Excelsior Panther

[skoda]

 

[Boardtrack fan]

Very cool bike! What year?

 

[skoda]

I think it's a 49 or 50, I looked for a serial number in all the usual places, must have rusted off.

The Excelsior badge is original as far as I can tell. Some really early Phantoms had non-oval badges also.

 

[rat royale]

I think it's a 49 or 50, I looked for a serial number in all the usual places, must have rusted off.

The Excelsior badge is original as far as I can tell. Some really early Phantoms had non-oval badges also.

Skoda,
That serial number outghta be under the crank/bottom bracket housing. I have a '49 and a '50 that have it there. The one on the '52 is on the left rear dropout.
That one looks like a nice start, or an already good Rat! :mrgreen:

Rat Royale
REC Elsewhere

 

[skoda]

That serial number outghta be under the crank/bottom bracket housing.

Nothing down there. Not too concerned with finding the year, more with finding a tank! Someone posted a picture of one about a year ago with the front fender mounted bobbed on the rear and no front, with a tank. Looked so cool!

Got this one around then, took a year to find enough old, local parts. Nothing on it newer than 60 years but the seat, possibly the tires. Rides really nice. Many hours of rubbing, cleaning, polishing just to get it to this.

 

[rat royale]

That serial number outghta be under the crank/bottom bracket housing.

Nothing down there. Not too concerned with finding the year, more with finding a tank! Someone posted a picture of one about a year ago with the front fender mounted bobbed on the rear and no front, with a tank. Looked so cool!

Got this one around then, took a year to find enough old, local parts. Nothing on it newer than 60 years but the seat, possibly the tires. Rides really nice. Many hours of rubbing, cleaning, polishing just to get it to this.

Tanks a lot!
Seriously though, these tanks are up there. I have two painted ones that are not perfect, but are in VERY good condition. They've both had some dents removed, neither appears to have been repainted afterward. (I know that because I removed the dents.) I straightened the one on the "Black Effect" bike I built a while back the same way I did these two, but I haven't done the finish work on either of these, only the major portion of hammer/pick/dolly..
Photo of the other tank after:


This one came out REALLY nice. The other two here could be finished with the same results. If you are seriously interested in one, let me know. I have not made a firm decision on what will end up on the '49 yet, but I'm thinkin' REALLY shiny... I also have a chrome one, and am kind of thinkin' that will be the one for the bike.

Rat Royale
REC Elsewhere