Matchless

Overview

1913 - 1924

Matchless was one of the best-known names in British motorcycles.  They were only involved in cars twice, the first being in 1912 when they producted a 3-wheeled cyclecar powered by a 8/10hp V-twin engine, with 3-speed gearbox and, very unusually for a 3 wheeler, shaft drive to the single rear wheel.  It was not revived after the war, but in 1923 they announced a 4-wheeler with some advanced features.  These included ifs by double transverse springs, unitary construction steel body and front-wheel brakes.  The latter were beginning to catch on, but not usually on such a small car as the Matchless.  The engine was a 1250cc air-cooled flat twin and final drive was by shaft to a worm rear axle.  The Matchless 10 was expensive at £225 and even a reduction in 1924 to £185 did not help the company to sell more than about 50 cars.

Source: Nick Georgano / The Beaulieu Encyclopaedia of the Automobile