A.M.C. also made a one off SWD machine it was tested by MOTOR CYCLE during the war,but the jeep became available and this type of machine was no longer needed. 
It was a OHV v twin badged as a SUNBEAM which was part of AMC at the time. 
The sidecar does look similar to the one in this parts book,the Norton body has two grab rails though. 
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Note it was badged as a Sunbeam..AMC had bought that company...
Legend has it they bought Sunbeam to find out the secrets of the Sunbeam stove enamelling process, considered widely to be the best in the industry at the time....
AMC sold the company on to BSA in, I think, 1943...
I'd like to get my hands on an MX4 engine...Matchless oddly never fitted it to one of their own motorcycles but sold it on to other users such as Brough Superior and Morgan...Very sought after these days..!...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
I have a whole set of articles by Bob Currie re this machine, I'll dig them out and post them. They have the full story and its shameful end.
Evidently the gearbox reverse gear went dud and as it was a one off no spares were availiable. The forks were oversized Teledraulics, and went somewhere else.
Just another example of how cherished old bikes were back then. Even in 1971/2 when I built my WD G3L to army spec people thought I was nuts.
[I nearly did go nuts but that was some years later when I opened my bike shop
Yes Ken, that must be the same article I have, if I can remember where I put it
Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
The original article was pubiished in the June 24th MOTORCYCLING over three and a half pages plus six photos,990cc engine,it states several times that the army decided to use jeeps instead of outfits and that it was completely outclassed by the jeep. 
I found my articles, will scan in as soon as I can get near the machine, as wife is having carpets fitted and all the junk is piled up in my computor cubby hole.
Actually, rather than the Jeep thing, my version says that the contract for production of this outfit was awarded to the Standard car company, as AMC were fully occupied.
Standard were a bit put out at being "down graded" to motorcycle production but even more put out when they found they could not work to the tolerances demanded to produce a air cooled V twin!
Who knows that Royal Enfield also produced a SWD outfit using their 1100cc engine.
That was still and running about in 1975ish, reg no EXN 718 in the Birmingham area.
I'll scan that article as well.
Who knows that Royal Enfield also produced a SWD outfit using their 1100cc engine.
That was still and running about in 1975ish, reg no EXN 718 in the Birmingham area.
I'll scan that article as well.
Hi Ken,
I'm interested in that article! Any chance of a copy?
Cheers,
Jan
email (option): wd.register@gmail.com
I'd be happy to receive both articles too Ken. I'm buggered if I can find mine on the Sunbeam
My Big 4 is one of the last built in 1942! Orders also stopped in favour of the Jeep.Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
DSC_0513-2_zpscbe27923.jpg"/>That's interesting, you have a different edition of this book.
And there seems to be some confusion as to the CC on some of these books.
Rob
email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk
Thanks for these Ken! Much appreciated!
The Enfield still exists, I have recently been in contact with the owner. But it's interesting to read about the history of this outfit.
Cheers,
Jan
email (option): wd.register@gmail.com
I have never been able to find any information on the BSA SWD outfit..other than the fact it used an M21 engine as motive power...
It seems no photos exist and even a search of the patent museum drew a blank...
Has anyone ever seen any photos or read anything about it?...Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Here is the 1940 Matchless model X military outfit and John Tinley's replica, Ron
email (option): ronpier@talk21.com
