Is this a Matchless? please help

[Randomhero91]

Hi,

I am trying to identify and possibly find my late grandads motorbike. I have 1 photo that is quite blurry and no other info, I have looked up the number plate and the dvla has it as a matchless 347cc 1956. Can someone please help me identify the bike and if possible locate it as i would be very interested in purchasing it if possible. The number plate is RCR69

I am struggling to upload the photo but i am happy to email it to anyone that wants to see.

Many Thanks

[clive]

Hi as a guest you need to post your photo on a hosting site elsewhere and provide a link here. Having checked the DVLA info if you are certain of the registration number in the photo then yes it is a 1956 Matchless 350 most probably a G3LS. A photo will confirm this. The last log book was issued in Jan 2017 so either a new owner or a change of address for an old owner. The bike is currently on Sorn so off the road

[Randomhero91]

Thanks for the advice regarding the photo here is the link

https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/ ... XGcq5JIytb

[Samuel]

https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/ ... XGcq5JIytb

That link seems to be defective...

404. That’s an error.

The requested URL was not found on this server. That’s all we know.

[Randomhero91]

I will try a different picture hosting website

[Randomhero91]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/197095264 ... 0304283539

I hope this link works

[Taid]

I think you'll find the number is RCR691 ..not known by DVLA

I think its a 1956 registered Francis Barnet with 125cc Villiers engine .. registered in Southampton

[Andy G]

Not a James of the same year?
In any case not a Matchless, tho....weren't James and FB both part of the AMC collective?
So, a distant relative.

[g80csp11]

One of our section members , mention no names like to bring his James to AMC events just to keep the association live and to wind up the hard core Matchless & AJS owners .

[Peter Morris]

Looks very much like a Francis Barnett Plover 150cc that I used to own. Mine had the AMC engine that AMC tried, and swiftly went back to Villiers engines. The bike in your picture definitely has a Villiers engine like the bikes in the pics below.

They also produced the same bike under the 'James' name, same bike, just painted red with James badges on the tank. The Red bike pictured below has the AMC 150cc engine.