LOT 754 - 1954 AJS 349CC 7R RACING MOTORCYCLE

This motorcycle is to be auctioned at the Bonhams Summer Sale, The International Classic MotorCycle Show, Stafford , 2 - 4 July 2021
SALE TIMES
Friday 2 July
Collectors’ Motorcycles (Lots 1 - 127) Midday
Saturday 3 July
Spares and Memorabilia (Lots 201 - 551) 10am
Sunday 4 July
Motorcycles (Lot 601 - 811) 10am
VIEWING
Friday 2 July 9am to 5pm
Saturday 3 July 9am to 5pm
Sunday 4 July from 9am
ADMISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE SHOW
Admission is not included in the price of the catalogue. Tickets can be purchased in advance from classicbikeshows.com.
REGISTER TO BID
Bid online or via the Bonhams app. Register to bid online by visiting www.bonhams.com/26514
Contact our Client Services department on: [phone] or [e-mail]
COLLECTION OF PURCHASED LOTS
All purchased lots must be cleared from the sale venue by 7pm Sunday 4 July. Limited collection is available until 11am Monday 5 July, by appointment only, and purchasers must advise Bonhams Motorcycle Department via email no later than 7pm Sunday 4 July if they intend to collect Monday. Please email ukmotorcycles@bonhams. com with your collection or transport instructions as soon as possible following your successful bid. Failure to instruct Bonhams by the given time will result in your vehicle being uplifted to Moving Motorcycle’s Northamptonshire store at your expense. Buyers should satisfy themselves that they have collected all relevant logbooks, documents and keys relating to their Lot(s) at time of collection.
AUCTION ADDRESS
Bonhams
Sandylands Centre
Staffordshire County Showground
Weston Road
Stafford
ST18 0BD
GENERAL ENQUIRIES - GUIDE FOR BUYERS - BUYER CHARGES
Please contact Bonhams Motorcycles.
1954 AJS 349CC 7R RACING MOTORCYCLE
FRAME NO. NOT VISIBLE
ENGINE NO. ANDERSON AJS 1
• Purchased new by AJS works rider Rod Coleman for his brother Bob
• Acquired by previous owner Colin Grant in 1990 and used only for the annual Isle of Man TT Parade Lap
• Formerly part of the National Motorcycle Museum Collection
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 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.
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. While - initially - not as powerful as the Velocette KTT and Junior Manx Norton, the 7R's robust and simple construction endeared it 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: the valve angle being progressively narrowed, the crankshaft made stronger and, in 1956, engine dimensions changed from the original long-stroke 74x81mm to the 'squarer' 75.5x78mm that permitted a higher rev limit. AMC's own gearbox 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.
According to correspondence on file, the 7R offered here was purchased new by AJS works rider Rod Coleman for his brother Bob to ride. It later passed to another New Zealander, John Anderson, who was a regular podium finisher in NZ national events. Anderson entered the Isle of Man TT races in 1957 and 1958, riding a 7R in the Junior events and a Norton in the Senior, with a best result of 6th in the 1958 Senior race. However, it is not known if this 7R was the one used by him in the Isle of Man. Previous owner Colin Grant acquired the AJS in 1990 and used it only for the annual Isle of Man TT Parade lap. He sold the 7R to the National Motorcycle Museum in June 2004 (receipt on file). The current vendor purchased the AJS at Bonhams' Winter Motorcycle Sale in December 2020 when the NMM sold some of its reserve collection. He intended to keep the 7R on display in his new house; unfortunately, his wife had other ideas and so it is reluctantly offered for sale. The machine's mechanical condition is not known; accordingly, prospective purchasers must satisfy themselves with regard to its condition, completeness, correctness, or otherwise prior to bidding.
GBP16,000 - 20,000
€19,000 - 23,000