Early CT70 Production Numbers and Build Dates: CT70KO to CT70K4

hornetgod

hornetgod

Well-Known Member
CT70KO: Built From: JUN 1969 (6/69) to AUG 1971 (8/71) Produced: 185,000

CT70HKO: Built From: APR 1970 (4/70) to AUG 1971 (8/71) Produced: 65,000

CT70K1: Built From: AUG 1971 (8/71) to JUN 1972 (6/72) Produced: 60,000

CT70HK1: Built From: AUG 1971 (8/71) to JUN 1972 (6/72) Produced: 25,000

CT70K2: Built From: JUN 1972 (6/72) to MAY 1973 (5/73) Produced: UNKNOWN (educated guess: 45,000)

CT70K3: Built From: MAY 1973 (5/73) to JUN 1974 (6/74)? Produced: 32,907

CT70K4: Built From: JUN 1974 (6/74) to Early/Mid 1975 Produced: 8,852

CT70 '76: Produced: 5,529

CT70 '77: Produced: 11,959

CT70 '78: Produced: 6,881

CT70 '79: Produced: UNKNOWN (educated guess: 7,500)

CT70 '80: Produced: 8,599

CT70 '81: Produced: 6,089




It's taken me awhile to compile this information. Lots of research in the VIN registry, Ebay, Individual Posts, and Private Messages to get the most accurate numbers and build dates possible. These numbers are close estimates based on Build Dates, VIN's, and Production Runs. If anyone has a higher numbered VIN or conflict in build dates, please post in this thread of Private Message me and I will make corrections.
 
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vintagehondatrailbikes

vintagehondatrailbikes

Member
Hey HG,

That's 421,759 units through 1975 and you are not including numbers produced over the next five years (1976 to 1980) using this sequence of serial numbers ?

The Z50 still holds the record as Honda's #1 American all time best selling bike at 450,000 units while the CT70 was #3 at 380,000 units between 1969 and 1980. (#2 CB750 400k+)

The mystery continues...

VHTB
 
hornetgod

hornetgod

Well-Known Member
The only number that may not be close is the K2. Every other number came from VIN's from last month built bikes. I rounded up to the nearest thousand. By the mid 70's, Trail 70 production numbers were only a few thousand per model.
Where did you come up with your production number information? The numbers I've gathered show total Trail 70 number could total 420,000 to 450,000.
 
kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
I'll bet there are missing numbers between the high and low Vin #'s for each model. That would explain how the frame and engine numbers get so far off. Some imperfect frames were were probably scrapped along with their vin's during production.
 
vintagehondatrailbikes

vintagehondatrailbikes

Member
Kirrbby is correct. You can't count on every serial number in the sequence being produced.

HG, are you including production post 1981 in your numbers? If so, those bikes were not included in Honda Japan's total CT70 production numbers and had a completely different serial number sequence begining with JH2D instead of the earlier CT numbers. This could possible mean that they were not produced in Japan or maybe by a Honda licensed manufacturer.
 
hornetgod

hornetgod

Well-Known Member
I only estimated KO to K4 numbers around 400,000 to 425,000. The numbers beyond that would be a wild guess.

I seriously doubt Honda scrapped thousands of frames. Each VIN tag went with a frame. Why would there be gaps in VIN's it makes no sense to me.

I don't doubt the Honda 50 is the top production Honda but, It appears the Trail 70 numbers are higher than some first thought.
 
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scott t

scott t

Member
I would also consider warranty motors, My guess would be that these were just pulled off the line and sent to the dealer no matter what the VIN was.

The only reason for my theory is a while back a seller on e-bay had a "claimed" brand new z-50 motor from the dealer with a VIN NO.around 280XXX if I remember correctly, So I would think the same could be for the ct motors.

This is not fact by any means.

Scott
 
kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
hornetgod said:
I only estimated KO to K4 numbers around 400,000 to 425,000. The numbers beyond that would be a wild guess.

I seriously doubt Honda scrapped thousands of frames. Each VIN tag went with a frame. Why would there be gaps in VIN's it makes no sense to me.

I don't doubt the Honda 50 is the top production Honda but, It appears the Trail 70 numbers are higher than some first thought.
Click to expand...

If the vins were stamped on the frames before some of the welds were made, and paint etc. they likely would scrap them rather than repair them. I work for GM at a metal stamping plant. I see the parts that are scrapped every day because they are not perfect and the repair is not cost effective. If the frame and motors match at the beginning of a model run, how do the numbers end up being so far apart. I doubt they stamped those vins on the frame after a complete defect free bike came off the line
 
hornetgod

hornetgod

Well-Known Member
The whole engine to frame matching is an entirely different topic. I never worked in a factory but, It makes good sense to stamp a VIN at the END of the frame making process. I can't imagine thousands of frames being rejected, especially in a Japanese factory.
 
CT70sKid

CT70sKid

Member
hornetgod,
I think I have one of the last KOs. The vin # is CT70-284602. Have you seen any numbers later than this in your research? Just curious.
 
hornetgod

hornetgod

Well-Known Member
CT70sKid said:
hornetgod,
I think I have one of the last KOs. The vin # is CT70-284602. Have you seen any numbers later than this in your research? Just curious.
Click to expand...

You could have one of the last KO's made. Was it built in August of 1971 (check the VIN tag)? I had read of a VIN as high as CT70-291xxx but, I couldn't verify it.
 
hornetgod

hornetgod

Well-Known Member
I added '76, '77, '78 production numbers as per Honda Parts Catalog

CT70 '76: Produced: 5,529

CT70 '77: Produced: 11,959

CT70 '78: Produced: 6,881
 
hornetgod

hornetgod

Well-Known Member
I added 1978 to 1981 production numbers numbers to post #1. *Source-Service Honda Website*

CT70 '78: Produced: 6,881

CT70 '79: Produced: UNKNOWN

CT70 '80: Produced: 8,599

CT70 '81: Produced: 6,089
 
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67Motorcat

67Motorcat

Member
Interesting thread,

I went in the garage to check mine out as I remember is was built in September after reading here the last KO's were built in August.

Now granted I got my Bike in a box of parts already disassembled,but came with a KO triple tree and was represented as a KO by the seller...never gave it a second thought.

The original Vin tag arrived as shown (mangled and detached) as does indeed match the stampings on the frame.

I stamped a new one to represent the #'s on the frame,you can see my trial/practice stamp mark "C" on the original tag.

Question is,do I really have a K1?,do I have a 72' model?,and why is there an extra digit?...the last digit "9" is on the frame

Thanks,now I'm curious
 

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67Motorcat

67Motorcat

Member
Well after a little more research I answered my own question...lol

I have a freaking K1..all this time I thought I had a KO..

It seems I have the first months production and the 14,079 one built that month,the first month...wow the factory sure pumped them out back in the day!
 
hornetgod

hornetgod

Well-Known Member
I'm glad the thread helped. 7 digit VIN was a dead giveaway. 14,079 in first two months is a bit high but, does match other numbers I've seen. August 1971 was both the end of the KO and beginning of the K1 production run. September was actually the second month of production and since your number is so high, its a safe guess that it was at or near the end of September.
 
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CT70sKid

CT70sKid

Member
Long Crapper said:
My blue '71 KO vin# is CT70-285100 and motor # is 284662 . The manufacture date is 08/71
Click to expand...

Wow, you may very well have the last K0 off the line! Very cool! Your engine # is closer to mine than my engine is, which is 284439. I wonder why the number of frames ran ahead of the engines? Could it be because they built extra frames for replacements? I have seen NOS frames on ebay.
 
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