Need help with identifying my Commando

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muddygoggles

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Hi everyone and thanks for allowing me to join! I recently bought a Commando to restore but I am having a little difficulty properly identifying it. I have chatted with several very knowledgeable fellas on Facebook groups and read up on some of the material available but there are still several questions. I was told its a 1969 and I believe its an R model built in Plumstead. The frame is stamped is 130174 and engine is 20M3-130174-P. Any input would be appreciated!
 
That is a 1969 series number

Points (or electronic ignition bits) should be on the back side of the timing chest.

One of the last of that variant, as #131257 got the points on the timing cover.
 
grandpaul said:
One of the last of that variant, as #131257 got the points on the timing cover.
Click to expand...

Although the 20M3S camshaft points engine was introduced at 131257 the Fastback with the 20M3 engine continued to 133668 and 'R' type may have continued beyond that.

20M3/130174/P, however, makes it either a Fastback or 'R' type.
 
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How about a pic.
I looked on FB but the only resent post I could see was for a bike 130197 P with pictures.
 
1614306236222.png
1614306254561.png


There you go Jayson.

You need to use a photo hosting site, and post a link using the photo icon in the edit box toolbar.
 
Hey, I saw that bike!

Cool flame job, and I can tell you the flame stitching on the seat was spendy, too.

Just noticed the tach drive is blanked off...
 
there is a web site called working for amc which has a short video sequence of early commando production...
Are you aiming for originality?
 
That seat is something else. Are those shark teeth hanging from it?

Unfortunately, I think it distracts.... but each to his/her own. Does it run?
 
Still, good bones there once you discard the period customization touches. The fiberglass fuel tank won't last with current fuel. If you're looking to make this a period correct '69, as LAB says, the triple T, headlight ears and halo ring around the headlight are missing. I have a '71 and could care less about riding it as I bought it. So many improvements were necessary and I had no thought about if it was correct for it's year. I added all the improvements from later years or aftermarket .
Everybody has their vision of what they want with a Commando, so do what you want this project. We've all seen worse starting points turn out to be something stunning here. As with all Commando's, once it's running well and you take it out for a ride and roll the throttle wide, you'll have the biggest grin :)

And, oh yeah, did you verify the s/n on the top of the gearbox to be the same? Tough to see, but visible from above on the casting where the upper trans case bolts to the
swingarm cradle. Only matters if you want to leverage price as not 100% original.
 
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DogT said:
That seat is something else. Are those shark teeth hanging from it?

Unfortunately, I think it distracts.... but each to his/her own. Does it run?
Click to expand...
I though it was 'reversible' :) One way round if you've got short legs and a fat *rse, t'other if you're tall and skinny....
 

Interesting statement in the article:​


"The earliest Commandos were built at the old Matchless factory in Plumstead, South London. With the Plumstead site slated for redevelopment, assembly moved to a new facility in Andover, Hampshire (on the famous Thruxton circuit), while engine manufacture went to the Villiers factory in Wolverhampton, West Midlands.
This presented an opportunity to tidy up the Commando engine. Principally, contact breaker points were moved from a chain-driven jackshaft behind the cylinders (where the magneto had been on the 750 Atlas) to the end of the camshaft—simpler and less prone to wear. The new Wolverhampton motor became the 20M3S, while production of the old 20M3 “jackshaft” engine stayed temporarily at Plumstead pending the plant’s closure. (The numbering scheme works like this: the 750 twin engine was Norton’s Model 20, and the Commando engine the Mark III version; hence 20M3.)"

However this part , while not about "R", Does not seem correct:

"The S made a radical styling statement. Its five-inch headlight wore a chrome “halo” attached to a special top triple tree. "

HiRider was 5"

​

Also Is gortnippers's pix of "an R" or muddygoggles "R"???
 
dynodave said:
However this part , while not about "R", Does not seem correct:

"The S made a radical styling statement. Its five-inch headlight wore a chrome “halo” attached to a special top triple tree. "
Click to expand...
Well, these articles are often not 100% accurate. ;)

"...assembly moved to a new facility in Andover, Hampshire (on the famous Thruxton circuit)" would be another as the Andover Norton factory was at North Way, Andover about 4 miles away and not "on the Thruxton circuit". The race department was at Thruxton.

dynodave said:
HiRider was 5"
Click to expand...

...And 750 SS.
 
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