Sherpa

[Bricktoter]

Picked this up today.... looks to be pretty original

 

[markus]

Those are really neat, there have been some over the years that have popped up on this sire labeled/decaled as being called Hill Billy as well. I love the design of it!

 

[Richard Trotter]

Ralph Bonham had designed the Tote Gote. Bert Bonham (Ralph's uncle) and his son Stan designed a 2 speed scooter they called the 'Power Pony'. By the time production started at 'Mickelson Mfg', the name had been changed to the 'Hillbilly'. I believe your Sherpa was from the Hillbilly era.
Later production was moved to the Circle Corp and the scooters name was changed to Sherpa. Many other changes occured as the sherpa evolved.

 

[ole4]

Very cool! Never saw one before.

 

[Itype2slo]

Too cool. Love seeing survivors of models that you rarely see.

 

[Richard Trotter]

You pictures adds to the history of the Sherpa. Your serial number was stamped into the frame and the scooter is clearly labeled a 'Sherpa'. This shows us the name was changed before they were made at the Circle Corp plant, which had their own serial number tag.

 

[Bricktoter]

I found a number... if I remember it right...53565

 

[Bricktoter]

The 65 are larger .. I assumed the year

 

[Bricktoter]

What I meant to say was that the number 6 and 5 at the end of serial number are clearly a larger stamp... I’m wondering if that indicates the year?

 

[Richard Trotter]

The age of the motor leads me to think 1959 or 1960. Finding the age of the early model 140000 Briggs motors is difficult.

 

[Bricktoter]

Thanks ... I’m going to take the bike apart to clean it up ... see what I find

 

[Bricktoter]

So you think the bigger numbers at the end of serial number is not the year of bike .. it earlier in you opinion

 

[owend]

Awesome find!!!

 

[Richard Trotter]

The clipping from 'Intermountain Industry' 1963, talks about the Hillbilly history. I think yours may be from this production run, although the motor may be of older vintage.

 

[Bricktoter]

Thanks for the information.... I have not found any information... you must know your Briggs motors.... model number is 142302...thank you so much ... also wanted to show you how my 665 turn out looking... Richard

 

[Bricktoter]

Some pics as I take it apart... gear box , shift lever and brake system... on Sherpa and clutch side

 

[Bricktoter]

Muffler setup on Sherpa. Built in to frame gas tank...

 

[Bricktoter]

The transmission and Frame

 

[Bricktoter]

The plan is to clean it up real good.. reassemble... then try and find a couple things that are missing .. such as air cleaner, seems like a spring of somesort to throttle on carb,...not knowing much info... hard to say what’s not right

 

[Sport King Eric]

Very cool that is a time machine