£7,000 - £9,000
1927 AJS H7 Big Port 350cc. Registration number DS 1300 (Transferrable). Frame number H7 5159. Engine H7 5159.
Sold with the V5C, matching numbers.
The first overhead-valve creation surfaced from the Stevens Bros workshops in 1920 as a 349cc racer for the Isle of Man TT. The machines were unreliable that year, but showed some serious promise. AJS went back to the drawing board and in 1921, the bikes were back to their AJS-type reliability. The result was an outstandingly nimble and fast machine that monopolised the 1921 Junior TT. Eric Williams won the race and AJS-ridden motorcycles secured second, third and fourth places. The most impressive achievement, however, were the exploits in the Senior race. AJS factory rider Howard Davies rode the sensational 350 in the big boy race, and took the chequered flag, beating the 500cc Indians of Dixon and Le Vack. Davies remains the only rider to win the Senior TT on a Junior machine.
In 1927, the catalogue featured two versions of the 350 OHV – the H6 roadster, and the racing version, the H7. The H featured a reconfigured cylinder head. There were updates to the inlet and exhaust ports and a mechanical Pilgrim oil pump now came as standard. The gearbox had also been uprated and the frame modified, with the headstock being enlarged. The H7 racer featured a specially tuned cylinder head, a higher compression ratio, and ball-race bearings for the timing gear shafts. There were was also an options list for the components such as the handlebars, exhausts and tanks.
In the 1928 the Big Port was coded the K6 and KR6 and this was to be the final year before AJS moved to the more popular and fashionable saddle tank.
DS 1300 appears to have been restored and re registered in 1998 and had only one owner before ours bought it at auction in 2021. During his custodianship he has had the Pilgrim Pump rebuilt by specialist, the Magneto rebuilt, new sprocket/drum carrier for the rear wheel, new camshaft bearings, the cylinder honed and new turnbuckles for cylinder studs. At present it has a modern throttle and front brake lever, the originals are with the machine (he found this easier for riding with).
This rare machine would grace any serious collection and is in good running order.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Free Registration
18.6% inc VAT*
Flat Fee Registration
15.00% inc VAT*
