Topic: How much is a "sandcast" engine worth? !!!UPDATE!!! dog-pile begins on pg 12.

[onagd]

I'mwatching to see how this turns out also. There are some awesome buys just hiding away out there and if some lucky SOHC/4 member finds them, all power to him, and green eyed envy for the rest of us.
Brett

[excerpt]

I'mwatching to see how this turns out also. There are some awesome buys just hiding away out there and if some lucky SOHC/4 member finds them, all power to him, and green eyed envy for the rest of us.
Brett

I don't know much about sandcasts, other than they are more expensive.
When he told me this, I assumed he didn't know what he had.

I even told him those year models are worth a little more than the others.

He told me he travelled around the country and bought these engines.
He knows what sandcast stuff is, and he was still going to sell them for that.
That made me think they may not be worth much.

He described the stuff as in great shape.

Strange huh?

[burnoutking1971]

Interesting story. Several engines and frames available for $800.00 I would buy them asap! These things are rare, its not the money or what they might be worth for resale. I think there is a higher value and more satisfaction to restore or build a bike from the parts rather than base a purchase on resale or approximate value. Make sure you know what you're buying. Good luck and post those pics asap. I hear these "barn find"/"old guy with vintage (fill in the blank) stories all the time and most turn out to be be false, no offence intended just saying.

[Swoop]

If you find one that is in the serial #200 to 500....I'll buy it off you for a pretty penny.

[markb]

I'mwatching to see how this turns out also. There are some awesome buys just hiding away out there and if some lucky SOHC/4 member finds them, all power to him, and green eyed envy for the rest of us.
Brett

I don't know much about sandcasts, other than they are more expensive.
When he told me this, I assumed he didn't know what he had.

I even told him those year models are worth a little more than the others.

He told me he travelled around the country and bought these engines.
He knows what sandcast stuff is, and he was still going to sell them for that.
That made me think they may not be worth much.

He described the stuff as in great shape.

Strange huh?

If he said sandcast he probably knows what they are.  Of course that doesn't mean they are sandcast.  Even then five diecast motors for $800 should be a good buy.  If he has 5 sandcast motors and if he knows what they are I'm skeptical he would sell then for $800.  But if they are I would be interested in buying one too.  I'll be watching this one.

[FuZZie]

I'mwatching to see how this turns out also. There are some awesome buys just hiding away out there and if some lucky SOHC/4 member finds them, all power to him, and green eyed envy for the rest of us.
Brett

I don't know much about sandcasts, other than they are more expensive.
When he told me this, I assumed he didn't know what he had.

I even told him those year models are worth a little more than the others.

He told me he travelled around the country and bought these engines.
He knows what sandcast stuff is, and he was still going to sell them for that.
That made me think they may not be worth much.

He described the stuff as in great shape.

Strange huh?

If he said sandcast he probably knows what they are.  Of course that doesn't mean they are sandcast.  Even then five diecast motors for $800 should be a good buy.  If he has 5 sandcast motors and if he knows what they are I'm skeptical he would sell then for $800.  But if they are I would be interested in buying one too.  I'll be watching this one.

 IMO even if you assume the worst (they are not sandcast) I can't see him losing on this, I mean how many people in here wouldn't grab a complete spare engine with carbs for a couple hundred bucks?

[myhondas]

It's worth more with a matching numbers frame. However there are lots of people with a frame number that might be considered close enough. Anybodys guess what an aucton could do. Just get it and see.

The frame & engine no.'s  of all CB750's including the sandcasts 99.99% of the time DO NOT MATCH !!!!!!  Big question is ...... are they complete and running? But as all have said....5 motors even if none turn over and all are diecasts are worth a lot more than $800
You should go on the SOOC forum and make an open offer and see what response you get..... IMHO

[excerpt]

I'mwatching to see how this turns out also. There are some awesome buys just hiding away out there and if some lucky SOHC/4 member finds them, all power to him, and green eyed envy for the rest of us.
Brett

I don't know much about sandcasts, other than they are more expensive.
When he told me this, I assumed he didn't know what he had.

I even told him those year models are worth a little more than the others.

He told me he travelled around the country and bought these engines.
He knows what sandcast stuff is, and he was still going to sell them for that.
That made me think they may not be worth much.

He described the stuff as in great shape.

Strange huh?

If he said sandcast he probably knows what they are.  Of course that doesn't mean they are sandcast.  Even then five diecast motors for $800 should be a good buy.  If he has 5 sandcast motors and if he knows what they are I'm skeptical he would sell then for $800.  But if they are I would be interested in buying one too.  I'll be watching this one.

 IMO even if you assume the worst (they are not sandcast) I can't see him losing on this, I mean how many people in here wouldn't grab a complete spare engine with carbs for a couple hundred bucks?

I'm mostly interested in this aluminum frame. Never knew such a thing existed.
He said he collected the engines over the years. Driving all over the country to pick them up.

Definitely a strange situation here.
Hope it all pans out.

[754]

If the frame is aluminum which I rather doubt, unless its a Spondon.. .. then it better be heat treated.. cuz if it aint.. its basically a good display piece..
 Better scenario if its a nickle plated steel frame..
 Good luck with this one...if you are playing us, gonna be a very bumpy road ahead...

