Author Topic: Torker ....... Rare find !! (Read 11969 times)

NORTY40 · « **on:** March 12, 2013, 11:20 AM »

After Everton's shocking performance at the footy on Saturday I either wanted to go out and get waisted or treat myself to some BMX goodies .... I chose the latter and came home with this ......

1 of only 3 known to exist

..... July 84 Torker 'Targa'

here's the new baby

Loosely based on a 280X / proX ..... no front gusset , no seat post/top tube gusset and very narrow twin top tubes . One of the very last US made Torker framesets to be made before they went bump .

Some of you may remember Alan had one on his ebay listings for a long while , describing it as a 'prototype' .

Following taken from Alans blog ...

Torker Targa Prototype

Here is possibly the rarest Torker frame in the world. It is a Torker Targa prototype and was to be a 1985 model showing the direction of how Torker frames would look in the future. Unfortunately just before Christmas 1985 Torker went into liquidation and this never happened. The frame itself is basically a 1984 280X without headtube gussets and most importantly no toptube/seat tube gusset. Toptube is 20". I purchased the frame in the auction at their Fullerton premises in February '85. The frame was fully finished and was stamped with a frame number, it was the only one in the auction and I have never seen another it so it possibly the only one in existence, I certainly haven't heard of or seen another. I also have some fax communication with Steve Johnson regarding the Targa frame, it I can put my hand to it I will include it with the frame. Originally powdercoated white, we had it painted Light Blue for our team rider Mark Cocks in 1986, then painted in team colours with unique team graphics. Mark then gave it back to us and it has been in storage since.

Some of you may also remember Rich (Devilock) posting a thread up on one a while back http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=136849.0, Rich has been very helpful and we have had a few PM's back and forth over this and i dare say they will continue as we try and find out more about them ..... thanks for your help Rich

Something else which is quite cool with both Rich's and my frames is the following :

My frame number :

Rich's frame number :

It will be interesting to find out what Alans was and im going to speak to him soon ... maybe TDD 8742 OP !! $:-\$

What ya reckon lads ? ... im made up with it

KeithyT · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:23 AM »

Cracking Joff!

Andy68 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:23 AM »

Nice score...............

webbie · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:26 AM »

Nice

monkian · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:26 AM »

Awesome Joff, I think that would cheer anyone up

crazycraig · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:29 AM »

That's a cracker !

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:36 AM »

Nice find Joff, what's the plans with it?

In2 bmx · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:36 AM »

I was lucky enough to see this in the flesh last night

... It's very nice and rare ... Great find jowwf

Peter J · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:38 AM »

Tis nice to see something different

I remember seeing the "Alans" Proto Torker in a few of his Ebay listings

The chrome one is much sexier

animal · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:54 AM »

Nice 1 Joff

great bit if history that

can't wait 2 c this built buddy

NORTY40 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2013, 11:55 AM »

Thanks for the comments lads

Im happy as Larry with it

Quote from: Retrodan72 on March 12, 2013, 11:36 AM

Nice find Joff, what's the plans with it?

Sympathetic resto Dan ... it's defo a keeper though . I do like the survivor look and won't be going down the re-chrome or powder route . All the decals are pretty mashed up , the downtube one shown on the pics is the best ... the others especially on the other side are not good

so unsure what to do there tbh . I have got a set of NOS Black Araya shineside rims and some Black/Silver NOS brown bearing Bullseye hubs which i reckon would look nice on it . Sourcing another set of Torker 'T' bars and another Torker stem could be a problem

Basically a Black and chrome build Dan

Hopefully i will be riding it on this years RADTor in Wigan

Quote from: Peter J on March 12, 2013, 11:38 AM

Tis nice to see something different

I remember seeing the "Alans" Proto Torker in a few of his Ebay listings

The chrome one is much sexier

Cheers Pete

Alan had it on his listings for a long time and i always thought it was a cool unusual frame then , never thought one day i would own one . Not sure if Alan still has it , like i said im going to speak to him soon so i will report back .

Badbaldie · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2013, 12:06 PM »

Awsum Joffy ..(pretending i havent scean these pics a few days ago

) its great that these rare frame sets come out of hidding and end up in the right hands, even cooler its coming back to WIGAN

RADTOR is deffinately going to have plenty of TORKERS and ROBOS on show this year

looking so forward to seeing this ridden

brummie · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2013, 12:28 PM »

Quote from: NORTY40 on March 12, 2013, 11:55 AM

Thanks for the comments lads Im happy as Larry with it

Quote from: Retrodan72 on March 12, 2013, 11:36 AM
Nice find Joff, what's the plans with it?

Sympathetic resto Dan ... it's defo a keeper though .

everything is a keeper in the joffysgiantsdungeon getting you to sell ANYTHING mmmm drawing blood from a stone springs to mind

nice torker joffy

Jaan · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2013, 12:30 PM »

Loving that, always loved 280's and yours has a cherry on top

Betty · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2013, 12:35 PM »

I like that

Banachek BMX · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2013, 12:57 PM »

Very nice score Joff

Julian347 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2013, 01:13 PM »

Nice one

pickle · « **Reply #17 on:** March 12, 2013, 01:15 PM »

that's a lovely little thing! like that alot

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 12, 2013, 01:30 PM »

I was just about to say everything is a keeper in your stable mate and read that Dave beat me to it.

Radtor is the perfect location to show this beauty, I'm defo going to make it this year.

Mattdub · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2013, 01:31 PM »

Very cool ! , likin' that

Swivel · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2013, 01:59 PM »

Wow that's amazing Joffers super rare

, i've got a Torker 280x coming my way this week too, will show the resto on here. Keep us posted on this build fella

MartyC · « **Reply #21 on:** March 12, 2013, 02:13 PM »

Noice I really like these; would make a great race bike build

markyp · « **Reply #22 on:** March 12, 2013, 03:59 PM »

wow,rare find joff!!whats the crack with these,were they better/worse than the 280 or pro x???

deeman · « **Reply #23 on:** March 12, 2013, 04:07 PM »

Nice score Joff!super rare and tasty!and a 20" top tube

donnydresser · « **Reply #24 on:** March 12, 2013, 04:46 PM »

nice bit o tackle that

Author Topic: Torker ....... Rare find !! (Read 11969 times)

monkian

In2 bmx

Banachek BMX

deeman

donnydresser