Norton / Matchless Serial # Help

OscarGoldmanTPB · Mar 24, 2022

So I pulled out my dad's old bike from where it's laid for 30/40 years.

He's always claimed it was a "1962 commando" aside from that seemingly not existing, I've had a hard time deciphering the serial # on the engine. Looks to be a1964 Atlas 750 Engine in a Matchless Frame. Can anyone help verify this for me? I've been searching for like 2 hours and can't get a 100% confirmation

Below the Barrel:
G15CS/N108738

On the crankcase (by your right foot)
MA4300G

What doesn't help is the guy my dad got this from painted the frame so I have no idea where to find serial #s on the frame

johnm · Mar 24, 2022

Well your right. There is definitely no 1962 Commando. They started in 1968.

What you have is one of the AMC hybrids. Which is a pretty confusing area for most of us, including me. But there are some real experts about who should answer.

Looking in the P11 and other Norton motorcycle forum where you have already posted will help too.

Matchless G15 data catalogue

Catalogue of Matchless G15 models, production years and versions in motorbikecatalog.

www.motorbikecatalog.com

Longtimegone · Mar 25, 2022

Maybe this will help with finding the frame number.

Finding the frame number on a Matchless motorbike • Matchless Clueless

A guide to locating and decoding the correct stamped frame numbers on a classic Matchless and AJS motorcycles for verification with your vehicles log book.

www.matchlessclueless.com

OscarGoldmanTPB · Mar 25, 2022

johnm said:
Well your right. There is definitely no 1962 Commando. They started in 1968.

What you have is one of the AMC hybrids. Which is a pretty confusing area for most of us, including me. But there are some real experts about who should answer.

Looking in the P11 and other Norton motorcycle forum where you have already posted will help too.

Matchless G15 data catalogue

Catalogue of Matchless G15 models, production years and versions in motorbikecatalog.

www.motorbikecatalog.com

Appreciate the reply!

OscarGoldmanTPB · Mar 25, 2022

Longtimegone said:
Maybe this will help with finding the frame number.

Finding the frame number on a Matchless motorbike • Matchless Clueless

A guide to locating and decoding the correct stamped frame numbers on a classic Matchless and AJS motorcycles for verification with your vehicles log book.

www.matchlessclueless.com

Awesome, thanks!

mdt-son · Mar 28, 2022

OscarGoldmanTPB said:
Awesome, thanks!

Well, this will not help you. The location for post-60 models applies to Matchless' "own" models. The hybrids (i.e., the Matchless framed bikes with Norton twin engines) had the VIN number at the opposite side, numbers are vertical. Please remove paint carefully as the stamping may be faint.

- Knut

mdt-son · Mar 28, 2022

OscarGoldmanTPB said:
So I pulled out my dad's old bike from where it's laid for 30/40 years.

He's always claimed it was a "1962 commando" aside from that seemingly not existing, I've had a hard time deciphering the serial # on the engine. Looks to be a1964 Atlas 750 Engine in a Matchless Frame. Can anyone help verify this for me? I've been searching for like 2 hours and can't get a 100% confirmation

Below the Barrel:
G15CS/N108738

On the crankcase (by your right foot)
MA4300G

What doesn't help is the guy my dad got this from painted the frame so I have no idea where to find serial #s on the frame

What you've got is a 1964 Matchless G15CS Sports Scrambler, one of the early true desert sleds. Production started at S/N 107388, so yours would have been assembled late in the year of 1963.
It would be interesting to know if your bike has the primary chaincase support stud, which was a design update as it was missing in the first batches of bikes. Fitment is highly recommended if it's missing.

MA4300G is the gearbox serial number. These bikes (and the Commando) have separate transmissions. Your bike has the improved 1962 type gearbox ("A") and the performance clutch.

You may read the story of these bikes as authored by Paul Morin of the HYCAM group here:

Atlas Hybrids 1 | Norton Owners Club

www.nortonownersclub.org

Atlas Hybrids 2 | Norton Owners Club

www.nortonownersclub.org

Hybrids | Norton Owners Club

www.nortonownersclub.org

I hope you decide to restore the bike!

