‘‘As a motorcycle it has a fascination about it which can only be realised by actual experience on the road. It possesses just that something different which places it in a class by itself.’ – AJS Motorcycles Ltd. At the time of its introduction in April 1931, the AJS S3 was indeed in a class of its own, being the only transverse v-twin engined model on the UK market. Sadly, its arrival came too late to influence the fortunes of its maker, which was taken over by London-based rivals Matchless before the year’s end. Indeed, the introduction of this technologically adventurous design at a time of economic slump may well have hastened the firm’s demise. The S3’s air-cooled v-twin motor carried its cylinders at an included angle of 50 degrees; side valves were operated by two chain-driven camshafts and the three-speed gearbox incorporated a spiral-bevel, right angle drive to the enclosed rear chain. This ensemble was mounted in a duplex-loop frame with single top tube, while the forks were AJS’s own Webb-type girders. Generously equipped and superbly finished like all AJS products, the S3 came with electric lighting, horn, tank-mounted instrument panel, rear luggage carrier and leather-fronted panniers as standard. Priced at £65, the S3 was rather expensive for a touring ‘500’, but then quality never did come cheap. An overhead-valve sports version was planned but came to nothing. With a production run of little more than six months, the S3 is one of the rarest of pre-war AJS models. This example had been preserved in dry storage for many years when was purchased in Austria by Professor Ehn’s father in 1968. The machine has remained in storage ever since. Offered without documents.
‘‘As a motorcycle it has a fascination about it which can only be realised by actual experience on the road. It possesses just that something different which places it in a class by itself.’ – AJS Motorcycles Ltd. At the time of its introduction in April 1931, the AJS S3 was indeed in a class of its own, being the only transverse v-twin engined model on the UK market. Sadly, its arrival came too late to influence the fortunes of its maker, which was taken over by London-based rivals Matchless before the year’s end. Indeed, the introduction of this technologically adventurous design at a time of economic slump may well have hastened the firm’s demise. The S3’s air-cooled v-twin motor carried its cylinders at an included angle of 50 degrees; side valves were operated by two chain-driven camshafts and the three-speed gearbox incorporated a spiral-bevel, right angle drive to the enclosed rear chain. This ensemble was mounted in a duplex-loop frame with single top tube, while the forks were AJS’s own Webb-type girders. Generously equipped and superbly finished like all AJS products, the S3 came with electric lighting, horn, tank-mounted instrument panel, rear luggage carrier and leather-fronted panniers as standard. Priced at £65, the S3 was rather expensive for a touring ‘500’, but then quality never did come cheap. An overhead-valve sports version was planned but came to nothing. With a production run of little more than six months, the S3 is one of the rarest of pre-war AJS models. This example had been preserved in dry storage for many years when was purchased in Austria by Professor Ehn’s father in 1968. The machine has remained in storage ever since. Offered without documents.
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