Have you heard of this model?

Eamonn · Post by **Eamonn** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:30 pm

Has anyone any knowledge of a Matchless Model D (Lite) 350cc side valve made in 1930/1931 only?

A club member is looking for some more information to get his bike back on the road. If you can help in any way, please phone Danny on 01256 475847 (answer machine).

Thank you.

bag-o-nails · Post by **bag-o-nails** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:18 pm

1930/31 time of the Silver Halwk don't they have there own club ?
try doing a search at

matchless-wikioedia.the free encylopedia
AT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchless

TommoT · Post by **TommoT** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:34 pm

With the Silver Hawk being a 600cc OHC V4 it can hardly qualify as a lightweight 350 Not knowing the correct answer to the question posed, it's fairly safe to rule out the Hawk or even the smaller version, 400cc V2 Silver Arrow

In Mick Walker's Matchless The Complete Story, the 1931 range includes a model D 347cc side valve, bore x stroke 69x93mm. The "light" range was introduced in 1932 as the D/S models.Edited by - TommoT on 15 Nov 2007 9:51:03 PM

bag-o-nails · Post by **bag-o-nails** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:44 pm

Hi Tommot
A 400cc was produced 1930/1 designed by charlie collier well to be precise 398cc
if you do a search i am sure there will be info
about the 350 as well i only had a quick look

cheers b-o-n

TommoT · Post by **TommoT** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:57 pm

quote:
Hi Tommot
A 400cc was produced 1930/1 designed by charlie collier well to be precise 398cc
if you do a search i am sure there will be info
about the 350 as well i only had a quick look

cheers b-o-n

Yes b-o-n, I misread your post to suggest the Silver Hawk as a possible answer to the question! The litterature I have do not suggest a 400cc single, but I have learnt not to rule anything out, so maybe the pre-war buffs will chime in?

bag-o-nails · Post by **bag-o-nails** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:27 am

Hi tommot
It would a lot of singles were produced in 30/31 here is a list of the ones so far
1930 R4/5/6= 349cc
1930 R7 = 346cc
1930 R8/9 side valve=498cc
1930 R12 =248cc

1931 S5/S6=349cc
1931 S7 side valve346cc (binks carb)
1931 SA4 SA5 =349cc

1931/32 SD1 250/500 (STEVENS BROS)

The only bike i could find with a D/ D1 IS A 1924=799cc side valve

but i will keep looking there must be somthing on it somewhere

bag-o-nails · Post by **bag-o-nails** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:47 am

found a bit of info on the german section site

1931
siver arrow
D 1
347 cc side valve
10 BHP
wxh 69x93
sturmey 3 speed (gang)

thats all so far.

Eamonn · Post by **Eamonn** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:08 am

Many thanks for all the replies so far, Danny doesn't have internet access so I'll put together as much info as I can before giving him a call - probably late next week.

I'm told that the model in question was only produced in 1930 as that year the government decided to tax bikes according to their weight - so there was a rush to take the 250cc engine and enlarge it to 350cc but keep below the weight limit. Hence the name Lite (or perhaps Light?). This strange ruling was changed the next year and so there aren't many of these bikes around. One of the questions Danny would like to know is does anyone else have one? Apparantly the frame and cycle parts are quite spindly and fragile (in order to keep the weight down) and so it may be that not many machines have survived over the years.

bag-o-nails · Post by **bag-o-nails** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:45 pm

Nothing else yet on the1930 matchy
but i did come across 1930 AJS MODEL'S

http//.archives.jampot.dk/Book/owners_manuals/1930.AJS.Series.Instructions.Mamual.pdf

Still looking

bag-o-nails · Post by **bag-o-nails** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:50 pm

http://archives.jampot.dk/Book/Owners_m ... Manual.pdf