The AJS V-4 had its origin in the air-cooled 495cc 50 degree V-4 road-going design first seen at the 1935 Olympia Show. A year later two race versions, now fitted with a supercharger, were raced at the IOM but retired with mechanical problems. After considerable modifications the V-4 was back at the IOM in 1938 but retired due to overheating. In 1939 AJS hired Matt Wright (ex New Imperial) to do a major redesign of the V-4. The individual cylinders were replaced by barrels & heads cast in pairs.
Most importantly water cooling was now employed. A new frame, suspension and brakes were fitted. That year the machines finished 11th & 13th at the IOM, but in the Ulster GP one of the new V-4s set the first 100mph lap of the circuit (100.03) before a suspension link broke.
After the war the AJS finally won a race, the 1946 event at Chimay in Belgium. However a week later at Albi the bike seized a crankpin, and then new rules disallowed supercharged models. The machine was still seized when the bike was purchased by Sammy Miller over 30 years later.
Specifications
Sources: Phil Aynesley, et al.
