The National Motor Museum Trust

With the founder's sons, Charles and Harry Collier, becoming successful racing men in the early 1900s, Matchless was a famous name almost from its beginnings in 1899. Until the 1920s, British and continental proprietary engines were fitted and this exhibit has a British JAP unit. The firm took over AJS in 1931 and became Associated Motor Cycles Ltd in 1938. Before its bankruptcy in 1966 it acquired, in addition, James, Francis-Barnett, Norton, Sunbeam and Villiers.