1970 Ambassador Project

[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. 

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.

[kballowe]

Dave -

Just ride that one. 

-or- I'll come and get it and then ride it for you.

 

 

Nice find !

[Dave Swanson]

The big challenge on the path to retaining the OG paint is how to make this rear fender look more presentable.   It had extra holes drilled for the Rube Goldberg saddlebag support.  The bracket also distorted the fender.   I am all for patina, just not nasty patina.   

[BMCMOTO]

Ouch! That's nasty!
I hope and have confidence that you will find an entirely appropriate solution.

Brian

[cmice]

The big challenge on the path to retaining the OG paint is how to make this rear fender look more presentable.   It had extra holes drilled for the Rube Goldberg saddlebag support.  The bracket also distorted the fender.   I am all for patina, just not nasty patina.

Dang - ya that's tough.  A random thought is rather than trying to patch it up and blend it in, maybe make a simple cover plate(s) that just hides it.  Given the shape is out that might be harder than it sounds, but ya I'd hate to tear into that paint as it's pretty perfect just as it is.  Maybe one of the paintless-dent-removal guys can get the shape back and then the cover plate idea or just some button-head screws would be clean enough to make it disappear?

[wirespokes]

Here's an idea. Machine some buttons matching the hole diameter with a little larger circumference so they could be mounted on the rear side. Solder them to the rear side of the fender, then carefully paint them to match and blend in.

[cmice]

Another idea is to 3D print a larger taillight mounting box, and hide the holes underneath that - then remount the taillight to the box.

[Huzo]

The big challenge on the path to retaining the OG paint is how to make this rear fender look more presentable.   It had extra holes drilled for the Rube Goldberg saddlebag support.  The bracket also distorted the fender.   I am all for patina, just not nasty patina.   

I would remove the fender and the tab above the top two holes.
Then make a new (painted black) tab that reaches down to the offending top two holes and incorporate them as mounting points for the fender.
That would look like it was supposed to be there from the get go, get a mettallic Guzzi badge and affix it to the mounting bracket that you made and I reckon it would look legit.

Now the bottom two…