CC Regular Teddy lives in Portland-CC-Landia, and is a prolific poster to the Cohort. It’s hard to pick what to share with you here, as he’s posted so many splendid finds in there. But I have to share this one, as it has a couple of iconic vehicles, one of which never fails to get to me.
The Chevy (Un)SportVan has been given some “Montana” badges, which is a bit odd. This is a gen 1 version, from 1964-1966. No, it’s not the one that gets me where it counts.
There’s my heartthrob, in front of it, the classic BMW airhead R/6, in this case the 750 version. Why have I never written one up? Because there’s way too much emotion, longing and regret involved. I so desperately wanted one of these in my early 20s, when they were new, and I was riding a a tiny ring-ding Bridgestone 90 and later a Yamaha 305.
There was a bunch of older guys in Iowa City that all had Beemers, and they would pack up and ride down to Yucatan in Mexico in the late fall, which was dirt cheap back then, and camp out on the beach for a month or more. Ah; how my heart ached when I saw them all ride off…with their Vetter fairings and bags (and girls) piled on the back. I just couldn’t stay in any one job long enough to save up that kind of serious dough.
I’ve wanted one ever since, and have come close to pulling the trigger a few times. But I realize that it’s just not going to happen for a number of good reasons, and I’m over it; mostly. But whenever I see an R/5 or /6, the greatest motorcycle ever built, I still get a bit of an echo of that deep old longing. It’ll probably never go away, until I do.
I totally agree about the R/6. Now that I could afford one it is very difficult to find a 50-year-old bike in acceptable condition. Besides, I’m old and a bit bulky and would probably look out of place on such a beautiful ride. My children have stated they would disavow me if I bought a scooter as I would “look silly” riding it. Mean kids! 🙂
Comment on the Chevrolet Sport Van: Yes, the vehicle itself my not be ‘sporty’ (I wonder what its time around the Nurburgring would be) but it certainly would have been a vehicle to consider 50 years ago for someone who led the sporting life, e.g. camping, fishing, hiking, surfing. It had plenty of room for a lot of stuff and one could even sleep in it if caught in inclement weather. Also, lets not forget Sammy Johns’ song “Chevy Van” although it is questionable that one-night-stands are a sport.
They were in 1975, although you never knew what diseases you could pick up, even in the pre-AIDS era.
Funny, when that song was out I ALWAYS associated it with the then-current Chevy Van. I always saw Sammy Johns driving a ’70-’72 model in my mind’s eye.
What’s REALLY funny is despite that association, my van affections were always with the ’67-’69 models with the headlights in the grill. They were cute.
“the ’67-’69 models with the headlights in the grill.” – Wow. I had never noticed that these things had two different front end treatments. Every time I saw one or the other, I remembered all of them looking the same. I am not sure if I should thank you or curse you for pointing this out. 🙂
Windshield is different too.
The modifications to the front end also allowed the “doghouse” on the 1967 and later models to accommodate small block V8s, which weren’t available in the 1964-66 models. 1967 also marked the introduction of the longer 108″ wheelbase (what would have been considered a short wheelbase van in the ’70s and ’80s, but it was the longer of the two wheelbases offered at that point). While they look a lot alike, the 1964-66s and 1967-70s are different enough that they could arguably be considered two distinct styling generations.
Yeah, but anything you picked up back then could be killed by a shot and a couple of days of abstinence. Unlike today.
And back then was the perfect storm of women realizing they didn’t have to say “no” if they didn’t want to, but “typical male behavior” was still accepted.
I must have some kind of genetic mutation, because motorcycles never really called my name. Speedboats, airplanes, go karts and all other kinds of ways to go fast (besides cars, of course) have figured largely in my imagination and experience. But never a motorcycle (at least one larger than a Honda 50). And I am at the age where that is not likely to change.
As for the van, the Montana nameplate is a bit of a mystery. But it sure beats “Beauville”, which was one of the worst names ever applied to a mainstream vehicle.
I think someone just applied the badge from a Pontiac Montana minivan. Maybe it’s not a minivan, as the TV ad used to say.
That part I get. The part that I don’t get is – – why?
