Forum

[wetdog]

he was told it was a "63 continental delux" I cannot find this model , did they make one ?

[rex]

Guys
I appreciate your interest and help. This bike has a strange tank ,I saw some reference to a Hump Back tank on the early models could this be what I have??. I thought I just had the wrong tank, anything is possible?? would the frame and engine number throw any light on this.
Thanks Rex

[Presto]

The Continental was a very good looking bike in its first form, when it used the ‘jelly mould’ style tank. The colour scheme was also very attractive – especially the gold and burgundy option. Some (let it be whispered) preferred the look of this bike to the later Continental GT. The second batch of Continentals dropped the jelly mould tank in favour of a very ordinary looking alternative. With that change the bike lost a huge amount of its visual appeal.

[vince]

Hi, when I enquired about a jelly mould tank at Gander & Gray, Jake Gray rather indignantly corrected me and said its correct factory name was an "Italian tank". vince

[wetdog]

1963

[wetdog]

http://i67.tinypic.com/20fqgcy.jpg

[Mark M]

Rex, I have found my info. (Warning! the following is not definitive and is taken from a very old and rather patch REOC publication. For absolute chapter and verse, contact Graham Scarth as I suggested.) Engine number CL 144414 looks like a 1964 Clipper and frame number 23189 looks like a 1963 Continental Deluxe according to this book. Now I have never heard the Deluxe part applied to a Continental and the book goes on to say the name was dropped in September 64. It does describe what a "Continental Standard" would be like, which is basically less chrome and no rev-counter. So make of that what you will!

REgards, Mark

[Mark M]

I've just done so more digging and I think that engine number is actually for a Continental, so it is possible that your engine and frame started life together. The REOC will be able to confirm this. In the meantime have a look in the Photo Gallery section on the left sidebar on this site, you will see a section called Original Brochure Pictures, go in to the 250s section and check Continental for 1963. Pretty little bikes! The tank only lasted 1 year and is hard to find unfortunately. The instruments would be a matched pair of Chronometrics, also expensive but very desirable!

REgards, Mark

[Presto]

Only that the pretty 1963 Continental is not included in the original sales brochure section of this web site!

[Mark M]

Damn! I couldn't continue typing and check that it was at the same time. Could have opened another window I suppose. Oh well, try Google images instead?

REgards, Mark