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The four basic models that AMC started after the WW2 were the
16M, G3L, Model 18 and G80. The 16M and G3L models are the direct
descendants of the War Office Matchless which so many learned to
ride in their Service days. The Model 18 and G80 models are identical
except for the larger engine capacity.
As time went on, improvements and model expansion also increased,
the first being the competition models,
the 16MC and G3LC for trials and scrambles.
In 1949 the biggest change came with the introduction of rear
suspension, when an 'S' was added to the marque code, i.e. 16MS,
G80S and so on. This rear suspension became known as 'candlestick
suspension' and it was replaced by the sturdier 'jampot suspension'
in 1951. Both these units were made in-house.
1957 saw the final change to the rear suspension, dropping the
'jampots' and buying-in Girling units.
Obviously, over the life of the factory many changes were made to
all the models, some to improve comfort and others to improve
efficiency and speed.
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