According to information supplied by Joe Seifert of Andover Norton, R types were built (in batches) from 129928 to 135885 which suggests production began in late 1968 and ended early in 1970 therefore, logically, R type production must have continued after the AMC factory closed.
That's interesting. Having owned both a '69 "S" (serial #1317**) and a '70 Roadster (serial #1366**), Berliner East coast US-supplied, and having worked at two different Berliner dealers '69 - '71, I had never seen -- or ever heard of -- an "R" model until the days of the Internet brought the intricacies of the "niche" models to light; actually, I was familiar with the "SS" and "Hi-Rider" having seen them BITD in ads and in-the-flesh and written articles relating to the "LR" model of the Fastback (as it was called then). I still wonder why they were so rare in Berliner-World as it existed in 1969 and 1970.
Of course, you're right in that if the last "R" was 135885, production of the "R" must have continued into 1970. The timing of the first "R" with serial number 129928 would appear to be correct. The serial number range of the first Commando 126125 (early 1968) through the intro of the "S" with 131257 (known to be March, 1969) is approx. 5100 units, giving an approximate production schedule of about 425 per month or 100 per week. If there was a reasonable consistency of numbering, then a serial number of 129928 would have fallen approx. four months earlier, or with a general implication of first of November, 1968. The numbering of a 20M3 engine 1355885 as late as early 1970 (assuming that production of the 20M3 engine ceased when Plumstead Rd. closed and that no "R" motorcycles were built with 20M3S* engines) is a mystery. I know that they were pushing production of the "S" models which required an 20M3S engine but the idea of an 20M3 engine sitting in Andover stores for 7 -8 -9 months awaiting build into an obsolescent model is an inconsistency that's hard for me to imagine.
(* I have never heard of an "R" built with the 20M3S engine, the earlier engine seems to be a hallmark of the model, but strange things happened then.)
I believe both the R and S types were introduced in March 1969. One source stating this was at the Brighton show (not all new model releases occurring at Earl's Court apparently).
The generally accepted description of the AMC Plumstead schedule (which, of course, carried over into early Commando production) is that production was "ramped down" to minimal levels in autumn since the selling season in the UK and most of North America was dead October - April, unless there was a compelling reason to do otherwise, sales introductions for new-models would come in the spring. Then, from Christmas/New Year's shutdown until time to begin to build to "fill the pipeline" for the sales surge, there was re-tooling and production line change setup to begin models with new features or redesigned technical improvements. "Introduction" of new models for *Marketing purposes* was generally done in the spring; the idea of a sales introduction in March, 1969 of a variant that had begun production of 500 units in November, 1968 seems pretty much in accordance with usual schedule.
And as a side note, the "S" was advertised as being available with the Fireflake Red and Blue fuel tanks and side covers; in my experience in the US, they were supplied about 2/3 in red and 1/3 in blue (and the market felt that the proportion should have been about even). Sales brochures for the "R" seem to have been sparse at the time and almost unexistent today, but I think that I've seen note that the "R" models were stated to be available with either but any reference I've ever seen to an "R" as it exists today seems to only show them in Fireflake Red. Does anyone have authentication that any "R" models where supplied with the Fireflake Blue fuel tank?
(I was told in 1972 that the Fireflake paint schemes were very dependent upon the gel-coat glass-fibre moulding processes and that there was some delay in approving the blue Fireflake. If this is correct, that might be reflected in an apparent shortage of the blue for the "S" and it might have resulted in an even larger number of "R" models, production commencing earlier, being built with red fuel tanks. The blue in '69 was called Fireflake Pacific Blue in US sales materials and the red was Fireflake Ruby Red. For 1970 and the switch to the Roadster, the Fireflake red was dropped and replaced by the solid Signal Red and the continuing blue was then called Royal Blue. The Fireflake finishes depended on a very specific size and tint of metal flakes in the gel-coat finish -- but as far as I know, the 1970 Royal Blue was identical to the Fireflake Pacific Blue and the Royal Blue carried over with the Fireflake components and procedures (as did the soon-to-be-introduced Green, Purple, and Bronze gel-coat finishes which appear to be fully "Fireflake") but there is a possibility that the changes at the end of "S" production signalled a reason for dropping the Fireflake red and a change in the actual components and appearance of the blue finish.)
Thank you all (especially LAB) for your input. I'd like to know more about the low-volume and unusual "R" variant motorcycle model. Oh, how I wish that I could ask Triggy!
BH NC USA