Hey guys sorry New here but I have the opportunity buy buy a sidecar. Thing is I don’t know what kind it is because the nose is missing. Or should I just get it and fab up something new for nose. I’ll see if I can post a pic of it.
Can't say I've ever seen one like that, that wasn't 100% custom. I'm no expert, but if it is production, it's rare enough you'll be fabbing it up any how.
Max, in looking at your two pictures, are you absolutely sure you want to tackle this? What bike would you choose for the pairing so that the combo looked like the are visually compatible?
Don't think I'd pay anything for that. I hope you're not serious. In my opinion.... the thing in those photos would not even make good yard art.
You would need some mad fabrication skills to make that a safe and attractive sidecar. The finned rear is appealing, but I can't tell if there is a suspension on it or not. Are those coil-over shocks in the back? Can't see any mounts, and those aren't cheap to buy or easy to make. Would need to be mated with a small bike, 700cc or smaller, due to the car's light weight. Hard to say if the frame, if there IS a frame, is strong enough.
Even if you know your way around sheet metal and got 'er looking sweet, mating this to a bike is not a project for someone new to sidecars. At least not on a rig you would take out on the road at traffic speeds.
Really cool fins. Looks like someone's 1950's creation. Almost looks like a bicycle tire. Close in the nose and it might make an interesting planter for the garden
I didn't want to say it, at least not first, but I agree. It's taking me a lot of time & money to get a sidecar that LOOKS perfectly functional on the road, and that's not even counting a lot of the wants I'm probably not installing. (Those will be for the super-duper cool sidecar if me & my lady decide we like the idea.)
Those fins look like the tail lites on a 1957 Ford. I don't think I would take that if he gave it to me. 🙂
Maxamillioncj, don't let these guys discourage you. Even if you don't yet know anything about sidecars, something this unique doesn't show up often. All the road blocks these guys have thrown out can be overcome. It does look like it will take a lot of work to make it a functional, safe sidecar but in the end it will really turn heads and be loads of fun. GO FOR IT. If you decide not to buy it, PM or e-mail me with location information please!
George is right, it CAN be done. Just takes time and money. If you have plenty of both, then yes, go for it!
I'm speaking as someone who USED to have time and money! 🙂
Here are my before and after pics.
One thing you can be sure of with this group is "opinions", good or bad. I'm with George. It looks like something very unique. If you just took the body and restored it and put it on a modern frame you would have something no one else would have. Time and money -yes!!! That being said I wouldn't pay more than salvage value (as in per pound). Surrounding stuff looks like a scrap yard so the current owner probably doesn't have much invested.
Don't get me wrong- it's unique and would look fantastic restored. I'm just saying, there's lots of money going to be poured into that project, and if it's your baby, go for it. I got a $1500 sidecar that should have been road worthy, and that's probably costing me 50% of purchase price to get it that way even though it already looked that way. Yours in no way looks road worthy, it might cost more than a brand new sidecar to get road worthy. Only you can decide if the unique coolness is worth the money, I just wanted to make sure you realize what you're getting into. It looks like a hunk of junk made for a bicycle right now, but a ton of TLC, a 1/2 ton of hard work, and a 1/4 ton of cash would make it beautiful. I vote for a darker sky blue, myself, maybe a two-tone cream & blue. 🙂
I don't see ol' Max coming back. And I still can't visualize what model of motorcycle would match with this uh, this, uh.....let's say classic.