- Knut

OscarGoldmanTPB · Mar 28, 2022

mdt-son said:
Well, this will not help you. The location for post-60 models applies to Matchless' "own" models. The hybrids (i.e., the Matchless framed bikes with Norton twin engines) had the VIN number at the opposite side, numbers are vertical. Please remove paint carefully as the stamping may be faint.

mdt-son said:
What you've got is a 1964 Matchless G15CS Sports Scrambler, one of the early true desert sleds. Production started at S/N 107388, so yours would have been assembled late in the year of 1963.
It would be interesting to know if your bike has the primary chaincase support stud, which was a design update as it was missing in the first batches of bikes. Fitment is highly recommended if it's missing.

MA4300G is the gearbox serial number. These bikes (and the Commando) had separate transmissions. Your bike has the improved 1962 type gearbox ("A") and the performance clutch.

You may read the story of these bikes as authored by Paul Morin of the HYCAM group here:

Atlas Hybrids 1 | Norton Owners Club

www.nortonownersclub.org

Atlas Hybrids 2 | Norton Owners Club

www.nortonownersclub.org

Hybrids | Norton Owners Club

www.nortonownersclub.org

I hope you decide to restore the bike!

- Knut

Appreciate the reply!

I'm already falling in love with the history behind this bike....In stereotypical father/son fashion, we'll be restoring it together.

I imagine I'll be coming here quite frequently as I'm kind of taking the next step in terms of my restoration experience. I've only restored / rebuilt 80s and 90s dirtbikes so I'm probably in for it with this one.

Cheers!

mdt-son · Mar 28, 2022

Good luck with that! Parts backup is generally good. Prices for s/h parts have skyrocketed in the last few years.
Premier source for new engine/transmission parts is Andover Norton.
There are lots of performance upgrades available, your wallet is the limiting factor.
I suggest you obtain a spares parts book which may be downloaded here:

archives.jampot.dk - /book/Spares_lists/

Secondly, I suggest you invest in a book covering restauration of british bikes. Don't get trapped by trying to attack all at once. Start with the engine, then trans, do the chassis in a final step.
If your bike is reasonably complete, take photos and label non-obvious parts as you go along. This will help when you're ready to assemble. Be careful about bolts and spacers.
Missing sheet metal should be sourced now, as donor bikes are getting rarer year by year.

Good luck!

- Knut

OscarGoldmanTPB · Mar 28, 2022

Yeah we have high hopes right now (praying i didnt just jinx it)...Engine has good compression and valves move freely. Body is also in great shape including the oil tank, gas tank, other storange tank, fenders, etc. Obviously will have to get into it to really know whats up but we were pretty shocked with the first few hours we poked around.

Our first step right now is getting the service manual, leaving everything as is and see if we can get a spark - no dice when we tried with the current setup but the wiring was hacked to bits.

mdt-son · Mar 28, 2022

OscarGoldmanTPB said:
Yeah we have high hopes right now (praying i didnt just jinx it)...Engine has good compression and valves move freely. Body is also in great shape including the oil tank, gas tank, other storange tank, fenders, etc. Obviously will have to get into it to really know whats up but we were pretty shocked with the first few hours we poked around.

Our first step right now is getting the service manual, leaving everything as is and see if we can get a spark - no dice when we tried with the current setup but the wiring was hacked to bits.

Being a race bike, this bike has magneto ignition, so harness is of no importance. Bike has been laid up for 30-40 years and you are expecting the magneto to produce a spark? Are you really contemplating on getting the engine started? That's a gross mistake. Before doing more harm than good, I suggest you stop and listen to the advice from people here.

You will find a workshop manual at the site I linked to. It's for 1966 onwards models but basically applicable.

- Knut

OscarGoldmanTPB · Mar 29, 2022

Oh by no means did we intend on running it, but point taken nonetheless.

N0rt0nelectr@ · Apr 4, 2022

OscarGoldmanTPB said:
Appreciate the reply!

I'm already falling in love with the history behind this bike....In stereotypical father/son fashion, we'll be restoring it together.

I imagine I'll be coming here quite frequently as I'm kind of taking the next step in terms of my restoration experience. I've only restored / rebuilt 80s and 90s dirtbikes so I'm probably in for it with this one.

Cheers!

Good for you both. Good way to bond over an old bike and memories.

ILLF8ED · Apr 11, 2022

Knut,
Expectations of a magneto sitting for decades….I gave this one on my ‘56 AJS model 30 a spin and it did spark…..surprised. Dated 4/57 and not original to this road machine.