1969 Honda CB750 'Sand-Cast'

1969 Honda CB750 'Sand-Cast'
Registration no. MFX 639G
Frame no. CB750-1002196
Engine no. CB750E-1002249
• Very early sand-cast model
• Imported from the USA
• First registered in the UK on 1st September 2015

Fifty years on, it is hard to imagine the impact the Honda CB750 had on the motorcycling world when it was unveiled to a stunned public at the Tokyo Show in October 1968. True, there had been plenty of four-cylinder motorcycles before, but these had been built in relatively small numbers and aimed at the wealthy few. Here for the first time was a mass-produced four within the financial reach of the average enthusiast, and one whose specification - overhead camshaft, disc front brake, five-speed gearbox, electric starter, etc - made the opposition look obsolete overnight. A trend-setting design of immense significance and one of the truly great classic motorcycles, the CB750 is highly sought after by collectors.

The Honda CB750 made its United States debut at Las Vegas in January 1969 and was first shown to the UK public at the Brighton Show in April '69, having been sampled by the motorcycling press at Brands Hatch a few days previously. Deliveries were slow to arrive, but Motorcycle Sport was fortunate enough to ride a CB750 around the Isle of Man TT course during the summer, as reported in its August 1969 edition. By the time the first batches began to arrive in the UK over the winter of 1969/1970, a revised version had been introduced, known retrospectively as the 'K0'. The latter differed mainly by virtue of its die-cast crankcases, this casting method being better suited to mass production than the sand-casting process used for the earlier machines completed prior to September 1969.

A rare 'sand cast' model, this early CB750 still has the ultra-rare two-hole air-box, bootless master cylinder, early 'wrinkle' tank, rolled rear rim, left-hand horn fitting, sunken seat with tail fin, sunken key and ignition switch, fin-less oil filter housing, '28' carburettor tops, and 5mm diameter cables. Many of these parts go missing from these early CB750s over the years, but fortunately this one has retained them.

This beautiful machine has undergone a total restoration to show condition using new-old-stock parts where necessary, and is fitted with a brand new set of period-correct unstamped Japanese exhaust pipes. It was imported by Geomede (Motorcycles Unlimited) of Perivale and first registered in the UK on 1st September 2015. The current (second) UK owner acquired the machine in October 2015 (purchase receipt on file). Accompanying documentation consists of a State of Indiana Certificate of Title (copy); DVLA and HMR&C correspondence; expired MoT (August 2016); and a V5C Registration Certificate. An exceptional rare and correct example in beautiful condition, the machine also comes with an original owner's manual.