Topic: I found a sandcast!

[klp]

Thanks KMB. Yeah it's a bad picture- it really is an 'F'.

[kmb69]

Should be an "E". This was standard in that era. CB750E"ngine".

[klp]

Ha! Thanks for the lesson. I looked closer - it's an E. Funny how your mind sees what it wants, I figured it would be 750F - Four.

So the frame # will be 750E something?

Very cool.

[Stev-o]

Ha! Thanks for the lesson. I looked closer - it's an E. Funny how your mind sees what it wants, I figured it would be 750F - Four.

So the frame # will be 750E something?

Very cool.

Frame VIN will not have an E

[kmb69]

If it is #1370, the frame should be stamped CB750-1001370.

[FuZZie]

No, the motor and frame vins won't match up. that would make things just to easy.

[754]

Motor may be switched. Frame 572 had engine in the 700 range.
Appears to be left side horn frame, where did the 1300 number come from? Is it on the registration?
A lot of 69 had no rivet tag, as was mentioned.
Now I am not sure but most frames have a slight flat spot where the numbers, did you notice that?

[jamesbekman]

Its great that you guys love them (I love MGB's, I cant judge anyone) and please dont take offense but I still dont get the hype about a sandcasted motor.  I understand its rare but for what its worth compared to what you get and there being a million cb750's to come there after that are exactly the same I just think the market for one is way over hyped and I dont see it staying that way in the future if you're looking at this as an investment.  Am I missing something?

[kmb69]

Yes, like MGBs, Corvettes, and the likes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. In the case of the Sandcasts, they were arguably the first Superbike, there were only 7,414 made and only about 400 accounted for. They keep popping up from time to time but they are pretty rare as many have been wrecked, parted out, scrapped, etc. If the pleasure I get of collecting and restoring them helps me live an extra day or two, they are worth it to me. 

[754]

That and the fact there are over 50 differences from the first ones made to end of 69 less than a year later.

[kmb69]

Actually Frank, we have now identified more than 90 differences in the Sandcast production run. Pretty impressive that the factory could respond to the feedback, observation, and testing that quickly, approximately 8-9 months.

[klp]

Frame VIN will not have an E

Yeah I meant to ask if the frame would have an F to denote it is the frame #. In regards to #1370 - it is what she told me and I was unable to see it on the bike so I don't know. It may well be on the title.

It could be a motor swap - she claims it is all original but who knows. She is the only owner - has the BOS to prove it. It does not make sense to have the frame and engine so far apart.

Thanks all for your help - it will likely go to someone with deeper pockets than me but I will wrap this tale up when it ends.

[kmb69]

I would guess the engine has not been swapped even though the numbers are further apart than normal. Honda was doing everything they could to produce as many bikes as possible. One possible scenario is the engine got rejected during original assembly for some reason and got sent back to be corrected. Honda was putting a heavy emphasis on quality as this was their new flagship and they knew their reputation was on the line. It is much less likely that a Sandcast motor would have been replaced by an earlier Sandcast motor by the enduser in my opinion. If the current owner was the original owner, it more than likely came from Honda with that combination.

[goldarrow]

There's a Sandcast frame on eBay right now that would be a very nice match to this motor, frame # 742

[klp]

Reviving an old thread here! Dori called me last week and said she is ready to sell. So I think I am going to buy them. I don't know if it is worth the time to get them running or sell them as they sit. I don't really want to own a sandcast as they are so rare/valuable.

I figure each bike would need 30-40 hours to get them running nice.

[754]

If selling think about wether you want to start the sandcast.
 I sold an early one in 2000, not running, I  figured it would probably get totally restored, and I could possibly hurt some scarce parts starting it up,   30 hrs will get a bike pretty nice looking.

[ekpent]

Took her awhile to decide since it been 2 years. Surprised someone did not make her a big offer she couldn't refuse.

[klp]

Yeah I thought they were gone too. She is very well off $ wise and had a lot of time on these machines with her husband when they were young so a lot of sentimental value to her.

[Tews19]

Very cool to see this thread back!

[klp]

Thanks all - I am super excited. I changed the thread title as it is more accurate!

[bender01]

Cool! Cant wait to see what happens with them! She probably just realized you would be the one to treat them right!

[klp]

If selling think about wether you want to start the sandcast.
 I sold an early one in 2000, not running, I  figured it would probably get totally restored, and I could possibly hurt some scarce parts starting it up,   30 hrs will get a bike pretty nice looking.

Do you mind sharing what it sold for? Mine is 30 hrs from running nice, probably 30 more to look the part.

[klp]

Turns out I am really bad at taking pics. These are from last time I was with the bikes, 2 years ago. No idea what I was taking here. These are not the stock pipes.





No # pipes. They are solid but you can hear some loose rust inside when you shake them.



Gauges are a little manky.



I was mystified by this but apparently the VIN is on the other side.



Engine is 720. Sorry I know some of these are already posted, more to come when I get over there.







This is the '70 bike, it's got a super cool Bassini 4 into one.



I know nothing about sandcasts, if you see anything glaring please point it out to me. I am pretty sure she has the brake lense and signals, I don't remember what the tank looks like but she has it. Not sure about the stock bars for either bike. He was the original owner for both though so I bet all OEM parts are accounted for. Both motors turn over.

Edit - after looking the pics over I see a missing front brake as well as airbox. Anything else?

 

[754]

If selling think about wether you want to start the sandcast.
 I sold an early one in 2000, not running, I  figured it would probably get totally restored, and I could possibly hurt some scarce parts starting it up,   30 hrs will get a bike pretty nice looking.

Do you mind sharing what it sold for? Mine is 30 hrs from running nice, probably 30 more to look the part.

  It went for 6300.00 US in the 1st or 2nd week of Dec...bad time usually for selling.. I think it would be at least double that today,
 Your exhaust clamps are the early type..

[754]

 I like the look of the red KO, would look sweet with 400 F bars..