I purchased this bike for my collection around 12 months ago. It was bought from Vince Cundle at Fondseca in East Sussex who is probably the foremost Yamaha TZ expert in Europe.

The bike is unexpectedly being offered as the opportunity has arisen to acquire an ex-works machine.

History

This bike uses one of six frames secretly built by Rob North for Yamaha International.

North built the un-numbered frames in Yamaha’s San Diego workshop and they were supplied to various works-assisted importer teams. One went to the Canadian importer for Steve Baker, one to Venemotos for Franco Uncini, one to Yamaha USA for Freddie Spencer and one to Sonauto for Patrick Fernandez. The other pair went to Kel Carruthers and Kenny Roberts.

This is the example delivered to Sonauto for Patrick Fernandez.

Fernandez rode the bike in the following events during 1978:

19/03/1978 Venezuelan GP, San Carlos: qualified 5th, finished 3rd
16/04/1978 Spanish GP, Jarama: qualified 6th, DNF
07/05/1978 French GP, Nogaro: qualified 1st, DNF
14/05/1978 Nations GP, Imola: qualified 11th, finished 5th
24/06/1978 Dutch TT, Assen: qualified 2nd, finished 8th
02/07/1978 Belgian GP, Spa: qualified 8th, race 4th
23/07/1978 Swedish GP, Karlskoga: qualified 6th, finished 3rd
30/07/1978 Finnish GP, Imatra: qualified 9th, DNF
06/08/1978 British GP, Silverstone: qualified ?, finished 8th
20/08/1978 German GP, Nurburgring: qualified 10th, finished 9th
27/08/1978 Czech GP, Brno: qualified 7th, finished 4th
17/09/1978 Yugoslav GP, Grobnik: qualified 3rd, finished 6th

Fernandez finished third in the 1978 250cc World Championship on 55 points.

In 2014 the bike was discovered in France. It was sold by Hubert Rigal of Classic Motorbikes in Luxembourg to Stewart Graham. In 2016 Graham sold the bike which was now in a part-restored state to Vince Cundle who completed the restoration.

Condition

The bike has been completely stripped and rebuilt to include a full engine and crankshaft rebuild, new ignition system, new front and rear discs, new master cylinder, new brake pads and new chain etc.

Other features include the correct Mikuni VM34 1H3 carburettors, factory primary drive gears, special alloy steerer tube and new bodywork painted in Fernandez's 1978 Total-Airelec livery. The bike is presented 'dry' (devoid of oil, fuel, and coolant) and will be ready to ride after a short running-in period.

The condition is very good throughout. More photographs available on request.

Price: £14,995 ono

Sold on bill of sale. Payment via bank transfer.

For an appointment to view please call 07758 845837 or drop me a line.

Bike located in central Bournemouth.

International buyers welcome.