I’ve got the same mutation. My enthusiasm for motorcycles is pretty much the direct inverse of my enthusiasm for cars, and besides them all looking basically the same to me, the riding experiences I’ve had ranged from mere amusement – learning to ride my best friend’s dirt bike up and down his block in middle school – to terrifying embarrassment – riding bitch on the back of another friend’s sukosukki kvx50000000, or whatever it was called, years later when their car wouldn’t start and I faced an otherwise 10 mile walk home from their house. Plus having been in a really bad bicycle accident that put me in the hospital for 3 days at age 15, I quickly came to the conclusion two wheeled mobility + an engine isn’t meant for me.
I will take the BMW, thanks. And Paul, you only live once; get one!
Paul, I see another sorta-parallel in our (same-vintage) lives. For a short while I was custodian of my brother’s 1970 Triumph Daytona while he was away in the Army, but always felt those BMW’s were the “marryin’ kind” of bikes I’d want for the long term. I don’t remember the prices other than how much more they were than the Hondas. With my reflexes today, I’d be wise *not* to get back on one–but I share your yearning completely.
I also lusted for a BMW motorcycle and, with my first steady job at age 21, financed a new R60/5. A dealer in Los Angeles had a few grey market ones, intended for the Italian market (owner’s manual was in Italian) for the price of a Honda. It was a beautiful machine in metallic green, the small tank and low European handlebars.
I had started out with a 5hp lawnmower engine minibike, then shared a street legal Honda CT-70 with my brother. College commuter was a Suzuki TS-90 that was technically not freeway legal in California but kept up with traffic in the 55mph speed limit era. Next a “real” road bike, Honda CB-175, that you had to thrash to the 10,000 rpm redline to have any fun. Once the Honda was blowing more oil smoke than the two stroke Suzuki, it was time and I got the BMW.
The BMW took me on adventures all over California. Most of my co-workers at the time had Harley’s, but the German bike was always welcome on weekend rides. The winding rural highways of San Diego county were some of my favorites. Another favorite was SR-154 North out of Santa Barbara.
I rode bikes in my younger days. I found myself doing progressively stupider things and finally quit while all my limbs were still intact. About 10 years ago I got the motorcycle bug again, and bought a classic Honda. I now ride a small sport bike (Ninja 500) and commute on it whenever the weather cooperates.
I’m about your age, Paul. I find that I’m a far more level-headed rider than I ever was in my younger years.
And that Airhead is sweet!
I wonder what it would be like to get back on a bike after all these years.
These past few years, there just hasn’t been the time to even think about it. And I have so many other things I love doing for recreation. We’ll see.
You’re never going to answer that question if you don’t do it. And you’re going to miss out on one hell of a life experience if you don’t.
Trust me on this. In about two weeks (exact date forgotten) I will be celebrating my fortieth anniversary of riding. And fortunately, in all those years I’ve never been without a bike.
Good job Syke. You don’t stop riding because you get old. You get old because you stopped riding.
Just find one. Even if you do nothing more than roll it out of the garage, fire it up, and crack a beer while looking at it idling. I worked with a young guy, who had a ’73 toaster tank BMW. The sound at idle is intoxicating. Like a 40HP VW Type 1, running on two cylinders. Which it basically is.
Yeah, what they said.
By the way, I actually owned an Airhead, but it wasn’t in a bike.
You got me, Paul. 🙂 (But then I didn’t blow up the picture to see what script the badge was in.)
I only clicked on this because in my head I thought “Wait, Chevy had a trim package called “Montana” before there was a Pontiac called Montana?”
Although this van is in Portland, I wonder if there is a Montana connection? Owner originally born and raised there?
I think Paul made the right call, admire the bike but mostly get over it. I’ve known a lot of folks who never rode at all because they couldn’t achieve their dream bike, and others who did and found that it wasn’t what they expected.
I’ve always owned a bike of some sort or other, although none of them would be considered dreamy. The dream is the ride, not the bike.
Agree 100%. I’m back in the saddle after a 2 year absence on a bike and I can’t get enough riding in. I’ve gone almost 2000 kms since I got the bugs ironed out about a month ago and hope to ride many more if the old girl co-operates.
This pic reminds me of the brief period where a had a ’85 Chevy van and my first motorbike. Open the rear doors, stick a 2×10 on the bumper and you could push the bike right in behind the back seat of the van.
