Vintage sidecar value

[swooshdave]

I've been noodling around the idea of getting a sidecar so I can haul the kid around when he gets a little bigger. I ran across this Bingham Mk I but the owner doesn't know how much to ask for it and I don't want to pay too much. It's in fair to good condition for something almost 50 yrs old. Thoughts?


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[Shorty]

First, look at the mounts.  Will they bolt on (rigidly), or will you need to buy/make different mounts for your intended bike?Mounts can cost you plenty, and must be figured into the cost. Then see how much it weighs.  I think my all metal Dnepr car weighs about 250# , plus I carry 75-80 pounds of ballast to keep the chair down when riding solo. You do not want a lightweight car on a 650 pound Guzzi. As for pricing, that depends on your local market.  Me, I'd be a player for 500 to 700 bucks if it needed some minor work to about $1500 IF it were complete and mountable to the bike as is. My opinion is free and worth every dime. Good luck.

[swooshdave]

I have no idea what it was mounted to before. I'm anticipating much modification in this area. These cars are very light, about 150 lbs dry. It's not perfect so sorting the crack fender mount and putting some rubber body mounts are at the top of the list. The seat is serviceable but the carpet is shot.


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[Motomoto]

Worth a grand if you can mount it. Binghams are cool.  Do you have much saddle time with a sidehack? They're not for everyone. Def wouldn't use kid as ballast for a while.


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[swooshdave]

Zero time. Would get a lot of ballast time before putting a person in it. Considering getting a BMW Earles front end or something similar.  Or even new steeper triple clamps.


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[Thunderbutt]

Check over on the ADV Rider Forum.  There is a dedicated thread just for "Hacks".  Im sure someone over there can give you a good figure as to its value.  Very informative on everything related to sidecars.  Good luck and and keep us posted.




Jerry

[guzzisteve]

That rig should sell $1500-2000 all day long. Go ask at the Sidecar Forum

http://www.sidecar.com/mbbs22/category-view.asp

[sdcr]

 my first sidecar was a Bingham that I attached to a 4 cyl. kawasaki. Mine looked identical to this one. The SC awas very light, and could be attached to just about any motorcycle, but seemed just right for a 500-750cc bike. Mine tracked well, as long as the universal mounts did not shift. I had a few problems with the mounts breaking, IIRC, the welds would crack. After a few incidents with broken mounts, I moved on to a Vetter terraplane mounted on a Honda GL1100.

I've been noodling around the idea of getting a sidecar so I can haul the kid around when he gets a little bigger. I ran across this Bingham Mk I but the owner doesn't know how much to ask for it and I don't want to pay too much. It's in fair to good condition for something almost 50 yrs old. Thoughts?


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[Groover]

Vetter made a pretty sleek one, not sure if they are better or not but they look a little more sporty I think. Also, not sure if they are easy to find or not. So pretty much this reply is just to confuse things even more 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Just my honest opinion.. I'd say that car is a little light for a Guzzi. It's cool, though.

[azguzzirep]

There's a Bingham sidecar rally every year at Balboa park (?) The park in L.A.

[sdcr]

   I found the Terra plane to be very well built. As I understand it, Craig Vetter utilized Kevlar with the fiberglass, for added strength. The rig also had a stout tubular frame, with a roll bar. The mounting brackets were specific to each motorcycle, and  again, very stout. They had an innovative "turnbuckle", that you could adjust on the fly, depending on how the road was crowned. One of the first sidecars to have this, back in 1980.
  I had read somewhere that the Vetter company had to pay some form of Royalty for using the Terra plane name to the heirs of the Hudson Company. Not sure if this is factual.

Vetter made a pretty sleek one, not sure if they are better or not but they look a little more sporty I think. Also, not sure if they are easy to find or not. So pretty much this reply is just to confuse things even more 

[Groover]

^ Yes, that is the one. Great info!

[swooshdave]

That rig should sell $1500-2000 all day long. Go ask at the Sidecar Forum

http://www.sidecar.com/mbbs22/category-view.asp

Yes, that's where I found this car. I wanted to ask my Guzzi brethren first.


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[guzzisteve]

It is a classic in nice shape. Check wheel bearing and all the stress points. If you want a beefy frame, a friend makes them in Oregon, IL.  He's in the mfg part of the site but not on the computer, analog guy.

[huklbery]

http://www.dmcsidecars.com/ Are reasonably close to you and can give you a better idea how it will match and may offer mounts...

[swooshdave]

http://www.dmcsidecars.com/ Are reasonably close to you and can give you a better idea how it will match and may offer mounts...

