Like the BSA M20, the Matchless G3L was produced for the British Army for World War II. Unlike the BSA, the G3L was extremely popular as it was the first bike that ditched girder forks. Matchless produced about 80,000 examples of this bike, and the government kept using them through the 60s.
The 349cc air cooled single produced 16 horsepower, but the importance of this bike is the novel front suspension. The “Teledraulic” units were the first telescopic forks with oil damping on a British bike. BMW pioneered the idea with their R7 concept, and it eventually became the international standard for front suspensions.
This specific Matchless G3L (VIN: 6313) was fully restored in 2009 and has just 50 miles since. Apparently the owner bought it post restoration but managed to seize a piston on a hot day, and he installed a “new original engine” in 2013. The original engine will be included with the sale.
Find this Matchless G3L for sale in Fairfax, Virginia with a BIN of $8,500