The Plumstead, England-based Matchless Motorcycles had a decently long run of 67 years before finally closing its doors in 1966. Before shutting down however, one of its final moves would be producing (according to the seller) less than one hundred G85CS (or Competition Scramblers) in an effort to combat manufacturers like Husqvarna, Bultaco, CZ and Greeves, who had been dominating in off-road competition in the era. This example has been beautifully (and very professionally) restored over the last seven years by well-known Matchless restorer Bob Allen.
The frame on this example heavily drew from design aspects of the famous Rickman Brothers, utilizing a duplex chassis connected to a lightweight fork. A machined front hub and magnesium rear hub were used in an effort to keep weight down, along with other various lightweight fiberglass and aluminum components. In total the stripped down competition machine (G85CS) reportedly weighed in at just 318lbs, 42lbs lighter than the G80 model it replaced. Even the bike’s flywheels were cut down in further attempt to keep weight to a minimum.
At the heart of the G85CS was a tuned version of the proven 500cc powerplant that had powered Matchless’s G80 model. The G85CS boasted increased compression (12:1) with an improved bottom end compared to the regular G80 engine, and a 1-3/8 inch Amal GP carb was standard on all the CS models. A Norton gear-driven oil pump was used in place of the old reciprocating design that supposedly dated back to the 1920s. This new lubrication system aided in lubing the G85CS and as a result of the collective changes the CS’s power went up to a reported 41hp at 6,500rpm.
Since its restoration this pristine example has been on display in the seller’s living room. Between Matchless being a popular marque, this being one of its final offerings, so few G85CS units produced, and the Scrambler’s massive surge in recent popularity, there are a lot of reasons to believe that this example’s value will only continue to rise. Making this even cooler is the original period-correct Dunlop Sports. The photos really do speak for themselves too, it’s abundantly clear that meticulous attention was given to every inch of this example with every surface being beautifully painted or polished, resulting in what could pass for a brand new machine. The seller also includes a handful of photos from the restoration which is always cool to see.
You can find this gorgeously restored Matchless G85CS Scrambler for sale here on Craigslist in Los Angeles, California with a price of $20,500.