Well! what an absolute wreck - can anyone identify this piece of rusting junk?  Or more to the point does anyone want too?  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 with most parts simply falling apart as they were stripped - some thoughtless individual had left the bike outside and unprotected against the elements for 15+ years after getting into an engine stripdown that came to an abrupt  halt - maybe a missing part? or an unobtainable item was needed?  (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!

There is some good news, with the judicious use of a propane torch the bike was stripped and parts distributed through Ebay (spit!) and members of the 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.

Oh...yes...I almost forgot ....it is a 1966 G12CSR.  Note the tach drive on the engine and the 'wider' timing case that was needed to house the double output oil pump (standard after 1964?).  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  $1000 (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 $600 (find, repair, rechrome, original repaint with pinstriping, cap and taps)
• Electrical $300 (wiring harness, Lucas horn, bulbs, handlebars, control levers and Lucas switches, headlamp shell/lense, battery, coils, rectifier, rear light lense etc)  
• Gauges $250 (original Smiths tach/speedo missing and smiths gearbox drive) 
• Forks $300 (rebuild, repair, new stanchions, new sliders original cracked, new covers, headlampbrackets, polish aluminium, new rear shocks) 
• Misc $500 (seat; repair or replace, new exhaust system, new chrome and cad fasteners, gaskets/seals, new cables, tank badges, decals) 
• Engine - $500+? (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 would have cost close to $4700 (£3000) 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 - there was no way that I could afford the aggravation on this one. ..... Too far gone ...even for me!  Schucks!  

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