Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

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Dean Seavers
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Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by Dean Seavers » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:40 pm

Howdy-

For my own amusement I was going over karting magazines and noticed listings for the different Rupp karts but on paper the very early Grand Prix, A-Bone and Grand A look to have the same specs. Until the GP got the two piece chassis, what were the differences between all three?

Thanks,
Dean

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Re: Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by Tom Luttenbacher » Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:05 pm

Dean here are some things; location of foot pedals, some were behind the front axle, some were in front with a welded on tube affair, 60/63. 64's I beleive started the welded on bumper with the holes thru for pedals. Most as I recall came with 4''/5" Go Powers and Bendix drum brake. The narrow hoop came in the mid 60's. Not sure when the change to 5/8" steering shaft or 2 two short tie rods as opposed to 1 long, 1 short or when disc brakes were std or optional. Most as I remember had the Chilton seat back tank and Blue was the most common color. As for frames they stayed basic til the two piece, I can't remember any alterations in wheel base on the A-Bone. Combined with a Mac Engine it was a winning kart design. TL

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Re: Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by Dean Seavers » Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:10 pm

Thanks for the reply Tom!

I guess my specific question would be for the 1963 model year, what are the differences between the A-bone, the Grand A and the Grand Prix. As far as I can tell, they all had the same chassis- one piece, no front bumper and had 4" Front turbine wheels. They were all midnight blue and had a Chilton tank. The Grand Prix got the little ID plate riveted on the welded on Nassau panel. So before the advent of the 2 piece Grand Prix frame the next year, I'm not understanding what the difference was in 1963 between all three Dart Karts. Did the Grand Prix have a uni-mount in 1963 while the other two had regular swing mounts? What makes a Grand A different from a regular A-bone? Aluminum floor pan versus steel?

Thanks,
Dean

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Re: Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by louie figone » Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:54 pm

Dean, did they make a Grand Prix and Grand A in '63? I can only find info on these for January of '64. Early '64's the Grand Prix has the uni-mount, two piece frame, Giant steering wheel, full aluminum floor pan, front bumper, the Grand A had a one piece frame, aluminum forward pan, A-bone style steering wheel, front bumper and also has the uni-mount, both of these have the welded on number panel, the A-bone has a welded on steel pan and a swing mount and no front bumper and the A-bone style steering wheel, they may have added the front bumper in mid '64, they all have the 4 inch front wheels and drag link type steering system. They were all midnight blue with black upholstery, and had Bendix brakes. Rupp also made Brand X karts which were the same frame as the A-bone, swing mount, turbine wheels, pedals were different, they looked like Fox pedals and mounted behind the front axle, I think these were red. Problem is that manufactures changed specs as they seemed fit, look at my A-bone, all orginal but has a one piece aluminum seat/belly pan, 7 qt tank and a single uni-mount. Narrow hoop did not come out on the A-bone until '68. Tom Smith or Ernie Fisher would be a good resource for Rupps.

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Re: Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by Tom Smith » Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:54 pm

Dean, the '63 Grand Prix was 20 pounds lighter than the A-Bone. They were made from very thinwall 4130 tube that was Sigma welded and then stress relieved. The Grand Prix also had a riveted aluminum seat back and floor pan while the A-Bone had a welded steel seat back and floor pan which added to the overall weight but was cheaper to manufacture.
Most of the '63 Grand Prix karts were used hard and that caused them to break behind the seat hoop and the frame would sag just in front of the steering hoop.
I had a Grand A when I was a kid and I think it had the steel seat back and bottom and an aluminum floor pan. I do remember changing the aluminum 7075-T6 rear axle and putting in a hollow steel axle that flexed much better than the way too stiff aluminum axle which chattered did.
I don't think the later 2 peice frames were any hughe improvement over the earlier chromemoly '63 Grand Prix karts but they were probably easier and cheaper to manufacture.
The uni-mount appeared on the 1964 karts. Tom

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Re: Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by REAR » Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:22 pm

The Rupp 1965 factory brochure states that the Grand A is "a proven performer for years" The question now is how many years ? Wasn't it a one model year kart ? 1965 only.

All of the karts in the brochure are red in color also.

R.E.A.R.

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Re: Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by Tom Smith » Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:33 pm

Rupp Karts for 1966 did not include the Grand A model.
The 1966 line introduced the Chaparral Sprint for $299.50
Chaparral Sprint 2 $339.50 (dual)
Chapparal Enduro $409.50
Chapparral Enduro 2 $449.50 (dual)
1966 Grand Prix $259.50 (1 peice frame, full aluminum pan)
1966 A-Bone $199.50 (wide steering hoop)
1966 A-Bone 2 $169.50 ( A-Bone unpainted kit)
1966 Monza Jr. $495.00
1966 Fun Kart $139.50 $169.50 with pneumatic tires
1966 Dart Concession Kart $359.50
1966 Dart 300 $219.50
I guess the Monza Jr. was the top of the line, at least in price!

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Re: Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by Tom Luttenbacher » Sun Dec 02, 2007 11:02 pm

Question on the Brand X's...did they only come with narrow hoop or did they start out with the wide hoop as did A-Bone, etc. then go to narrow hoop in 68 as Louie states, also, what was the steering linkage arrangement used? TL

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Re: Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by Ronald Cubel » Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:00 am

Always had narrow hoop with welded on metal number plate. Only have seen ads in 64 for them....Ron

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Re: Rupp kart differences in 1963/64?

Post by REAR » Mon Dec 03, 2007 6:09 am

Reviewing Tom's list for 66. It does not list the Grand A so it must be safe to say it is a "one year" model only [65] and it was a little stretched by the marketing people. Great handling kart by the way, a personal favorite.

Anybody know what the 'tag' numbers mean ?

R.E.A.R.

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