Topic: Does anybody know anything about vintage Karts?

[Scott S]

 I was recently given this old Go Kart. The previous owner just wants before and after pictures when I restore it.

 I searched around ebay and Googled "vintage go karts", "quarter midgets", etc., and was really surprised at the lack of info out there. Is there a good website or group for these old things?
 The quarter midget stuff was, generally, larger and more of a race thing.

 The previous owner doesn't know much about it. It's been in his family since he was a child and he's guessing it's from the late '50's- early '60's.
 It had an engine at one time and the brake is integral to the chain drive. The body was on the frame at some point, but the frame has been modified and I can't quite figure out how to mount the body in the current configuration.
 The body has "Patterson Fiberglass" on it.

 I know that many frames back in the day were home built from plans in Popular Mechanics, etc., but I was wondering if anyone saw anything here they might recognize?

[Scott S]

 More of the frame:

[Scott S]

 The body:

[Bluegreen]

Can't help you, but that kart is really cool. You should turn this into a build thread

Just saying...

[Flying J]

Neat project, looks like you could strap on a small briggs motor and ride it.

[seaweb11]

Looks like you have your work cut out for you

[Frankencake]

I know not much but I do know this.  When you get that put together with the proper engine.  You will be able to burn the tires off of it.  There is a following of these karts out there.  They were made by companies like Rupp and others.   Your looks like it was made for only one motor but there are versions of them that take two motors.  They can go up to 100 mph.  The single engines will do 60.  An old friend of mine has a few that he's rebuild and he let me drive one.  You need a really big open lot to really let it rip.  You can just sit and do donuts until you burn the tire off. 

Just like any other hobby that includes a motor, you can spend as much as you want.  Have fun and wear a helmet.  They are quite possibly more dangerous than a motorcycle
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=vintage+kart&_frs=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m359

[333]

I want one!

[Bodi]

I drove one very similar in the 60's. I had a home-made "go-kart" and rode it around industrial space near my home on weekends. Other kids also used the area, one "rich kid" got his dad to buy him this fancy machine. This is not a racing kart or very fast, it's just a putt-around toy. The engine was probably a Briggs 2" bore like a 5S or similar, with a centrifugal clutch on the motor shaft driving the chain. Maybe 30mph downhill if you remove the governor and risk exploding the engine. But furious fun!!!!!

[Skunk Stripe]

Looks like a tetanus  shot waiting to happen! I might think about trashing the frame and restoring the body. Maybe once cleaned up, you might find some more info stamped somewhere.

[Frankencake]

Looks like a tetanus  shot waiting to happen! I might think about trashing the frame and restoring the body. Maybe once cleaned up, you might find some more info stamped somewhere.

DON'T trash the frame.  Find out who made it first then make your decision.

[Skunk Stripe]

Well if you inspect the frame and it is shot, you can't really save it. That amount of rust on it may mean it is very weak and unusable.

[Flying J]

If it shot Id hang on to it and the replicate it. It doesnt look that hard. Maybe a few hours of work and some 1.5" box tube.

[Scott S]

 It's all surface rust. It's actually very solid.
 Now the body...it's taken a beating over the years, but nothing a little 'glass repair can't fix.

[Bodi]

Hmmm.

[Tintop]

Looks like a 1/4 midget.  The frame should fit inside the front body section, with the suspension( ) out each side at the front.  The curved up edge would have attached to the side of the frame rails.  It doesn't look like there are any cutouts though from your pictures.  As mentioned before, these were usually kits, you got plans for the frame, a body, and a list of other part required.  I would think about using a Honda 5 or 8 hp OHV general purpose engine.

I raced both single, and dual engined Honda 4 stroke karts.  The dual was clocked at 91.2mph, still have it.