Mustang (motorcycle)
Encyclopedia
The Mustang was a miniature motorcycle
built in Glendale
, California
by John Gladden from 1945 to 1963. Most models featured a proprietary
single-cylinder
side-valve
engine
of 320cc and 12 inches (304.8 mm) wheels.
Mustang's Trail Machine (1962) was constructed of heavy duty 7/8" tubular steel and powered by a Series 141300-143458 Industrial Briggs & Stratton ball bearing drive 5-3/4 horsepower engine.
This upright Briggs was coupled to a 3-speed British "Burman
" motorcycle transmission with heavy chain drive then continued by chain to the 5.00x12 tractor tread rear tire, wheel and the cheater size drive sprocket. The front disc wheel had a diamond tread 4.00x12 tire.
Shifting the 3-speed transmission was accomplished with a hand operated muliplate disc clutch housed on the left side of the engine. Starting was by a manual choked carburetor and folding kickstart. Shuting down was with a kill-button. This was a foolproof and rugged combination.
Ground clearance of Mustang's Trail Machine was 9", width of the frame 10", wheelbase 48" , overall length was 68" (nearly 6 feet) and it all weighed 169 pounds dry.
The telescoping spring fork made this machine comfortable and very controlable at speeds into the 30's. The handle bars folded down from an overall height of 40" to 32".
The entire frame and the steel full disc 12 inches (304.8 mm) wheels left the Glendale, CA factory painted a bright yellow. This machine would climb a vertical wall.
These are a highly sought after collectable today.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
built in Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
by John Gladden from 1945 to 1963. Most models featured a proprietary
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
single-cylinder
Single cylinder engine
A single-cylinder engine is a basic piston engine configuration of an internal combustion engine. It is often seen on motorcycles, auto rickshaws, motor scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, go-karts, radio-controlled models and has many uses in portable tools and garden machinery...
side-valve
Cam-in-block
The cam-in-block valvetrain layout of piston engines is one where the camshaft is placed within the cylinder block, usually beside and slightly above the crankshaft in a straight engine or directly above the crankshaft in the V of a V engine...
engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
of 320cc and 12 inches (304.8 mm) wheels.
Mustang's Trail Machine (1962) was constructed of heavy duty 7/8" tubular steel and powered by a Series 141300-143458 Industrial Briggs & Stratton ball bearing drive 5-3/4 horsepower engine.
This upright Briggs was coupled to a 3-speed British "Burman
Burman and Sons Ltd
Burman and Sons Ltd, of Ryland Road, Birmingham, England, manufactured Burman-Douglas steering gear.Their recirculating worm and ball design of steering gear was fitted to pre-war vehicles such as the Ford Eight and the Ford Prefect, the Bedford CA, plus many other vehicles - both pre and post-war....
" motorcycle transmission with heavy chain drive then continued by chain to the 5.00x12 tractor tread rear tire, wheel and the cheater size drive sprocket. The front disc wheel had a diamond tread 4.00x12 tire.
Shifting the 3-speed transmission was accomplished with a hand operated muliplate disc clutch housed on the left side of the engine. Starting was by a manual choked carburetor and folding kickstart. Shuting down was with a kill-button. This was a foolproof and rugged combination.
Ground clearance of Mustang's Trail Machine was 9", width of the frame 10", wheelbase 48" , overall length was 68" (nearly 6 feet) and it all weighed 169 pounds dry.
The telescoping spring fork made this machine comfortable and very controlable at speeds into the 30's. The handle bars folded down from an overall height of 40" to 32".
The entire frame and the steel full disc 12 inches (304.8 mm) wheels left the Glendale, CA factory painted a bright yellow. This machine would climb a vertical wall.
These are a highly sought after collectable today.