It had a cast iron head monoblock side-valve, 400 cc, 18° V-twin with chain drive, designed by racer Charlie Collier.
[1] The narrow angle of the cylinder bank's V allowed the use of a one piece head, a practice used by Lancia in its early V4 automobile engines.
[2][better source needed] The rear suspension was a cantilever design using two springs and friction dampers beneath the saddle, very similar to the 1928 Vincent HRD design.
[3] The bike did not sell well and within the year led to the Bert Collier designed Matchless Silver Hawk.
In 1931 both were designated A/2 and minor changes included a four speed gearbox with improved gear ratios with lower 1st and higher top gear and a more rounded petrol tank, the Amal carburettor jet was changed from 70 to 55 and the diameter of the exhaust pipe was increased with ports on the head spaced further apart (65/8" instead of 51/8").