TCC stood for the Turbo Cycle Corporation, and it was created to sell bolt on turbos for motorcycles built by American Turbo-Pak. The founder of TCC was a former Kawasaki USA employee named Alan Masek, and he used his contacts to help develop the first ‘production’ turbocharged bike. Kawasaki’s Z1R was their top of the line bike but Alan figured he could make a true halo and sell some turbos in the process. The plan was to source bikes from Kawasaki, install the turbo kit, then have Kawi sell the new Z1R-TC through dealerships (but without a warranty). TCC made some money, Kawasaki got bragging rights, and no one had to worry about warranty costs or emissions issues. 500 were built, the first 250 of which were in the stock powder blue of the Z1-R.
The remaining 250 were adorned in a black/yellow/red Molly Design paint scheme and a few mechanical changes. Per an excellent article on OddBike (which you should read if you’re even moderately interested in the fascinating motorcycle, “buyers were required to sign a legal waiver and forfeit the standard warranty.”
This example (VIN: KZT00D-007290) has just 1,733 miles and it’s offered by a friend of a friend who claims that it’s 100% original and period correct. It was sold new on 7/12/1978 by Terry’s Cycles in Ossian, Illinois and there’s a couple of minor flaws but it seems to be in great shape for the age if it’s truly original. The seller includes a cold start video:
Find this Z1R-TC for sale in Seattle, Washington with bidding up to $20,000 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay.
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