1956 AJS 7R 350cc Racing Motorcycle

1956 AJS 7R 350cc Racing Motorcycle
Registration no. not registered
Frame no. 1700
Engine no. 55/7R1100
• Iconic over-the-counter racer
• In the preceding ownership for 30 years
• Not run since 1985

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 downdraft angle made steeper; the crankshaft strengthened; and, in 1956, engine dimensions changed from the original long-stroke 74x81mm bore/stroke dimensions 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 Matchless-badged 500cc version of the production 7R – the G50 – was introduced towards the end of 1958.

Since the AMC factory records have been lost, little is known of the history of the motorcycle on offer other than it is understood to date from circa 1955. This machine had been in the immediately preceding owner's possession since 1985, and had not been run during that time, when it was offered for sale at Bonhams' Las Vegas auction in January 2015 (Lot 156) and purchased there by the current vendor. Re-commissioning will be required before returning it to the track.