Trip To Harpers For A 70 Ambassador

[Dave Swanson]

Quite a few years ago I bought a set of Ambo Gilardonis when they were sporadically available thinking that one day I would find a suitable bike for them.

Those Gilardonis were looking pretty lonely on the shelf so I put out feelers for a bike that needed them.  The Guzzi Doctor (Joe) pointed me in the direction of Harpers a few weeks ago.

I just returned from the 1000 mile round trip to pick this baby up.   It is original paint which is my favorite and is very original and complete.  It hasn't been on the road since 1985. 

It will be the subject of a build thread over in the Bikes, Builds, Rebuilds and Restorations Only section.

Myself and my partner in crime, Joey The Guzzi Getter left yesterday afternoon and arrived at the front gate about 1 am.  I had a big air mattress to sleep on, which Joey thought was great. 









The gates opened up at 9 and Joey had the run of the place while I talked to Curtis and got the bike strapped down.  Then it was another 500 miles home. 





This will be a fun one.

[guzziart]

Great story!  I thought Curtis had a big auction a few years ago, didn't know he still had some old stuff for sale.  Anyway, good luck with Ambo, I'll look forward to seeing your restoration progress!
Art

[Dave Swanson]

Great story!  I thought Curtis had a big auction a few years ago, didn't know he still had some old stuff for sale.  Anyway, good luck with Ambo, I'll look forward to seeing your restoration progress!
Art

The auction only put a small dent in the trove!

[PeteS]

That place reminds me of Joe Eish’s place, far off the beaten path.

Pete

[Tkelly]

I had one of those fairings on my Eldorado,it caused a scary speed wobble around 80 mph.

[wirespokes]

It looks good to me - why restore? Just because you can? Yeah, I know, seals and rubber - but that's not a restore.

I should probably connect up with Curtis and see if he's got anything I need.

[Gliderjohn]

That is sweet Dave. Good luck!
I had photos of all the tents contents from a few days before the auction. Impressive. Lost them in a bad hard drive crash and shame on me not backed up.
GliderJohn

[Dave Swanson]

It looks good to me - why restore? Just because you can? Yeah, I know, seals and rubber - but that's not a restore.

I should probably connect up with Curtis and see if he's got anything I need.

There are various levels of restoration.

My initial assessment is focused on the feasibility of keeping the original paint.   So far it is my opinion it is borderline as far as needing a repaint, and most likely a bit too far over the line. 

These Eldos were able to retain their OG paint in fine style.  This Ambo is no where near these. 

[Dave Swanson]

The bike has shed a lot of weight.  None of which will be going back on.  The saddlebags were sort of kitschy-cool, but had poorly designed mounting system that would make Rube Goldberg blush.  These and the fairing will be going in the bin. 

I haven't given up on retaining the original paint.  My biggest hurdle for keeping the paint OG is how to repair the holes chopped into the rear fender for the saddlebag mount and the distortion it created. 

It is time to start my thread over in the rebuild section.

[DoubleGuzzi]

I'd be tempted to remove the mudguard and try flattening the distortion with a leather-faced hammer. Then plug the holes with white/cream plastic plugs.
Not ideal but perhaps an easy route to looking better and maintains some of the bike's history.

In what we can see of the condition, personally I'd go for refurbishment rather than restoration. It's not like you don't have other beauties to look at/polish up.

[Dave Swanson]

I'd be tempted to remove the mudguard and try flattening the distortion with a leather-faced hammer. Then plug the holes with white/cream plastic plugs.
Not ideal but perhaps an easy route to looking better and maintains some of the bike's history.

In what we can see of the condition, personally I'd go for refurbishment rather than restoration. It's not like you don't have other beauties to look at/polish up.

I will give it a try. 

Repainting would kick the bike into a much larger project. Everything would have to match the new shiny paint, which means chrome work, fastener plating etc.  I will try to make it look more presentable as is before taking the plunge.

[Moparnut72]

I wish I had taken on a more complete project than the disaster I am working on. I really need to do the brakes before I move on to something else. I just looked it up, I ordered caliper rebuild parts on May 1st. I still don't have them. I dropped the tank and side covers for graphics on Thursday but I won't need them for awhile though.
kk

[DoubleGuzzi]

I will try to make it look more presentable as is before taking the plunge.

You appear to be in a much better starting place than my decades younger V7C. Give it just a wee tickle here & there, at least a first. Think of it as appreciation of an older lady (or something like that)..

[wirespokes]

I see what you mean. Those holes would bug me too - why do people do that??? (don't answer that) These old things we love and value have come through a period where they're just old junk and people do the easiest, and cheapest, things to keep them running.

Who knows, you might find an original unmolested/undamaged rear fender to match. Wouldn't that be cool!??

[PeteS]

The rear fender is repairable, the trick would be finding matching paint. I assume not any white would match.
I had ‘51 BSA A-10 for a few years. The P.O. Had drilled the headlight ears for a windshield. I brazed them closed and used solder as a filler given its year. Thats how my Dad did repairs in his collision shop in the pre Bondo days. Not that much harder but if you remove too much smoothing it out you have start over again.

Pete

[Tusayan]

Who knows, you might find an original unmolested/undamaged rear fender to match. Wouldn't that be cool!??

I had a very similar 71 Ambo, same paint scheme and same condition.  I eventually figured out that the bike had been assembled with bodywork from multiple other bikes, but they matched perfectly in their imperfection.  The coolest feature was the outline of a long gone peace sign sticker on one side cover.  I couldn’t bring myself to erase that or other ‘patina’ so I sold it.  The new owner did a total and complete mechanical restoration, leaving the bodywork as it was.  That’s one way to go but you spend a lot on a bike that doesn’t attract a lot of attention.