Anybody looking for a Zundapp KS 601 "Green Elephant" project? This old (1953) guy comes complete with side car lugs in place. And it is actually sitting in a barn! Appears to be missing only the tail light lense. Has after market fenders but originals are included. Looks like a lot of work to me! Too bad I can't get it for $100.00!
Originally written by dsmith on 5/11/2008 4:40 PM
Anybody looking for a Zundapp KS 601 "Green Elephant" project? This old (1953) guy comes complete with side car lugs in place. And it is actually sitting in a barn! Appears to be missing only the tail light lense. Has after market fenders but originals are included. Looks like a lot of work to me! Too bad I can't get it for $100.00!
My, that's a rare duck! I recall reading about the WWII German sidecar versions that were used in warfare. They had dual rear wheel drive and the transmissions had chains inside instead of gears. They were one really heavy-duty machine. At one time, Zundapp (Mit umlaut) was a great company. There were lots of their little 2 strokes over here after WWII.
Looks like it is not the only gem in that barn 🙂
Well I made out of 2 1/2 NSU Max one Supermax just for my best buddy to crash it the Saturday before TÜV technical revision...
And it took me 1 year to rebuild nearly completely a 1960 Willies Stationwagon. This together with 15 years rebuilding machinery taught me quite a few things...
one: for to make things well and for a long term lasting you need as much money as for an equivilent modern vehicle from shop...
Zündapp KS 600 Motoguzzi 1000 => 12000$ and min 4 month full time job
Two: You get to know your bike much better then even one of designer who made it once. (well not always but I know people who are now better then the original designers)
three: Your personal satisfaction is much higher then if you would have bought the newest racing model. Ducati in this case.
four: My neighbour was right in what he told me when he sold me the Willies:"Sven, there were quite a few people who wanted to buy this car, but I always told them that a poor person cannot buy it. - Keep in mind as much money you put into it, it will never pay out. - An old car is always like an old house. Although You put a lot of money into it, it will always stay the same old house.
The last I learned the hard way with both the Willies and the house.
The worst mistake was to rebuild the original status...
Damn US-design: The Willies was designed for to selfdestroy itself.
As tough it is, where it is not needed...what in hell need a main frame a weight saving relief right in the main engine support and the chassis A-column support?
The Zündapp was a beauty and THE SIDECAR PULLING WORK HORSE at its time and is worth for its historical value, but keep in mind it is over 50 years old and needs a lot of work, special knowledge and love.
In my eye it is some good base for a vintage bike specialist and lover.
Regards
Sven Peter
Back in the mid to late 60's several friends at the School of Mines in Golden, CO were bringing 601's in from the East coast. They were fairly cheep back then as used bikes and made very affordable options for college students. Quite a few were converted to VW engines and one even had a Corvair engine in it. That He!! for stout tranny worked well for all those conversions too. And yes the Transmission used chains with slidding dogs. It seemed odd to some but made for a very heavy duty if not somewhat large unit.
If memory serves the only gaskets in the Engine/Transmission were on the cylinder bases and perhaps a head gasket. They used some well machined lipped surfaces that seated so tight that gaskets wern't used in most places.
Those Zundapp's faided away like the DKW autos and bikes making for interesting conversations for those who knew what they were or had been.
I ride old 70's models /5 BMW's. they are still a pretty good ol' work horse. People told me they were no good for a side hack rig. I ran a 1000 mile run to Death Valley for our maiden sidehack voyage last winter, after a 100 or so "get acquanted" miles. The /5 is now getting a 900cc top end, lower final drive, and some other hack friendly related adjustments. That old Zundapp will be a labor of love for the right someone.
Originally written by dsmith on 5/12/2008 5:02 PM
I ride old 70's models /5 BMW's. they are still a pretty good ol' work horse. People told me they were no good for a side hack rig. I ran a 1000 mile run to Death Valley for our maiden sidehack voyage last winter, after a 100 or so "get acquanted" miles. The /5 is now getting a 900cc top end, lower final drive, and some other hack friendly related adjustments. That old Zundapp will be a labor of love for the right someone.
I've never heard that older BMW's weren't good sidecar machnes. The only negative issue might be that they have only four speeds and, since they are shaft drive, you have to use whatever gear ratios the bike is fitted with.
Other than that, they are known for reliability and good tractability. It sounds like you have the gear ratios covered.
Happy Trails!
