Matchless G3 Auxiliary Fire Service

Key facts

Year

1954
Country

Great Britain
Capacity

348cc
Cylinders

1 cylinder
Valves

Overhead valve
Output

16bhp at 5,600rpm
Performance

78mph
Price new

£191
Loaned by

Private Owner
Manufacturer

Matchless Motor Cycles, London

Originally formed in 1938, the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) supplemented local fire brigades during the early part of the Second World War. Although replaced by the National Fire Service in 1941, the AFS was reformed in 1948 to support the Civil Defence Corps as part of the planning to deal with the aftermath of a nuclear attack on Britain. In the event of an attack, columns of emergency vehicles (including the famous ‘Green Goddess’ fire engines) would have been deployed to affected areas, with motorcycles going ahead to control traffic and transport messages.

Built in large numbers for the British Army during the Second World War, the Matchless G3/L, and near identical AJS 16M, remained in production into the 1950s. The G3/LS version, and related AJS 16MS, introduced in 1949 had sprung rear suspension.