1963 Ducati Cadet 100 2T
 

Hi All, Just joined the forum today. Looks great.

I picked up a bit of a wreck this time last year in the shape of a two stroke Cadet 100 and have begun restoring it. I was wondering if anyone on here might know of someone/somewhere I might be able to get hold of some parts for it. I'm a bit stuck on one or two things I'm gonna need for it in the the not too distant future.

Any help gratefully received.

JM

Well the little cadets are an interesting mix and parts are hard to come by.

It is unlikely that you will find much in the UK, but the US and Australia maybe of help. Drop me an e-mail (chris.bushell@ducatisportingclub.com) and I will pass on some usefull contacts.

Chris

Cadet bits
 

Mick Walker RIP and his brother Rick bought the remnants of the infamous Berliner Brothers shipment from Bill Hannah in Liverpool who'd been saddled with receiving the rejected shipload of Ducatis from New York. The shipment contained the only Cadets to arrive in UK, so Rick is just about the only UK source for any parts and those stocks are now little more than sweepings - Rick Walker's on 01553-829141 - good luck

Wow! Love these old stories and have just spent ages reading about the Berliner Brothers on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berliner_Motor_Corporation

Either it was an excuse to cover lack of sales, or it was perhaps an additional contributory factor, but the shipment was actually eagerly anticipated by the Berliners because it carried the much vaunted new 'Euro' design bikes. It was hoped that the 'swinging' new look would reinvigorate sales. The squared off styling and square headlights were instantly loathed by the Berliners who had excitedly clambered aboard the ship to inspect their 'salvation'. Without seeking further opinion from any quarter they refused point blank to offload a single bike, ordering the ship to sail out of port. Once on the high seas, it seems the red mist dissipated sufficiently to let some reason shine through and that is when they phoned Bill Hannah in Liverpool a renowned wheeler dealer who shipped the AMC brand to the USA for the Berliner brothers to import. They basically told him that if he wanted any further US imports of AMC to happen, he would have to take the - by UK market standards - tidal wave of Euro-styled Ducatis heading his way. By all accounts, three years later Bill Hannah was still trying to sell, by now, 3 year-old bikes as brand new and it was here he was thrown a lifeline by M&R Walker.

What you dont mention is the fact that the sudden influx of all these bikes into the UK totally overstocked the UK market for at least those three years and probably some time longer.

I am not quite certain how many of these "Hannah" bikes I have had through my hands over the years, but it is probably at least 15 of them but they tend to have led a hard life!