Candy Gold: 1971 Honda CT70 K0
We had a couple of dachshunds when I was growing up and the CT70’s nickname is Dax for its unusual frame with sort of a snout that resembles a dachshund. Ok, that’s kind of a stretch, but at least I wasn’t the one who gave them that nickname so you can’t blame me. This familiar seller has this 1971 Honda CT70 K0 listed here on eBay in Indianapolis, Indiana, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $3,450.
We’ve seen many CT70s here on Barn Finds over the last few years, but not as many Candy Gold examples. This color was only offered in 1969, 1970, and 1971 on the CT70 K0 model, not the CT70H version, which had a manual shifter. This one has a three-speed semi-automatic transmission.
I’m a little surprised at the current bid price, although I don’t know why I would be at the end of 2022 when things are still more than slightly skewed. This price is approaching Hagerty’s #3 good condition value and you can see that this one appears to need a full cosmetic restoration, which won’t be inexpensive if you have a shop do it, and it won’t be quick if you do it yourself.
There are a lot of chips and scratches in the paint and those ancient cables “need replaced”, as the kids say in 2022, not to mention that a lot of the chrome needs help, and the list goes on and on. Still, the bidders are seeing something that they like very much here. The first round of Honda CT70 production was from 1968 to 1982, and then again from 1991 to 1994, and it’s coming back in 2023, although it looks like something from another planet compared to the simple original Trail 70s.
The engine is Honda’s 72-cc OHC single-cylinder, which had around six horsepower. The seller says that this one has been completely rebuilt top-to-bottom and I’m wondering what’s going on with the surface rust on the black paint. These folks clearly know their business but I would have expected a jewel of an engine, cosmetically. The bidders aren’t worried. Any thoughts on this Honda 70?
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Comments
“Coming back for 2023″? Pftt, hahahahahaha,,sorry, it’s just, really? With all our technology, Honda calls on a 50 year old design? I can hear it now in the boardrooms,,”IDK, chief, we’re just not selling motorcycles anymore, they could foreclose on one of your mansions”. “Well, bring back the mini bike and let’s start over”,,,or something to that effect.
Nice find, I think kids will always be kids, and would love to have this, properly wrapped in bubble wrap by their parents, of course. This, as said, was the cornerstone of motorcycling then. It got your foot in the door at the ground level( pun intended) and for many, led to a life of motorcycling. Oh sure, we took many a lump, but t’was all in good fun. They didn’t go fast enough to kill ourselves, but the 1st time we got really hurt. That arm cast was a badge of honor, of sorts and the foot pegs could be bent back. Shifters took a big hit, and a vice grips was mandatory. I don’t know if that exists today, certainly not like for us.
Hey, Howard, a friend in Raleigh, NC bought his wife a new Honda “monkey bike”, although it’s a 125-cc now, and I think it cost $4,000. Which, considering how much Honda 50s have been selling for, is probably not bad.
Hagerty did a nice 11 part series on restoring one of these, if one of the readers wants to pull the trigger on this one.
https://youtu.be/oeX-JC5yUMc
Happy New Year 🎉 Scotty and all of the staff and writers of BarnFinds!!!
Thanks, Pat, and the same to you and everyone! And, thanks for all of the great tips over the last year.
Had one same color as a kid in 70s
“Spent over $2,800 with Honda, so quite naturally it is sealed tight with new gaskets.”
I don’t know how you spend “over $2800” and still have a leaky petcock that has ruined whatever cheap paint was applied to the cylinder.
My 1972 CT70HK1 is original except the tires, seat cover, and tail light lens(wheelie trouble). I rebuilt the leaky petcock a few times, but the paint is still there from August 1971 when it was built. The red finish is faded in places from being stored near the garage door by the previous owner, which is also why one of the handlebars has pitted chrome. It has been used and abused for many years, and still looks less beat up than this one that is over $4000 now. I have been shopping for engine rebuild parts and roughly $1000 will buy everything needed to freshen up the engine and clutch.
If he spent $2800 to “rebuild ” that engine he got taken. He could have bought all the gaskets and parts, done the work himself for less than $500
You can see many in the background, but the seller also has a red one listed, click on that and check out how many are in the background!!
Auction update: oops, this one “sold” for $4,100, but has been relisted. It’s not cheap to list things on eBay, it’s too bad that some bidders don’t take it seriously.