1974 Laverda 1000 3C Black paint on cylinder head

[Mmoped]

Quick question for you Laverda experts. I’m in the midst of a restoration of a 1974 1000 3c. It only has 6200 miles. And this appears to be true by evidence of engine and other wear parts. But something has me stumped. The lower portion of the finned cylinder heads appear to have been painted black. Was this something that was done at factory or not. Thanks Chris

 

[Lee87H]

Nice early 3C, I've never seen one painted, what # is it, mine is 1598

 

[Jo]

No, it never came that way from the factory. Now one could speculate how or why the cylinders were painted black. Just like that, or was the engine already disassembled (which would seem illogical given the low mileage you stated)?

 

[sfc vintage]

Hi.
See here original brochure

 

[sfc vintage]

See here

 

[Paul Marx]

Not. Are you sure the head gasket ain't leaking?

Paul

 

[Mmoped]

Nice early 3C, I've never seen one painted, what # is it, mine is 1598

Thanks. It’s going to look great when finished. My number 1553. So pretty close to your bike.

 

[Mmoped]

No, it never came that way from the factory. Now one could speculate how or why the cylinders were painted black. Just like that, or was the engine already disassembled (which would seem illogical given the low mileage you stated)?

We have disassembled the motor to have a look. But it doesn’t ever appear to have been apart previously. Head gasket had a slight leak. It has been sitting in a warehouse for almost 50 years. Owner passed away suddenly.

 

[Mmoped]

Not. Are you sure the head gasket ain't leaking?

Paul

It was leaking a bit. But the lower had definitely been painted. Though the motor doesn’t look as if it had ever been taken apart.

 

[Mmoped]

See here

Thanks. I don’t know why someone would have painted that.

 

[Mmoped]

Here’s the bike in its current state at Moto Motivo

 

[andre g]

some people painted the barrels of their bikes black to increase the cooling. But for the barrels it makes more sense at two strake engines, four strokes should have the head painted as well.

 

[Alzero]

I don’t know about the black paint, but that sure is an interesting shop!

 

[TheWrongTrousers]

This reminds me of when I was 16. My first moped was a Suzuki AP50. It had a black cylinder barrel but the finish was a bit faded and past its best. So one day I had a brainwave and decided it would look fab to make that cylinder barrel all spick and span and shiny black so I painted it with a tin of black gloss paint and a brush that I found in my dads shed. I really slapped it on and waited for it to dry. Sure enough the next day it looked pretty damn fine. So off I rode to meet my moped pals about 3 miles up the road. Imagine how they all laughed when I pulled up, engine steaming , dripping and stinking !

 

[Mmoped]

I don’t know about the black paint, but that sure is an interesting shop!

It’s Italian bike heaven!

 

[Dellortoman]

I don’t know about the black paint, but that sure is an interesting shop!

Looks a bit like my shed. Aside from the Jota, I have a red Benelli 900 Sei and a Ducati MHR, just like in the photo above. I don't have a Sunbeam S8 though.

 

[Lee87H]

Thanks. It’s going to look great when finished. My number 1553. So pretty close to your bike.

cool, I see you're in the US, my bike came out of a shop called Cycles Ltd, in Toledo Ohio, do you know where yours came from?

 

[Mmoped]

cool, I see you're in the US, my bike came out of a shop called Cycles Ltd, in Toledo Ohio, do you know where yours came from?

Well I live in Raleigh NC now. But the bike was bought from the estate in Ohio. It was stored for nearly 50 years in a warehouse. So I would bet the bikes came from the same dealer. Small world.

 

[MarnixSFC]

Black engines were fashionable at some point..
Bought one of my SFCs looking like this.

Marnix

 

[Lee87H]

Well I live in Raleigh NC now. But the bike was bought from the estate in Ohio. It was stored for nearly 50 years in a warehouse. So I would bet the bikes came from the same dealer. Small world.

I had a feeling it was, a buddy of mine has #1597 here’s a pic of mine