RUPP GRAND PRIX 2-PIECE FRAME

[Joe Drabicki]

Hey Gents!

I love the idea of keeping this kart because I love the look of the front fairing over the steering shaft. Truly there is alot to love about a Rupp GP. There is much work to be done to this kart to properly restore it and I have too many projects now as it is, so somebody buy this kart. Here is how I came to buy this kart yesterday:

...Late last night (this past Saturday night, 6/29/13) I found another Rupp but the guy did not have any photos of it on his ad. I called him this morning (Sunday 6/30/13) and talked with the guy. I asked him to email me some photos. He did not want to bother snapping photos to email me. So I said I really don't want to drive 2 hours to buy a kart and be disappointed when I get there. I asked him a bunch of questions about the kart. He said he thought it was all original.

It had the four turbine wheels and original steering wheel. He described the ribs splaying out from the center of the wheels. I specifically asked if the steering wheel had the long slots cut out in each of the 3 spokes. He said it did. He did a lousy job describing the frame, so I still had no idea which model the frame was for the kart. I figured it was worth going to get it regardless.

I get there, the guy pulls in the Burger King parking lot in an orange pickup truck. The steering wheel was an Azusa wheel. Disappointment set in about the steering wheel. My spirits picked up again when I saw that the frame is a Rupp Grand Prix. It is the one with the two piece frame and heim joints. I said, ok, I drove 2 hours, I am going to buy it. They took it out of the truck and put in on the roof of my car. The guy was surprised that I transport karts on the roof of my car. I told him I have been doing that for many years. I paid the man, thanked him and he left.

All four wheels are in very good shape with no broken bead flanges. The wheels are dirty and have some spider cobwebs all over them plus some chipped black paint. The wheels are 4" diameter FRONTS and 5" diameter REARS. The tube crossing behind the seat has cracked through where someone had welded on a large engine mount. The rear bumper has alot of junk welded on it. The aluminum finned drum brake works. The upholstery is not original, but it gives you something to sit on. The sheetmetal for the seat and floorpan is rough around the edges. The right front axle tube has been repaired. There is flatstock welded onto the top and bottom of the axle tube. The right front tire looks like it does not sit right, as if the inner tire edge would touch the road but not the outer edge. I snapped photos of the kart sitting on the roof of my car on my way home. You can only tell so much from a kart sitting on the roof of a car...

I did some research and it tells me that the Azusa steering wheel on this kart very well could be the original wheel. The paint is a dark blue over red. Both colors are peeling and chipping off. The kart looks like it has alot of patina and character. The serial number plate on the front fairing DOES NOT HAVE A SERIAL NUMBER.

Who wants the kart? I can email photos if you PM me with your email address.

PRICE $675 plus shipping.

Greyhound shipping $150 east of Miss, $180 west of Miss.

If you don't like the price, feel free to MAKE AN OFFER.


Kind Regards, Joe

[Joe Drabicki]

Hey Gents!

Are you frothing at the mouth waiting for me to part this kart out?

I THOUGHT about doing that today.

I also thought, what OFFER would it take to sell this kart "as is"? I am willing to drop the price. What is your price you would pay to buy this kart?

Nobody wants to tackle the front axle repair issue. Any competant fab-welder guy could fix it in a day, so where is the issue?

IF I parted this kart out, my buddy in CA wants the 4" diameter front wheels. I am sure somebody would buy the 5" diameter rear wheels. ALL four wheels are in great shape. They just need to be cleaned.

I thought about unbolting the front part of the frame, with that cool looking fairing over the steering shaft and the bad front axle. I figured the front of the kart would make great ceiling art in my storage unit.

The rear part of the frame would be for sale. There is that awesome aluminum finned brake drum, which does work just fine! Somebody else could hang the rear of the kart in their shop.

Of course, the whole complete kart is very appealing and should sell. So why hasn't it?

What are YOUR thoughts?

Kind Regards, Joe

[Joe Drabicki]

Nobody wanted to take on the repairs or we could not agree on a price. It is time to part out this kart!

[Joe Drabicki]

KART--------S-O-L-D--------ALL PARTS GONE TOO.
Thanks for everyone's interest.