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Auction archive: Lot number 133

1912 American Belt-Drive Tri-Car Engine no. TBD

Estimate
US$0
Price realised:
US$30,420
Auction archive: Lot number 133

1912 American Belt-Drive Tri-Car Engine no. TBD

Estimate
US$0
Price realised:
US$30,420
Beschreibung:

Where better to restore rare antique bikes than historic Sturgis, South Dakota, the pilgrimage point each year for hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists. While Sturgis Bike Week is celebrating its 68th Anniversary this year, the American Tri-Car seen here is knocking on the door of 96. And it doesn’t look a day older than new thanks to the craftsmanship of restorers Bryan Vander Laan and Lonnie Isam, Jr. While Bryan runs Dutch Bros. Garage and Lonnie’s enterprise is Jurassic Racing, they often team up for unusual projects, the American Tri-Car one such example. Up to now they’ve kept a low profile on their high profile restorations which often includes very early Harley-Davidsons and Indians. In this case they went three-wheeling thanks to a trip to Montana and a Wells Fargo strong box. The story begins in Chicago in 1912 and a company called The American Motorcycle Co. that for some 20 years was successfully ‘badge engineering‘ several other motorcycle company’s machines, that is adding their touch and then their name on the gas tank in this case transforming a Yale single cylinder belt-drive to their purposes. Fast forward more than nine decades and that original bike, minus a front end, is found moldering away in the corner of a Montana bike shop where Bryan rescued it from oblivion and then began an extensive restoration. At this point Bryan was inspired to turn the American into both a three wheeled tri-car, thanks to the discovery in of an original era Indian tri-car front end and a Wells Fargo strong box. Always interested in early American history, he discovered that Wells Fargo had been carrying the US Mail via its stage coaches and very likely by tri-cars back in the day so he went to work researching the subject of both. He eventually made castings from an original period tri-car with every dimension accurately reproduced. The Wells Fargo strong box, with its original intricate hardware, was enlarged in proportions with a boat-tail design added. The graphics and lettering were taken from the original Wells Fargo designs of the era and the machine was painted red as were both the American motorcycles and the Wells Fargo coaches. A final ‘patina‘ treatment completed the picture circa 1912. The 30in Yale engine was completely rebuilt including the lower end while the cylinder was bored out and filled with an aluminum piston replacing the cast iron original. In addition to motorized locomotion, the Tri-Car’s pedals allow one to ride the machine like a bicycle complete with coaster-type brakes. With the exception of the rear fender and tool box, the entire rear section of the bike is restored from the original components including the rear wheel, the belt drive, seat, tank and frame. As to the number of American motorcycles still in existence, the Tri-Car’s builders know of less than a handful, one being in the Barber Museum which makes this example well-suited for any complete belt-drive era collection. Also, imagine putting around on this machine during your next visit to a bike event or for that matter a trip to your local Wells Fargo bank. Sold on a Bill of Sale. Without reserve

Auction archive: Lot number 133
Auction:
Datum:
3 May 2008
Auction house:
Bonhams London
San Francisco 220 San Bruno Avenue San Francisco CA 94103 Tel: +1 415 861 7500 Fax : +1 415 861 8951 info.us@bonhams.com
Beschreibung:

Where better to restore rare antique bikes than historic Sturgis, South Dakota, the pilgrimage point each year for hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists. While Sturgis Bike Week is celebrating its 68th Anniversary this year, the American Tri-Car seen here is knocking on the door of 96. And it doesn’t look a day older than new thanks to the craftsmanship of restorers Bryan Vander Laan and Lonnie Isam, Jr. While Bryan runs Dutch Bros. Garage and Lonnie’s enterprise is Jurassic Racing, they often team up for unusual projects, the American Tri-Car one such example. Up to now they’ve kept a low profile on their high profile restorations which often includes very early Harley-Davidsons and Indians. In this case they went three-wheeling thanks to a trip to Montana and a Wells Fargo strong box. The story begins in Chicago in 1912 and a company called The American Motorcycle Co. that for some 20 years was successfully ‘badge engineering‘ several other motorcycle company’s machines, that is adding their touch and then their name on the gas tank in this case transforming a Yale single cylinder belt-drive to their purposes. Fast forward more than nine decades and that original bike, minus a front end, is found moldering away in the corner of a Montana bike shop where Bryan rescued it from oblivion and then began an extensive restoration. At this point Bryan was inspired to turn the American into both a three wheeled tri-car, thanks to the discovery in of an original era Indian tri-car front end and a Wells Fargo strong box. Always interested in early American history, he discovered that Wells Fargo had been carrying the US Mail via its stage coaches and very likely by tri-cars back in the day so he went to work researching the subject of both. He eventually made castings from an original period tri-car with every dimension accurately reproduced. The Wells Fargo strong box, with its original intricate hardware, was enlarged in proportions with a boat-tail design added. The graphics and lettering were taken from the original Wells Fargo designs of the era and the machine was painted red as were both the American motorcycles and the Wells Fargo coaches. A final ‘patina‘ treatment completed the picture circa 1912. The 30in Yale engine was completely rebuilt including the lower end while the cylinder was bored out and filled with an aluminum piston replacing the cast iron original. In addition to motorized locomotion, the Tri-Car’s pedals allow one to ride the machine like a bicycle complete with coaster-type brakes. With the exception of the rear fender and tool box, the entire rear section of the bike is restored from the original components including the rear wheel, the belt drive, seat, tank and frame. As to the number of American motorcycles still in existence, the Tri-Car’s builders know of less than a handful, one being in the Barber Museum which makes this example well-suited for any complete belt-drive era collection. Also, imagine putting around on this machine during your next visit to a bike event or for that matter a trip to your local Wells Fargo bank. Sold on a Bill of Sale. Without reserve

Auction archive: Lot number 133
Auction:
Datum:
3 May 2008
Auction house:
Bonhams London
San Francisco 220 San Bruno Avenue San Francisco CA 94103 Tel: +1 415 861 7500 Fax : +1 415 861 8951 info.us@bonhams.com
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