By Joe Berk
Back in the day when Steve Seidner and CSC Motorcycles were running full tilt on building replica Mustangs, the custom bikes were rolling off the production line fast and furious. Most buyers were in love with the little repliStangs, and most accessorized their bikes heavily. The bike’s list price was something like $3,995 or $4,995 (I forget which), but it wasn’t unusual for buyers to run the price up to $10,000 with accessories, extra chrome, and more. The typical buyer was 70- or 80-year-old person who had wanted a Mustang as a teenager back in the ’50s but Dad said no. It was time to get even with Dad, and get even they did.
We also did a few custom bikes on spec and it was great for me. I wrote the CSC blog back in the days, and with the constant stream of customs there was always plenty to photograph and blog about. One of my favorites, and one of my favorite photos, is a bike Steve built for himself. He christened it “The Sarge” for obvious reasons.
The Sarge had a lot of custom touches, including .50-cal ammo cans as saddlebags, a near complete dechroming, lovely OD green paint, brown leather seat, and more. It was a stunning motorcycle. My El Cheapo Bell helmet and its Army Air Corps livery completed the package. I found a stone wall somewhere in the hills above the CSC plant when the plant was at the La Verne airport, and that made for a nice backdrop. The Sarge photo at the top of this blog has always been one of my favorites.
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Would you like to know more about CSC’s early days, the evolution of the Mustang replicas, and what it was like importing the Chinese RX3 to America? Read 5000 Miles At 8000 RPM!
Earlier Phavorite Photos? You bet! Click on each to get their story.
I miss the CSC early days.
Working with Steve, you. Moe and the rest of the gang.
I had fun traveling to various fairs and trade shows presenting the Mustangs and explaining how China made some of the best manufactured products in the world in certain categories.
Carl
Good to hear from you, Carl. I agree. Here’s to (as Lonesome Dove’s Gus McCrae would say) the sunny slopes of long ago!
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