Obviously, one of these, or the later 1967-69 versions,inspired the appearance of the Scooby gang’s original Mystery Machine.
Thank you for the added information since I hardly ever know anything about bikes and only have a scant few stories. Here is the rear of the Van and what looks like aftermarket turn signals and I dunno what is going on with the barn doors.
/6 BMW’s. I had one too, back in the late 70’s. An R90/6 with the big fuel tank in red. It was a short term ownership, as I bought it for a dollar from a friend who was about to go thru a divorce with a very vindictive wife. This was his method of ensuring that he didn’t lose the bike. And once the divorce was finalized (two years later) I sold it back to him for the same dollar.
One of the few times I was ever honorable, did the right thing, and regretted it completely. And still regret it today.
As to curbside efffect, this morning I took a R1200C belonging to one of the salesmen here at the dealership for a ride. My first ride on a opposed-twin BMW in a lot of years. And despite the 25 year difference between airhead and oilhead, there were still some things that were the same: The torque effect from goosing the throttle, and the jacking of the rear suspension due to the same characteristics. BMW may claim they got it better in that time period. I beg to differ.
On a side note, I would not kick a Honda CBX or a Kawasaki Z1300 out of my camera frame, let alone my garage…
You and me both. We currently have a ’79 CBX here at the shop, getting some service work done. Is their anything sexier than a 6-into-1 header off that motor? Ultimately compromised by those silly glove boxes that Honda insisted were panniers.
I owned a 1968 Chevy 108 van and it was a great work horse .
.
I also owned many BMW AirHead Motocycles , my favorite was always the /5’s with the short wheel base (’69 ~ early ’73) , the /6’s had crappy front disc brakes , the /5’s front drum was vastly better and would easily do ” Stoppies ” , one of the very few front drum barkes i ever knew that could .
.
The /6’s five speed tranny was of course much better .
.
After no one wanted to buy all my (complete and registered) /5’s for $500 each all in one go , I sold them to a local BMW Restorer , I assume they’re all rebuilt/restored and sold off by now , I think you should take the MSF ‘ Iron Horse ‘ Moto training class and go buy a decent /6 , they’re not $pendy unless you want an R90/6 .
.
Life’s too damn sort not to ride .
.
-Nate
It’s the R90S that goes for stupid money. Just the same, around Richmond a good condition, reliable /5 or /6 is usually being priced around $4k. I keep looking, but then I keep seeing better deals on equally good condition K75’s and K100’s. Usually $3k and slightly up.
And having had a K75C, I like bricks better than airheads.
Where’d you find a red Ural? Never saw one in that color around here. Usually they’re either black or some military green-ish color.
Another one in Portland Or, is about 5 blocks down from me, painted blue and white like a VW bus. This is a window Chevy van, 64-66, with a motorcycle inside.Something about that flat windshield screams real cheap basic utility . I think Chevy went backwards from the Corvair mini van, which I like better. I also like the 70 restyle which was kept for many many years.
I think I saw that one today driving by the Loyd District.
That R75/6 looks impressively original, including the boring blue color that a lot of surviving BMWs of that era wear. Add me to the chorus recommending that you scratch the BMW Airhead itch if you are really motivated to do it and the right deal crosses your path. Even if you never ride it, getting your investment back when you sell should be no problem at all.
I have a recent lucky classic BMW acquisition that I intend to make into a COAL one of these days. Perhaps it will help to push you over the edge to go for it.
I for one would be very interested in reading an entire COAL series from you…
haha my van!! Just came across this randomly while searching for early chevy van stuff.
Though I almost hate to spoil the mystery, I have an explaination for the Montana badge. Back then 4 members of our van club – Rolling Death – all lived on the same block on Montana Ave, or “Lil Montana” as we called it. I came home one day and my buddy had stuck that badge on there. Couldn’t have been on for more than a couple of weeks, it’s funny these pictures were taken at that time.
The van looks slightly better now.
-Joe Rizzo RDVC
Haha, Rizzo just sent this to me- that’s my Beemer. Definitely itch that scratch!
I’ve added a touring tank and some period saddle bags. Just rode down from Portland to Big Sur back in August. Over 500k miles (most of which were done by the original owner, whom I bought it from) on the old girl, and she is still kicking!