Full Version: Have an opportunity to by a Redline Frame
Have not seen it yet so I don't have picture. I'm told it is a 79 MXII and the sn starts with RL. Does this mean anything to anyone?
Buy, not "by" can't seem to find the edit button.
A 79 shouldn't have any letters in the serial, it should just be a 5 or 6 digit number.
Doug
Doug
a '79 could have letters, if it's a japanese frame. in that case it would be "RI" not "RL".
if it is indeed an "L", then it's 1984 or later (next two digits after the L are the year), made in taiwan, and not an MX2.
if it is indeed an "L", then it's 1984 or later (next two digits after the L are the year), made in taiwan, and not an MX2.
I didn't think frames went to Japan until mid '80?
QUOTE (wagonguy @ Sep 26 2009, 10:15 PM) 
I didn't think frames went to Japan until mid '80?
Redline was building everything but Flight cranks by late 79 in Japan. Linn Kastan has discussed this extensively in my interview with him and also in the Stu movie excerpts.
He saw the value of moving production overseas in 1978 and it took him until the following year to set it up. He trained the Japanese welders how to weld his way in the factory that did his production.
I read the interview and saw the Stu movie (many times! great movie, but I digress). I interpreted what he said as he went there in late 79 to train them, but figured it would take some time to move production over there. Thanks for clearing that up Bill!
Doug
Doug
QUOTE
LK: I went over there in April of 1979 and stayed over there two months in Kobi, Japan, and trained six kids that worked for Kalamura, how to tig weld. There weren’t any machines over there. I had to bring them all from here and there was a little room in their office building where it was the only place where anyone spoke any English at all. They had two factories but nobody spoke English there. So we moved these, I think there were six welding machines, into this little room that was no bigger than a double car garage, and that’s where all the Redline production was done for quite a few years after that.
QUOTE (GregDawson @ Sep 26 2009, 01:25 PM)
Have not seen it yet so I don't have picture. I'm told it is a 79 MXII and the sn starts with RL. Does this mean anything to anyone?
If it is in good shape and you really want to build a Redline I would say go ahead and get it. If you are still undecided, then wait and buy what you really want.
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