The Matchless G50 is a fairly iconic purpose-built British racer developed in the late 1950’s. The G50 was modeled after the AMC AJS 7R racer, only with its displacement bumped up to 500cc from 350cc. Production began on the G50 in ’58 and would continue into the mid-1960’s – less than 200 models were built, making these legendary British racers an exceedingly seldom find. Though the G50 wasn’t the most powerful machine in its class, its nimble handling – which was helped by its 320lb dry weight – enabled it to keep up with the rest of the machines on the grid, including the more powerful Norton Manx.
The G50 was powered by an air-cooled 496cc SOHC single that reportedly put down 51hp at 7,200rpm married to a four-speed gearbox. The Matchless was slowed by drum brakes and was a highly competent machine in its respective time. With that said, its performance capabilities were amplified when the half-liter single was wrapped in a Rickman chassis and bodywork. The Rickman G50 machine was reportedly good for a cool 135mph. Though the Rickman Brothers got their start playing in the dirt, they nonetheless took the skills they had developed and applied them to road racers with a good deal of success. Various G50 models would be produced under the “Seeley” moniker, such as the Condor G50 and G50MK2.
I was unable to find exact specs on Rickman Metisse G50 examples, but I can objectively say the Rickman versions boast better performance all around. Like any race-machine, the G50 didn’t come cheap. Granted its value has seriously spiked in more recent decades, but the idea of taking an already iconic British racer from a bygone era and making it even better. The Rickman Metisse G50 was – to put it simply – a cutting-edge piece of machinery in the 1960’s and was a model many competitors would pilot to victory in various competitions, primarily in Europe though the G50 would make its way to the States after some headache pertaining to redcap and logistics.
Any motorcycle that is more than half-a-century old and is in pristine condition is arguably noteworthy. In a similar manner, pretty much any clean Rickman example is pretty special too. Though the Brother’s did build frames for makes from all over the world, there is something sentimental about a British (purpose-built) racer in the British kit. Obviously the engine is the same as your standard G50, but to get a better look at one of these, I came across a YouTube video of someone doing a “running” walk-around of a ’62 Rickman G50. They are just incredibly awesome bikes, plus they sound pretty cool too.
This example is said to be completely original and was used in several World Championship competitions. Piloted by Dave Croxford in ’66 and John Hartle in ’67 where he would finish overall in third-pace at the end of the 1967 500cc World Championship. Both Croxford and Hartle were well known professional racers, albeit Hartle was by far more famous (and successful) than Croxford who according to some sources “was best known for his crashes.” Croxford was actually the original and first owner of this example, before it was sold in 1990 when it underwent a very thorough restoration. Since then this example has only been ridden three times, always in parades.
The G50 is still a highly revered racer, and numerous companies continue to produce replicas of the British racer even today, with one of the coolest ones out there being the high-spec George Beale Replicas which feature Ceriani forks, a lightweight chassis and swing-arm, and a magnesium six-speed transmission with a lightweight clutch. Clean G50 examples are worth a great deal today. A ’62 example sold a few years ago at a Bonhams auction for almost $60K. A clean Seeley G50 example with some major historical significance sold at a Bonhams auction in 2010 for over $100K as well. Half a decade ago, Pipeburn did a write-up about a 1964 Matchless Rickman Metisse G50 example, extremely similar to this example that is currently for sale, and BikeEXIF also did a cool piece about a ’64 Rickman G50.
You can find this ex-Croxford/Hartle 1966 Rickman Matchless G50 Racer for sale here on RaceBikeMart in Tubbergen, Holland with a price of $41,825 (or €35,000).