Well! what an absolute wreck - can anyone identify this piece of rusting metal?  Here's a clue ...it is quite a rare bike - one of the last ten "all AMC" 650 twins manufactured by Matchless (AMC).  Unfortunately, as is the case with most of the 'barnyard' finds you come across, it was completely wrecked.  Most parts simply fell apart as they were stripped.  Some thoughtless individual had left the bike outside, in the sea-air, unprotected against the elements for 20+ years.  It looked like the previous owner had gotten into an engine stripdown that came to an abrupt halt - maybe a missing part? or an unobtainable item was needed?  At least the engine was stored indoors (hmmm, do any of us have any projects like this?).  Let this be a warning about buying basket cases - There usually is a VERY GOOD reason why the bike remains in pieces!  But don't be disheartened....everything can be fixed with time and money.

There is some good news, with the judicious use of a propane torch the bike did 'live on' by helping donate parts through the AJS & Matchless eGroup - the taillight assembly is now on a 1966 G15CS, the sidestand is on a 1965 G80, the mudguards were stripped, patched and rechromed and are now on two different bikes that had been waiting for the 'correct' fenders, hubs and forks were shipped to Denmark for use on another G15CS, the toolbox assembly was traded for a left hand oil-tank and the ammeter is on my bike!  Quite a good ending really ....with a little bit of spanner (wrench) work and a lot of cussing trying to free the rusted bolts, the bike 'lives on' by helping keep others on the road.

The matching frame and engine are still together - should anyone want to take this on.

Oh...yes...I almost forgot ....it is a 1966 G12CSR.  What the heck was the previous owner thinking about?  Alloy front wheel indeed! 

AND FINALLY... THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WE SHOULD NEVER ASK?

I am often asked "What will the cost be to get it back on the road?" ......well, using the motorcycle in the pictures this is what I had calculated....let me know if you agree!   

Worksheet: Cost to get fixed, all replaced with NEW: 

• Wheels  $1100 (new rims, spokes/nipples, laced and balanced, hubs skimmed and blasted, tyres/tubes, Reynolds chain, repack/replace wheel bearings, brake shoes replaced and 'arced')
• Frame/swing arm $400 (stripped, repaired, resprayed/two pack, stands and ancillary items blasted and resprayed) 
• Tinware $600 (mudguards, stripped, repaired, rechromed, find chainguard, replace oil tank/tool box, missing centre panel, various brackets etc painted)
• Petrol tank $1200 (find, repair, rechrome, original repaint with pinstriping, cap and taps)
• Electrical $330 (wiring harness, Lucas horn, bulbs, handlebars, control levers and Lucas switches, headlamp shell/lense, battery, coils, rectifier, rear light lense etc)  
• Gauges $400 new (original Smiths tach/speedo missing and smiths gearbox drive) 
• Forks $380 (rebuild, repair, new stanchions, new sliders original cracked, new covers, headlampbrackets, polish aluminium, new rear shocks) 
• Misc $700 (seat; repair or replace, new exhaust system, new chrome and cad fasteners, gaskets/seals, new cables, tank badges, decals) 
• Engine - $600+? (replace missing parts barrel, head, missing primary drive, missing engine mounts, rebuild carbs/source airfilter, strip & clean engine, missing clutch, sprockets, wear to center web? replace bearings, rebore, new pistons/rings, rebalance crank)
• Transmission $150 (clean, polish cases, new/rechrome levers and rubberware, new gear and kickstart return spring - and inspect for damage)   

As a conservative estimate, it will cost close to $6000 (£4000) to get the bike in a respectable (close to original) shape to be safely ridden, (and this figure didn't include the cost of the TIME trying to find many of the parts that no longer exist!).  Although the late G12's are desirable bikes to own, and can be sought after, especially the 'sporty' CSR versions with the go-faster goodies fitted as standard - this bike would be a big challenge to most people .....  

Don't let this put you off though.  This is just an example of the commitment that you need to consider when you take on something of this magnitude - joining the egroup, owners club and locals 'classic' bike clubs are ways to help this process and hopefully cut down the headache of finding 'missing' parts and services needed.   Rick Mann