Barn find Sherpa, what is it?

[robdixon]

A funny thing happened over the weekend, I was on a green lane and as we slowed down at the end of the track an elderly chap came out of a house, flagged me down and asked if I'd like to buy a bike (like you do). Of course it's always impossible to resist and he took me into his shed and showed me a tatty old Sherpa which he said had been stored for the past couple of decades by his brother who had passeed away. The bereaved's family were going to put the bike in a skip but thankfully he stopped them doing that and rescued it.

I'm not too well up on Sherpas and it's a bit of a mystery to me, the chap thinks it might be a Sammy Miller High Boy but I'm not so sure. The last High Boy I owned was a TL 185 version back in the 80s and my memory ain't what it used to be.

Anybody any ideas what this is? The frame number, stamped on the head stock, is B 9203012 and the motor is M-9203037. The fact that the frame number is so close to the engine number makes me wonder whether somebody has simply chromed a Bultaco frame.

The tank unit is alloy and it has what looks like an original Sammy Miller sticker stuck to the underside.

There is also a large '3' stamped on the top tube.

Anyway, I've bought it!.

Edited 4 hours ago by robdixon
word missing, extra pic

[kevin2306]

What a belting find!

not a clue on the info you are chasing but it will make a really good project!

 

Kev

[Trials-dabbler]

92

SHERPA T 350

1972-1974

92.000.001

[robdixon]

So, are you saying this is a standard frame which has been chromed?

[Trials-dabbler]

Hugh would probably be able to answer your question.

bultacoclassic.com

[woody]

It's a 1972/73 Sherpa, the model number is 92. The frame/engine numbers are close because the UK importer used to sell them as 'kits' to avoid purchase tax, so when the bikes arrived from Spain with engine and frame numbers that matched, the importer removed engines and then sold a bike and engine to the customer as a 'kit'.

It's a Bultaco frame, series 2 type 92, no idea why the top half looks chrome, the rear shock top mounts have been lowered to make them more angled. The tank is a UK made item as using the original Bultaco fibreglass tank on the road was illegal at the time as fibreglass tanks were outlawed, so UK bikes could have these fitted

[robdixon]

Thanks Woody, that's very interesting. I had a feeling it could be a standard frame, it's good to have it confirmed. I presume somebody must have chromed it to make it look like a special.