61 columbia thunderbolt custom

[Hammond Eggz]

I just realized how completely different a style this bike is from my same-year Columbia Fire Arrow. Wild!

 

[clinto141]

like the arrow, I did not have a template to restore to, so i went custom... then i found rat rod bikes

 

[clinto141]

a newer pic of the columbia, new neck,hand made bars,and an ooolllddd messinger seat, minus the canvas.

 

[clinto141]

Also added to the columbia were the repop monark whizzer forks.

 

[RZ94]

you got a cool Thunderbolt there sir...

Here's my '66....I have since replaced the 2 badly rusted original lights with a single NOS Delta Hawk lamp

 

[clinto141]

very nice, i am still looking for just the right light, maybe somthing large and bullet like, vintage motorcyle perhaps

 

[RZ94]

With the new light.....

 

[clinto141]

thats a cool idea with the old graphics....do you just clear coat em, or leave em be?

Not sure which one you're referring to.........I just took a 3M scotch pad and VERY lightly rubbed the tank. Then I sprayed a "few" coats of clear over the graphics I wanted to highlight, let dry. Then I sprayed a heavy coat of gray primer over everything, then a heavy coat of flat black.......wet sanded with 600 grit. On the graphics wet sand til you get what you're looking for, just don't sand through the CLEAR.........Then clear coat the whole thing.

no clear on the flat black machine 8)

 

[clinto141]

The columbia got a new light too, it a signal bucket from a willys overland car