Swap meets have become a weakness of mine over the last few years. I get untold pleasure from rooting through bins and boxes and exchanging conservative amounts of money for rusty treasure.
I started the first day of my week off visiting the last CVMG meet of the season.
I started the first day of my week off visiting the last CVMG meet of the season.
I was doing fairly well, securing a very good 3.25 x19 Dunlop K70, some handlebars, wrenches and a big box of AMC suspension parts (jampots and a set of Candlesticks). Then the beaten up white pickup truck pulled up.
I immediately recognized the familiar shapes in the back, a pair of singles (Matchless and AJS respectively) and a pile of parts.
The bikes were both rolling, The AJS being an early model ('49 Model 16) and the Matchless a later one (1958 G3LS), identifiable by the larger, more square toolbox and oil tank.
The cheerful owner mentioned the price for everything and the inner conflict began. We chatted for a few moments and I politely excused myself before I could get drawn into the dark vortex of another project (or two).
I bumped into the owner twice more, who each time tempted me with a lower price; I reluctantly accepted his card, repeating the mantra 'I will not call him, I will not call him, I will not call him...'
I spent the rest of the day and next in a sleepy, charming Ontario town not thinking about AMC heavyweight singles.
Fortunately for me I had plenty to keep me busy, namely sanding down and repainting an otherwise lovely Honda Civic suffering from extensive clear coat issues.
As I sanded in the sun, listening to the 'Once upon a Time in Hollywood' Soundtrack (fantastic film by the way) my thoughts kept returning to the two forlorn singles. Maybe I do have a problem, I thought to myself.
*I should mention that the G9 has not been forgotten, I am waiting on some hardware and working out some rear wheel spacing issues. Henceforth she will be referred to by her Christened name 'Mary Jane'.
By Wednesday my curiosity got the best of me and I called the owner of the bikes. I was certain that someone had snapped them up; This would put to bed the question of 'What if?' forever.
Surprisingly, they were still available. "Damn it." said I over the phone line.
"What's the problem?" he asked.
"Now I must help re-home them." was my response.
I knew my good (dare I say old) friend Chris had been toying with getting another bike project.
After 25 years of on and off persuading, he had finally come around to the idea of English Iron.
He and I had worked on some projects simultaneously over the years and did some flipping of bikes in the late 90's and early 2000's. At one point we both had vintage Minis. His was completed beautifully and sold off, mine was sold off unfinished.
After a brief phone conversation and some google image searches, He was in!
A few days later, we were off to the country to the seller's home/garage which resembled something from American Pickers.
Cash was exchanged, the bikes and parts loaded up. It was apparent that Chris had his sights set on the '49.
Not needing two bikes, what would become of the '58?
Yes, she is sitting in my garage. Thankfully I had just cleaned up and cleared some floor space!
A full assessment will be forthcoming.
Stay Tuned!
I immediately recognized the familiar shapes in the back, a pair of singles (Matchless and AJS respectively) and a pile of parts.
The bikes were both rolling, The AJS being an early model ('49 Model 16) and the Matchless a later one (1958 G3LS), identifiable by the larger, more square toolbox and oil tank.
The cheerful owner mentioned the price for everything and the inner conflict began. We chatted for a few moments and I politely excused myself before I could get drawn into the dark vortex of another project (or two).
I bumped into the owner twice more, who each time tempted me with a lower price; I reluctantly accepted his card, repeating the mantra 'I will not call him, I will not call him, I will not call him...'
I spent the rest of the day and next in a sleepy, charming Ontario town not thinking about AMC heavyweight singles.
Fortunately for me I had plenty to keep me busy, namely sanding down and repainting an otherwise lovely Honda Civic suffering from extensive clear coat issues.
As I sanded in the sun, listening to the 'Once upon a Time in Hollywood' Soundtrack (fantastic film by the way) my thoughts kept returning to the two forlorn singles. Maybe I do have a problem, I thought to myself.
*I should mention that the G9 has not been forgotten, I am waiting on some hardware and working out some rear wheel spacing issues. Henceforth she will be referred to by her Christened name 'Mary Jane'.
By Wednesday my curiosity got the best of me and I called the owner of the bikes. I was certain that someone had snapped them up; This would put to bed the question of 'What if?' forever.
Surprisingly, they were still available. "Damn it." said I over the phone line.
"What's the problem?" he asked.
"Now I must help re-home them." was my response.
I knew my good (dare I say old) friend Chris had been toying with getting another bike project.
After 25 years of on and off persuading, he had finally come around to the idea of English Iron.
He and I had worked on some projects simultaneously over the years and did some flipping of bikes in the late 90's and early 2000's. At one point we both had vintage Minis. His was completed beautifully and sold off, mine was sold off unfinished.
After a brief phone conversation and some google image searches, He was in!
A few days later, we were off to the country to the seller's home/garage which resembled something from American Pickers.
Cash was exchanged, the bikes and parts loaded up. It was apparent that Chris had his sights set on the '49.
Not needing two bikes, what would become of the '58?
Yes, she is sitting in my garage. Thankfully I had just cleaned up and cleared some floor space!
A full assessment will be forthcoming.
Stay Tuned!
