The serial production of Matchless motorcycles began in 1901, in the suburbs of London, by the brothers Charlie and Harry Collier, with De Dion and MMC engines; but years earlier their father Henry Herbert Collier was already building bicycles, more precisely in 1891, for which he chose a revealing name MATCHLESS (Unmatched).

In 1899, Charlie Collier made his debut as a motorcycle racer and in that same year the Collier brothers built their own motorcycle.

Between 1907 and 1911 they set many records, using JAP and MAG engines, but they began making their own after the First World War.

In the 1920s, Harry and Charlie were joined by Bert Collier, their younger brother, despite their father having died in 1926.

Two years later, in 1928, Matchless became a public company.

Most Matchless models at this time were painted in khaki and/or brown colors, unlike other brands that used black as a base.