1930 Simplex rusty rolling chassis for $5000 on EBay

[ltcps]

Just saw a 1930(?) Servi-Cycle rolling chassis on EBay for $5000 from southern Missouri!

The ad was almost up but cannot find it now, a few hours later.

I suggested that he contact the members of this chat site for information.

Did they make one in 1930?

[ltcps]

Still there  item  230742419844

[Ricks]

That is a 1950's simplex automatic, or at least what is left of one.  I sent the gentleman a message, and tried to be helpful.  Maybe he is fishing for a sucker or something, but a really nice restored simplex is worth only a little more than his asking price for that carcass.

[Mike Sal]

I've traded a couple of emails with him & told him it appears to be a late model.  I also mentioned it looked like the back wheel was on backwards, but then I noticed the back fender is notched on the right side......could this mean an older fender & wheel on a late model frame?

I'm only 3 hours away from him (used to pass by there a lot for work).  I've bookmarked the ad.  I didn't tell him the price was way off, only saying "good luck with your ad".  If the gas tank doesn't have any holes in it, what's a true realistic value?
Mike Sal

[Ricks]

I would guess that the wheel is installed backwards as it probably was done to accommodate a non simplex motor.   The pictures are so poor I can't tell if it is a factory notch or added by someone.  We also can't see the other side of the fender to see if it has a notch there also.  The headlamp is also not correct.  That is most certainly a late chassis as until 1948, the steering was a gooseneck and changed to a flat plate mount in 1949.

I also noticed in the 2nd picture, it looks like a piece of the frame is cut away down by the motor plate.

 I told him I thought it was worth $500-600, mostly as a parts bike.  It would be a good candidate for an engine conversion.  For comparison sake, I bought a 54 automatic last summer in ohio that came with a transmission and most of an engine in a box for $700.

[Mike Sal]

Gosh....it shows how much I'm out of touch on values.....I would have guess no more than 300.....

If anyone in the group winds up buying it, I can help with some of the transport, since I'm so close to it.
Mike Sal

[Ricks]

Well, gas tanks go for $200+, front ends $150+, 2" wide wheels $100+ each, seat pan $35.  I'd bet that front fender would fetch at least $100.  The rear fender maybe $50 plus some other misc.  It seems frames never command much.

Rick

[ltcps]

Wow, he is persistant! Back again all the way down to 3000.

Maybe he knows something we don't?

Come on, how many 1930 Simplexes are there in the world?

Some of the bikes I see on this site must be worth well over $30000 judging from his asking price.

[bill marcum]

Check this out . Cushman club of america .com has a 1953 restored Simplex. in there cusmans for sale section for $3600 Bill Marcum

[Ricks]

The pictures are pretty crappy, but bike looks really good for that price!

Rick

[ltcps]

A lot better than Al Boggs in Popular Bluff. He has  some great bikes but not as good a buy as the one Bill found.

[Mike Sal]

I had also mentioned to the ebay guy that the bike was much newer than his ad claimed.  He did respond a couple times, but apparantly he didn't bother to update the ad.  I live about 3 hours from him, but don't have any intentions to go look at it (unless somebody on this site is really interested).
Mike Sal.

[Driver]

Here's the Ad (reproduced for posterity's sake for forum software including the pics):

1930 Other Makes Simplex      Seller Info: larjomo1 (7492)

Advertised price:   US $3,000.00
Contact the Seller  Phone: 573-717-0363

***Note they made me put the mileage in and I put 1,000 but I DO NOT KNOW THE MILEAGE, IT IS JUST A GUESS.***

Hi, I am selling this motorcycle for my sister in law and all we know about it is that it is from the 1930's
it does not have a motor as you can see in the picture.
It is a VERY RARE MOTORCYCLE a COLLECTORS DREAM!
IT WILL BE SOLD AS IS.

We don't have a title and don't even know if it ever came with one. If there is a vin number we don't know where to look on the bike for it.
The bike is located in Southeast Missouri and it will be your responsiblity to make arrangments to pick it up.
Thanks and if you know more about this motorcycle please let me know. I do not want to mislead anyone about it, as I said, it will be Sold as IS


My take: They are delusional at that price, even if this was 7 yrs ago and the economy was hopping they would still be asked to turn over their crack pipe.

[Mike Sal]

I sorta thought the same thing, but wanted to be polite to the guy & ended all my emails to him by saying "good luck with your auction."
Mike sal