??? - 66 spitfire with Borani rims - build date

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soon to be a proud new owner of a 66 spitfire. bike is being shipped, and hopefully will arrive shortly. just trying to gather information - the engine number, matches the frame number - A65S13158. can anyone identify an approximate build date. from what i'm reading the frame should be A50S instead of A65S, EXCEPT for very late 66 production. the bike has Borrani rims (front and rear). again, from what i'm reading, 66 spitfires should have dunlops, and Borrani's may have been phased in in late 66. also read, there may have been parts shortages, and the BSA factory may have used whatever was available at the time. some owners have reported a mix of Dunlop and Borrani's on 66 spitfires. so, just curious - if this could be a very late production bike, could it be possible that this particular spitfire was delivered with Borrani's - front and rear? the bike is showing 13K on the clock. matching numbers, and appears to be very original and unmolested - original tank and side covers in original paint, original exhaust, etc. the only major thing noted - amal 932's replaced the original GP carbs. I can't figure WHY someone would swap out rims on low mileage, original example. side note question - are Borrani wheels date coded? I understand there is some information stamped on the inner surface of the rim - ??? if date coded, and that date proceeds the bike's build date, it's possible they are original to the build. comments? TIA....
 
Steve Wilson has the Spitfire with alloy rims from the start....
alloys are not the issue. what is - could late 66 production spitfires have been delivered with borrani alloy wheels (f/r) instead of Dunlop alloys.
 
Please note that from January/February 1966 all frame and engine numbers were the same.

That's the closest you are going to get to a definitive answer on dates without paying for the despatch records, as for the exact time of the change of rim maker, that was not strictly tied into a model year change as the sizes stayed the same. In my day in UK automotive the first job to do when presented with a model year change was to check all the changes and get the cosmetic ones in early to reduce the part supply issues on the change over day. This rim change would be picked out as one to do early especially if the Borrani's were cheaper and/or Dunlop were stopping production of alloy rims.
 
alloys are not the issue. what is - could late 66 production spitfires have been delivered with borrani alloy wheels (f/r) instead of Dunlop alloys.
Apologies... Didn't realise Dunlop made alloy rims back in the day. Thanks..
 
Apologies... Didn't realise Dunlop made alloy rims back in the day. Thanks..
no need to apologize - I didn't either, and in reality, honestly can't personally say with 100% certainty. this is just an educated guess on my part, but I read on one of the forums that replacement Dunlop wheels used on spitfires are pretty much unobtainable. that leads me to believe that they are alloys, very rare since maybe a one year only production, and impossible to find replacements. steel wheels would be more readily available since they are used across a wide variety of makes and models. lots of speculation on my part - if anybody else is following this, correct me if i'm wrong.
 
You could bump one of the old threads (or a new one) on Britbike.com.
There are quite a few US based Spitfire owners with considerable knowledge.

 
The very early 109mm brake such as on the RGS are Dunlop alloy. that is what I have...
As you know 109 brake also used on early spitfires.
Weight check shows Dunlop alloys are VERY light, then borranni (on my dunstall atlas) still light, then akronts a bit heavier.

I like pre unit only...
60 A-10 GF
62 RGS
63 SR
 
According to my Glass's Guide Check Book from when I had my shop, from August 66 Spitfire engine and frame numbers start

A65SA-101. As you say, earlier,Sept 65 Spitfire Mkll introduced start nos Eng A65S-101, Frame A50C-101.
check your number ,A65S13 might be A65SA
Originally with twin AmalGP carbs, bitch to keep set up on the road, no tickover screws and a remote float.( Very height critical.) Had a customer with one, in regular to have them set up, not that i complained. Many had them swopped for Amal Monoblocs, later on Concentrics.
 
According to my Glass's Guide Check Book from when I had my shop, from August 66 Spitfire engine and frame numbers start

A65SA-101. As you say, earlier,Sept 65 Spitfire Mkll introduced start nos Eng A65S-101, Frame A50C-101.
check your number ,A65S13 might be A65SA
Originally with twin AmalGP carbs, bitch to keep set up on the road, no tickover screws and a remote float.( Very height critical.) Had a customer with one, in regular to have them set up, not that i complained. Many had them swopped for Amal Monoblocs, later on Concentrics.
here's the engine and frame stampings....

??? - 66 spitfire with Borani rims - build date


??? - 66 spitfire with Borani rims - build date


have no reason to believe these are re-stamped. on the subject of carbs. I've read most of the issues with the GP's and how most owners have swapped them out for 932's. originals would be nice for show, but I plan on riding this (a lot). besides, the world only needs so many museum pieces.

edit - BTW, got email from the shipping company - pick-up 10/31. here's a pic of the spitfire - 13K showing on the clock, original paint on original tank and side covers. unrestored and somewhat a survivor. couple changes, but no show stoppers...

??? - 66 spitfire with Borani rims - build date
 
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Joe, you wouldn't have liked the GP carbs if you plan on riding this off the race track, because unlike Concentrics, they don't have pilot jets.
 
Joe, you wouldn't have liked the GP carbs if you plan on riding this off the race track, because unlike Concentrics, they don't have pilot jets.
The GP carb did have a pilot circuit and jet, what was missing was a throttle stop so you could not lift the slide to give an idle.


GP Carburettors
Current production is based on the T3GP model which was made in 1 3/8" and 1½" bores sizes originally designed in the very early 1950s; these are the only sizes produced now.
The original range covered sizes from 1" up to 1½" bores in various body dimensions. The GP design was the last in a series designed specifically for racing engines that started with the type 27 in the 1930s; was developed into the TT type with an enrichment (or emulsion) air slide located outside of the throttle slide bore; and then through to the RN (remote needle) type, where the throttle needle itself was located outside of the throttle bore.
This feature of remote needle was then carried through to the GP design. After the GP design was reintroduced into production by the AMAL Carburetter Company, it was a further development of the range, which became known as the GP2 type, where the pilot circuit air supply was arranged to come from filtered air.



??? - 66 spitfire with Borani rims - build date
 
Joe, nice acquisition. Hopefully your beautiful younger commando doesnt get too jealous of the older lady.
 
According to my Glass's Guide Check Book from when I had my shop, from August 66 Spitfire engine and frame numbers start

A65SA-101. As you say, earlier,Sept 65 Spitfire Mkll introduced start nos Eng A65S-101, Frame A50C-101.
check your number ,A65S13 might be A65SA
Originally with twin AmalGP carbs, bitch to keep set up on the road, no tickover screws and a remote float.( Very height critical.) Had a customer with one, in regular to have them set up, not that i complained. Many had them swopped for Amal Monoblocs, later on Concentrics.
researching spitfire stuff, I ran across a posting that indicated 66 spitfire's were A65S, 67's were A65SA, and 68's were A65SB. anyone know if the suffix letter sequencing is correct???
 
Its correct the A and B were used on all BSA's for 67 and 68, then when they went to the 2 digit date code C was 69 and D was 70.
 
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