[FuZZie]

I hope it works out too, but sell 4 engines to cover your cost and you get a engine with that frame. With a little time to find buyers I can't see you losing.
And if the serials work out you could do much better

[excerpt]

If the frame is aluminum which I rather doubt, unless its a Spondon.. .. then it better be heat treated.. cuz if it aint.. its basically a good display piece..
 Better scenario if its a nickle plated steel frame..
 Good luck with this one...if you are playing us, gonna be a very bumpy road ahead...

I'm not lying. He works a lot and is rarely home, but that's what he told me, and that's the deal he made me.
As soon as he gets some time off and goes home, I'm driving there with a friend and picking it all up.

[HonderCB]

lucky bastard...

[FuZZie]

Don't forget us excerpt, were expecting PICTURES!

[phil71]

I wonder if maybe some of what you're being told is a fish tale. I don't know for  sure, but it would seem to me that aluminum would be a terrible choice for a frame material.
also, many people seem to call things 'sandcast' that aren't . Only the #s will tell you what you need to know.

[excerpt]

I wonder if maybe some of what you're being told is a fish tale. I don't know for  sure, but it would seem to me that aluminum would be a terrible choice for a frame material.
also, many people seem to call things 'sandcast' that aren't . Only the #s will tell you what you need to know.

I would call BS too, but I have talked with the guy for quite some time.
This looks legit.

I'll make this happen ASAP and will post pics.

[phil71]

oh, I don't think he thinks he's bs-ing you, but lots of people call things sandcast that aren't. Honestly, the term 'sandcast' has really only gotten thrown around in the last 10 years when people started to realize the rarity and value, and usually, anyone that knows enough to call a thing 'sandcast' is already hip to the bubble.

[scottly]

I'm really curious about the frame. Seeley frames were also nickle-plated. All Seeley frame numbers start with SH7-xxx. They only made 302 of these, so they are even more rare than sand-casts.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Odds are the frame is not aluminum and the engines are not sandcast.
If this dude knows what he has he would not be selling it all to your for $800.

Either that or you are just making #$%* up to entertain yourself.
This is all hearsay as far as I am concerned until we see pictures of serial numbers and titles and this supposed 'aluminum frame'.

[Toxic]

5 plain ol CB750 engines are worth $800 if they are in the condition he says.

If they are sandcast, Dude you just won the lottery.

If the seller can't tell the difference between aly and nickle plated well that makes him a bit of a dumbass don't ya think.

I hope it is an aluminum frame, that would be worth more than the sandcast engines.

As you can tell most of us are skeptical to say the least, but if it does work out to be authentic you are one lucky S.O.B.

[754]

 If the aluminum frame is homemade and not heat treated, it is only good for display..
 If it is too fugly or fubbedup to use it is worth around 70cent to a buck a pound..
 I know of at least 2 frames it town here that were not heat treated, and both builders admitted in they end they were a waste of time.
 Another builder here in town, heat treated his, but later on decided to stop production..
 Simple reason.. someone welds a tab on the frame or mods it, there is a weakening problem, in the end, his name is involved, even if it has nothing to do with him..

 Lets me say, an aluminum frame of unknown origin, that you cannot find provenance for... is just a wall hanger or display piece... better off with a nicleplare Rickman, Seeley, or one of the others..

[burnoutking1971]

"As a seller, I love guys like this.  As a buyer, I hate them.  I wish I had a dollar for every owner I have to deal with that dumped more money into a bike than it was worth.  The term "fool" comes to mind."
kingcustomcycles.

Sometimes it's more about the hobby and the enjoyment you get from doing it. Not the investment or money that could be made from restoring an old bike. Anyone who has ever restored and older muscle car or bike knows it is difficult to recover 100% of the investment, I'm not saying it can't be done. Sometimes people spend a small fortune to make something right or restore it the way they want because that's what they enjoy doing. I would not call them fools for doing do. I say to each his own. If someone wants to spend 10k restoring a bike thats worth 6k well, if thats what makes said person happy good! The trouble starts when people fail to understand market conditions or have high expectations about resale value and are then sadly disapointed at selling time. As for me I like my cars and bikes and I don't care about resale. If I want it right and the way I like cost is just part of the hobby. Perhaps that makes me a fool then?

[anotherCB]

+1 burnoutking1971!

[Magpie]

Full agreement there, burnoutking1971, but you're no fool. The stuff I've done is for my enjoyment and will be a part of my estate, not for resale. I made that mistake once and was able to buy it back. When people have the nerve to ask what's my bikes are worth I say they are worthless because, while I'm alive, they will never be sold. I hate it when people ask questions like that!

Go get those engines, no matter what they are!

Cliff.

[Gordon]

I own nothing that I can't sell for more than I paid.  Nothing, nada.  I will say the food in my fridge costs me more than I can recover on resale.  Even that I consider a "foolish" purchase and grow many of my own vegetables.  Each to his own.  The opinion you have of entertainment, or enjoyment, having to cost you is silly.  Like I said, I love guys with money to throw away.  I am right here, throw it my way when you are ready.  I will add that I have made 100K in the last 7 years selling motorcycles.  Each one selling for more than I paid.  That buys a garage full of vintage bikes if I was so inclined to "enjoy" myself.

Many people place a "value" on enjoyment and fulfillment.  While that value may not translate into extra income for most of us sohc4 owners, it's still real.  The sellers of parts and whole bikes need the buyers, and vice versa.  We each get our own form of fulfillment from each other.  To look down on or speak disparagingly of the other simply because of where they are in the spectrum is to bite the hand that feeds you. 

[Spiider]

The best way to ruin a hobby is to turn it into a business...