I'm kind of surprised at the prices they get for side cars. Tube frame, wheel and fiberglass body that costs thousands. I'm sure low production number contribute but they aren't very sophisticated.

Custom mounts from DMC will be as much or more than the car is worth.


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[huklbery]

I'm kind of surprised at the prices they get for side cars. Tube frame, wheel and fiberglass body that costs thousands. I'm sure low production number contribute but they aren't very sophisticated.

Custom mounts from DMC will be as much or more than the car is worth.


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Yeah the boutique shops tend to charge at a high rate as its tough to make a living and cover the shop nut with essentially hand building  one off things. 

I have looked at a couple DMC rigs and they and the owners have confirmed its well built and mounted.  That said their is certainly no problem with owner fabricated mounts and rigs.

[normzone]

There's a Bingham sidecar rally every year at Balboa park (?) The park in L.A.

That would be Griffith park - Balboa park is in San Diego.

[huklbery]

Newhall the last two years at the Silent film actor William S Hart ranch

[sdcr]

I paid about $300. for essentially the same Bingham SC that you are looking at. I felt that I overpaid by $299. due to the flimsy, cracking mounting hardware.

I'm kind of surprised at the prices they get for side cars. Tube frame, wheel and fiberglass body that costs thousands. I'm sure low production number contribute but they aren't very sophisticated.

Custom mounts from DMC will be as much or more than the car is worth.


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[swooshdave]

Was it like this? That piece of angle iron weighed 20 lbs.


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[sdcr]

  Not exactly. IIRC, mine did not have the large L bracket, however, the rods look similar.
  It looks like the owner of this one, may have created/ obtained more robust mounting components than the ones that were on mine.

Was it like this? That piece of angle iron weighed 20 lbs.


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[lorazepam]

If I had the cash to throw away, I would try one of these for a V7. I wouldn't take it out on an interstate, but it looks like it could be adapted with some effort.
http://www.saferwholesale.com/Beemer-Side-Car-Motorcycle-Sidecar-Kit-Fits-All-p/edv-beemer.htm

[huklbery]

If I had the cash to throw away, I would try one of these for a V7. I wouldn't take it out on an interstate, but it looks like it could be adapted with some effort.
http://www.saferwholesale.com/Beemer-Side-Car-Motorcycle-Sidecar-Kit-Fits-All-p/edv-beemer.htm

I have looked at two of these, both owner installed.  It's third world construction and materials, unsafe.  Developing countries often make things that "look" like something familiar.  The dimensions of all the materials in the frame was half that or less than my Ural.  Limited to city scooter use and under 35 possible....

[lorazepam]

They also list a model that is not meant for big bikes and speeds over 50.
http://www.saferwholesale.com/Euro-Side-Car-Motorcycle-Sidecar-Kit-p/nsc-euro-sidecar-bmw.htm
They have some US made hacks also.

[ozarquebus]

I know this is an old thread, but does this look like the same model Bingham MK-I Sidecar as above to youse guys?

'never saw a Bingham in person. Or is it a Velorex?

Is the fiberglass body well built, but the frame probably too flimsy as suspicioned?

Wonder what it is worth? $500 with frame? i want to get it but only for the attached bike and would maybe pass the sidecar on to a victim here.

[John A]

First, look at the mounts.  Will they bolt on (rigidly), or will you need to buy/make different mounts for your intended bike?Mounts can cost you plenty, and must be figured into the cost. Then see how much it weighs.  I think my all metal Dnepr car weighs about 250# , plus I carry 75-80 pounds of ballast to keep the chair down when riding solo. You do not want a lightweight car on a 650 pound Guzzi. As for pricing, that depends on your local market.  Me, I'd be a player for 500 to 700 bucks if it needed some minor work to about $1500 IF it were complete and mountable to the bike as is. My opinion is free and worth every dime. Good luck.

I’m with Shorty on this.  Consider a bigger axel which means a different wheel which means a different suspension which means a different frame.  You would end up just using the body.  It’s not a just bolt’er on with a few modifications.

[ozarquebus]

 Somewhat acquainted with side hacks since I have a later model California Companion GT sidecar on a R100/7 now and its got a frame twice as beefy with a Neff Subframe on the BMW. The Companion GT weighs about 200 and is a fairly hefty rig so I realize this Bingham probably too light for a Guzzi and I don't really want another sidehack, but I was hoping I could peddle it off for $500 after I got the bike its attached to.

[guzzisteve]

That's reasonable price. Nice sidecar, different fender, looks ok to me. Hey, I have a Neff earls fork on my Cal2 and SCF made in IL.
Mine's been like this since 93, before that it had a toolbox from pick-up on SCF frame.



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