Post Listing Update: This old-school Suzuki did not get any interest at the BIN of $9,999 on eBay.
Introduced in 1962, Suzuki’s T10 had different names for different markets – in most countries it was the Colleda, but here in the US it was the “El Camino.” 1963 was the first year of Suzuki’s operation in the US, thanks to Jack McCormack. According to this article on RideApart, Suzuki sold just 600 motorcycles in 1963 across a six-model lineup. The El Camino was the biggest – here’s one of the first-year US bikes that’s been restored.
In a period advertisement, Suzuki stated that the 246cc 2-cylinder 2-stroke (fed by 2 carbs) engine produced 21 horsepower, enough to get the 308 pound bike up to 87 miles per hour. The tank could fit 2.64 gallons – pretty good considering it returned a claimed 105 mpg. Suzuki packed the T10 with features that you could not take for granted at the time – oil-injection, electric start, hydraulic rear brake, enclosed final drive chain, even turn signals. It was a commuter, not a performance machine – though the T20 successor would change that formula up quite a bit.
This example (VIN: T1011166) has been restored and sitting dry for the last 8 years. The seller suggests that this is a trophy/display bike that should “be in your family room or a private collection,” going as far to say that he would recommend that the owner not fill the NOS hydraulic master cylinder as it’s “never had a drop of fluid in it” and “you’ll never find another new one.” With that said, he does note that he’ll make it a runner if the new owner wishes – what would you do with this piece of Suzuki history?
Find this early Suzuki for sale in Berlin, Connecticut with a BIN of $9,999 here on eBay.