1957/60 Suzuki Colleda 250 Barn Find

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Xx_OneLove_Xx

New member
Hi Everyone

I'm new hear but not so new to vintage bikes as I have several old Ducatis

A mate of mine had to make some room in his aunties shed as she has not long to go and the proceeds are for her funeral etc.

This bike was amongst all the other stuff cramped away in the far corner , he was told that it is a 1957 250cc two stroke the first of its type, I have looked online and can not find any info on it
The closest bike I could find to a match was this one
http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/suzuki-history/1960/1960_250TB_colleda_450.jpg

My question is , Is it worth doing her up or what is it worth to someone unrestored?
most of it is there from I could see its missing one side over, headlight lens, rear brake cylinder and mirror mount
It even had good compression and would you believe original tires

Cheers Marty

1957Suzuki.jpg

1957Suzuki1.jpg

1957Suzuki2.jpg

1957Suzuki3.jpg
 
Yeah, no way that is a 1957, because "Suzuki" did not go by the name "Suzuki" until 1960. That makes it a 1960, the first year that the "S" logo was put on a bike, but the last year for that fat front fender.

What is it worth? Very hard to say, as they are vary rarely seen on the market. Basicaly it is worth whatever someone will give you for it. Last one I saw was in a lot better shape than this one, and it went for about $400. Old, mass-production, small displacement Suzukis are a novelty, not true collector's items, so it is not nearly as valuable as a BSA, Indian, or other true collector's bike. If I had to guess I'd say a basket case maybe $200-400 US, in perfect condition maybe $1500-2000. Old, small bikes like this do not have mass market appeal. Of course, you could easily spend $2000 just having everything re-chromed, let alone restoring the rest of the bike. So this is a nice hobby project for someone who owns a shop, or has another one he can scavage for parts.

Generally, unless you have the skills and money to restore an old bike to showroom perfect condition, you are better off leaving it alone. Incorrect parts, non-original paint, and other mods usually bring DOWN the value considerably. If you were to sand it down and give it a coat of paint rather than take it completely apart and strip it to bare metal for complete refinishing, for example, you would probably make it worth half what it is now. The value is in the fact that it is old and original for someone into collecting and restoring old bikes like this, not in it being a popular model with someone looking for a bike to ride.
Worth selling rather than junking, but it is not worth a fortune.
 
I am assuming that his use fo teh word "mate" means he is on the wrong side of the pond. Otherwise I would give him a hundred buck for it, just to challenge my mechanical skills by getting it running, and challenge my paint and body skills by restoring it. Plus one of my best friends owns a machine shop, and a woman I am dating's father owns a chrome shop, so I could fix it a lot cheaper than most. Then I'd hang it on the wall of my shop as a decoration.
 
Your probably right about it not being a valuable bike to restore and as you say chrome is not cheap let alone the missing parts and the rest of the resto, one would expect never to find the missing parts and due it its age, low production volume, most of them would be scrap by now

Thanks for the info

Cheers Marty
 
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