Topic: And Now For Something Completely Different

[Powderman]

I just took possession of this from my brothers estate. I had heard about it when he bought it from a friends estate. He never sent me the pics of it he had promised and after speaking to some of his friends today we was weird in that way, not allowing his friends to look at his bikes.
Well when I actually saw it for the first time yesterday it is way cooler than I expected and in better shape than he has let his other bikes go to.
This a 1959 Norton Manx with a 1975 Kawasaki H2 750 motor in it. A Kawaton, a fast nice handling bike no longer a "widow maker". Nice big Lockhart brakes but it's a shame they hide so much of the beautiful Kimtabs. The rear wheel is skinnier than the front. Rear caliper hangs awefully low for any aggressive left turns. This thing will clean up nicely.

























I'm disappointed he let the 69 Bonneville go to hell. Somewhere in the packed shop is the top end to it.

[ekpent]

Very interesting set of exhaust pipes on the Kawaton.

[calj737]

At least in that condition, the Bonny will finally stop leaking oil 

[Stev-o]

That is wild.

[754]

Cool bike, we had a guy lives here, built a NorKaw in the late 70,s... A Z1 engine in a featherbed frame..cool bikes.

[socal1200r]

Bikes?  Fuggedaboutit, lol...what's with the black Ferrari in the background?!

[jaguar]

Yeah, lets talk Ferrari!

[Powderman]

Yeah, lets talk Ferrari!

That car is a huge disappointment also. It's a 1980 Mondial. Research shows it is the worst Ferrari made. They are worthless. He paid $50k for it and they are only worth about $20k right now. It is a Florida car so has no ca. emission equipment on it so it can't be registered here in Ca.. The mice and squirrels get into everything out here and they have gotten inside this and it smells of rodent piss and if they get into the wiring we would be majorly f***ed.
That's a 69 Jag XKE 2+2 under the cover next to the Ferrari.

[Powderman]

Very interesting set of exhaust pipes on the Kawaton.

I thought so also, very nicely engineered system by Specialists II. I tried to contact them but a hispanic woman answered the phone number from the stickers. Apparently they aren't in business at that contact info. I'll search and try and find them when I get back home.

[jaguar]

I am looking to check the Ferrari box on my bucket list soon.
The Mondial a hard top?

[Powderman]

I am looking to check the Ferrari box on my bucket list soon.
The Mondial a hard top?

Yes it is.

[scottly]

A Ferrari with only 8 cylinders just doesn't make the same music..

[faux fiddy]

A Ferrari with only 8 cylinders just doesn't make the same music..

Well she won't know to tell her friends  any different. You have a Ferrari.

[Powderman]

A Ferrari with only 8 cylinders just doesn't make the same music..

Well she won't know to tell her friends  any different. You have a Ferrari.

After doing some research on the Ferrari I found it listed as "The worst Ferrari ever made" and yet you're right, it's still a Ferrari and I'll be glad to own it for however long before we sell it.These cars are just a sampling of what by brother had. Also in the mix besides the Ferrari and the Jag are an 85 BMW 540,3-Turbo LeBarons, 54 Chevy 5 window P/U, Dodge D50 P/U,75 D100 Dodge van(bought new), 65 Corvair with Toronado V8, 2-Alfa Romeo GTV's, 65 Alpine GT4, and my favorite, the 65 Lotus Elan the "Emma Peel" drove in the 60's television show "The Avengers". There's also a 75 Moto Guzzi Calif. and a complete basket case Cb750 sand cast (VIN# 1001644.

[jaguar]

Ummmm Ferrari and Lotus....

[faux fiddy]

I guess "best" 750 ever made  cancels out "worst Ferrari ever made"  for the purposes of this forum.

Sorry for your loss, I'm sure you would rather have your loved one around tinkering with you.

[Powderman]

I guess "best" 750 ever made  cancels out "worst Ferrari ever made"  for the purposes of this forum.

Sorry for your loss, I'm sure you would rather have your loved one around tinkering with you.

You are so right. I keep stopping when I find a question and say I gotta ask Ross what this is for, oh ya, he's gone. I was trying to find a mutual friend of ours to let him know about his passing. I found he had crashed and was killed with his wife in his plane around the first of the year. First thing I thought was what a shame, I better let Ross know. Oh ya, that's why I was trying to find Van.
The sandcast is completely disassembled, the frame is all rusty. I think it would take me too much time and money to restore so it will probably be parted out or sold whole for the right price.

[jaguar]

It must be hard.

Sure it is overwhelming to deal with all of this.
Goes without saying that if you need help reach out.

Your brother sure seemed like he had an amazing eye for stuff.

[Powderman]

Trying to research this Frankenstein is daunting. There was no real internet at the time this was built so I'm coming up zilch on this one and wonder if another one even exists. I know the builders name was Dick Kormany. I located and spoke to the guy who made the pipes in 1980 (SpecII). The original owner was making a U-turn on Mulholland on his Ducati and was hit and killed by a car.

[754]

Keep the sandcast..between it and your Sputhester...you will have at least two very cool bikes..

[Powderman]

Long story short, I left 9am Dec28 to head to Palm Springs,Ca. in my truck to pick up my bikes. Arrived at my sisters house at 10:30am Dec.29, 28.5 hours. Loaded the bikes in the truck and was ready to hit the highway when I realized it was New Years Eve and was not a wise choice to get on the roads that night. Got a good nights rest and headed out at 8am Jan.1 and was home 36 hours later. I now have my babies here and ready to work on. The sandcast turned out to be mostly 73 model stuff, but the sandcast cases and frame were sold off. I now have a large collection of 73 CB750 parts to unload. Today I will contact my mechanic and see about getting crank seals installed in the Kawasaki to try and get it running before I flip it. 1st order of business on the Triumph which I plan on keeping as my DD, is to swap on the spare set of Kimtabs I have with the triple disc brakes. I have never seen an early Triumph with this set up before. All the removed parts from the Triumph will be restored and set aside. I'd like to keep this as close to stock as possible without a huge expense doing it. So the plan is all the chrome bright bits will be powder coated Matte Black (never was a fan of chrome much). Turns out it is a 1970 Tiger and not a 69 Bonneville, which is fine with me as I like the paint on the Tiger better, and the 70 Tiger is one of the most desirable years to have.  I found the box of top end parts and it turns out he may have traded the Tiger head for a Bonny head because that's what's in the box, no Tiger head to be found. Looks like I need to source another Amal Carb for the swap. Paint will be restored to original.

[Stev-o]

Hey PM.....what do you value that Kawi-ton at?
You do know the motor will need to be split to change all the crank seals, right? 
I had my H1 crank rebuilt by Charlie Smith in MD for $395.

[Retro Rocket]

Hey PM.....what do you value that Kawi-ton at?

I prefer Nortisaki...as in Naughty Saki....

[Stev-o]

Hey PM.....what do you value that Kawi-ton at?

I prefer Nortisaki...as in Naughty Saki....

Like that too!

[Powderman]

Hey PM.....what do you value that Kawi-ton at?
You do know the motor will need to be split to change all the crank seals, right? 
I had my H1 crank rebuilt by Charlie Smith in MD for $395.

When I first started posting pics pf the bike I was told it was a 5 figure bike. I've been offered $5k for it as it sits to a guy who wants to pull the Kawi motor and put a Norton 850 motor in it. I have it scheduled for seal replacement first part of Feb. I want to experience it at least once before I flip it. The mechanic who's  doing the work said it could fetch as high as $15K. I hope he knows some buyers with that kind of cake.

If it's sold before it runs I will add a stipulation that once it's running I get to take it for a ride.