first time in 1926. Known as the Model 8, it followed the general lines of the 350 - albeit with an inclined cylinder - and distinguished itself in the 1926 Isle of Man Senior TT when works rider Jimmy Simpson became the first man to lap at over 70mph. Progressively revised and updated, the Model 8 continued in production essentially unchanged after the Matchless take-over in 1931 and was not replaced until 1936 when an entirely new version was announced.

Dating from the penultimate year of production at Wolverhampton, this rare matching-numbers R8 belonged to the current vendor's late father from at least October 2007, as evidenced by correspondence on file. The AJS had been purchased in a dilapidated state (attached to a sidecar) and was restored over a period of time before being registered using its original number in 2014. There are photographs on file of the AJS 'as found' and immediately post-restoration. Following a period of inactivity, the machine will require recommissioning to a greater or lesser extent and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Accompanying documents include a current V5C; some old tax discs; a quantity of marque-related literature; and correspondence with the VMCC, DVLA and AJS & Matchless OC. A small selection of (mainly gearbox) spares comes with the machine.

Footnotes

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