Although Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) never attained the financial wherewithal of its rival BSA, they did establish a reputation in off-road competition throughout the 1950s. Ultimately, AMC would win the British 500 Motocross Championship on four separate occasions. In the United States, victories by such riders as Bud Ekins and Walt Fulton ensured a steady demand for the Matchless G80CS and AJS 18CS scramblers.

In June 1945, AMC announced its post-war lineup of Matchless and AJS singles. Mounted in a rigid frame with a “Teledraulic” front fork, the overhead-valve single-cylinder engine was mated to a four-speed constant-mesh transmission (with right foot shift). Hairpin valve springs were adopted for 1949, and a swinging-arm frame was introduced—the latter initially for export only. Models so-equipped where designated with an “S” suffix; the “C” stood for Competition, while the “S” referred to Suspension (versus a rigid rear frame). The production scramblers also received the new frame that the factory team had been using since 1948.

The 500-cubic centimeter “long stroke” G80CS was produced from 1951 through 1955. In 1956 it was replaced by the shorter stroke. A new duplex frame appeared for 1960 and there were further engine improvements as AMC continued to develop its four-stroke scramblers to the end of production, but by then the days of such heavyweight machines were coming to an end, and AMC built their last G80 in June 1967.

This very late production G80CS was fully restored when it was acquired by the consignor in 1999. The paintwork remains in excellent condition, as does all of the brightwork and stainless trim. Beautifully presented throughout, it has hardly been ridden, if ever, as it shows no more than 15 miles on its odometer.