Identification help

[wayneburgess]

Hi. Can anyone help me identify this yard fun kart. Any help would be appreciated. I’d like to restore it back to original. Originally it had Red frame. yellow seat. No numbers or ID tags. rear wheel 6 inch front wheel 5 inch. Thanks. Wayne

 

[Hellion]

While it does have lightweight nylon/Zytel racing kart wheels, the frame looks heavily modified, custom and/or homemade to me. Looks like the seat and the front axle slides via telescoping tubing....

I will wait for the other members to chime in.

Has some nice pieces for sure. Very decent find, imo.

 

[wayneburgess]

Hi. The seat rest is not original. Front bumper has been replaced with new metal. Front half of the frame is telescopic with the pedals attached. the seat adjust on rails. It looks like it was built in the factory good clean factory welds. Definitely not a home build kart. I believe the original seat may have been a red fibreglassbucket seat

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Id say that was a busted kart someone made functional again. Those aren't factory welds.
Looks like a briggs flathead engine.
In my opinion you attempt be original again my be futile.
Make it run again and ride it.

 

[wayneburgess]

over the years it has been modified slightly and fixed up. most of the welds ain’t factory, but I thought one or two welds around the towing eye. and the rear axle mounts were. The 5HP Briggs & Stratton flat Engine is not original, but it is the same era. Thanks for your advice it’s appreciated.

 

[Hellion]

Do you think it was made in the UK or imported? I peeked at your location. If there’s any markings whatsoever on the frame, please show them as they could point to its origin. Even markings on component parts could assist.

Where did you get it from, a seller?

 

[Master Hack]

View attachment 164824

that bearing seal is no bueno. You have options:
replace it now or replace it later. Problem with later is you don't get to choose when.

 

[wayneburgess]

Do you think it was made in the UK or imported? I peeked at your location. If there’s any markings whatsoever on the frame, please show them as they could point to its origin. Even markings on component parts could assist.

Where did you get it from, a seller?

Hi. I’m pretty sure it is British. The the nylite wheels has England written on them. The steering bearing bracket. Has. Picador England written on them. I believe it is some sort. British commercial fun kart or concession/rental. Which is why he has adjustable seat and adjustable front end. Original colour was red with yellow accents. From what I read there was least a couple of British kart manufacturers used those colours combination. I’ve also learned that butlins used to have red karts with yellow or green accents. The yellow paint on the seat in the picture I believe is the original yellow. The red paint on the steering column in the picture I believe is original as well.

 

[Hellion]

British commercial fun kart or concession/rental...

That explains a lot. It’s very tank-like and overbuilt, lots of reinforcement and extra metal, meaning it could very well be a concession kart. Good call. Concession karts also have a lot of refined features like extra ball bearings in the spindles or steering column like yours has, to make the steering light and easy for all ages, plus normal plain bearings or bushings would tend to wear and get sloppy from the daily abuse.

 

[wayneburgess]

Hi. I’m now almost certain this go kart is a rare British made kit kart called a picador class1 fun kart. From 1970 to 1974. By picador engineering didn’t make the go-karts but they sold them as kits you’ve welded together yourself. Sold and built in colleges for students or build at home yourself. Ai help me to narrow it down to 3 options to what it could be. Zip kart dart kart or a kit kart. I emailed zip & dart kart. None of them recognised the kart. Done more research on kit karts. With the help of Ai. Uploaded loads of pictures of the kart and a full description. It came back as a picador. But apparently there’s no photos exist in any archives on the Internet. they’re supposed to extremely desirable. I still got more research to do.