.jpeg[/attachment]Hi all,I came across a ‘71 CT1C. Matching numbers, spark, engine spins free, and has  a dent free tank, oil system and carb intact, air box, and the seat is original with a solid pan. I am pretty stoked! The front wheel is a 21incher and the exhaust pipe belongs to a later model. Some work but a good core,Pretty rusty. Been sitting in a garage in Torrance California since the late 70’s.Torrance is about 3 miles from the ocean so there is a lot of salt in the air. But it was inside so it didn’t get baked by the sun and elements too much. I am really glad the ignition is in good shape. It will make a fun dirt bike with PP fenders and big knobbies. 

Would love to see some pics of it, I just recently got an old '71 CT-1C up and running, which has a lot of rust because it' had been stored near the beach as well.

By the way, out of curiosity, I'd love to see the serial number of it. Back in about 1972 I had one stolen from my High School in Huntington Beach, CA, and insurance replaced it. If it turned out to be the same one, of course I wouldn't ask for it back, I'm just curious. By the way many years ago I used to live up in Hermosa Beach, went to Mira Costa High School up there for two years. Pretty close to Torrance.

 Oh, I just saw you posted a picture. Yeah you've got a lot of rust. Rust never sleeps around the beach, even if it's stored in the garage, it just eats away at these things.

You are bold and brave to take on that rust, hats off in my opinion!

Great find and great to see another one being saved. 

Hi Tom,
The VIN # is CT1-038477.
Yes she is a rusty relic but not too bad. Since it was inside it survived fairly well. The ignition, cables, seat, etc are not bad at all. Just heavy surface rust.
     

Thanks for the reply MX360guy, that's not my stolen bike. Yours is a little bit earlier, mine started with 040.

You're absolutely right, you should be in mechanically good shape, just deal with the rust in any way that you want, but it should be a fun bike! My chrome upper fork tubes were really rusty, but with a few days of work I got them down to where they're smooth enough to still function just fine. I took my rear fender and chain guard, which were very rusty, down to bare metal, and painted them with Dupli-Color DE1615, and they turned out pretty nice. My rims and spokes were also very rusty, but internally the rims were pristine.I knocked a ton of rust off the exterior and just ride them as-is with new Shinko tires and tubes. I also found all the spoke nipples were fine, and I went over both wheels and got the spokes tensioned correctly. Have fun and keep us posted on the progress!

Yep, will do. I hope to dive into it more this weekend for a few hours. 
Thanks for the encouragement! I have a Banssani pipe coming that should be fun. Somehow this bike got a later model pipe installed that does not fit right and a 21 inch wheel which is kinda cool.
My plan is to make a period correct, MX style, play bike. There is a NOS CT1 pipe on eBay that I just could not bring myself to splurge 
Tracy in West Covina
 

I wonder it what it would look like if, rather than spending the time and expense to repaint the tin, you just took the auto lube and gas tank down to bare metal, and leave them bare, putting on a treatment like Gibbs lubricating oil to keep it from rusting? Then you never have to worry about getting paint damage you if you dump the bike. 

In fact after Gibbs was suggested by MarkT here, I put it on my old rusty black frame, and it made it look a lot nicer. It really brought out whatever paint was left, and reduced the rusty look.

I think it looks awsome as it is.
I love a resto, but if I had that one I'd be oiling it up, getting it mechanically sound and riding it just like it is.
Fresh tyres, brake shoes, wheel bearing, chain and sprocket etc.
Good luck with it whatever you choose to do with it.

I plan to freshening it up as best as possible. The goal is to make a reliable rider with patina. It is written that it is only original once and that is what I try to stick to as much as possible. I will ride the seat as long as it can take it. The foam is tired but snaps back pretty good. It will need some TLC but I will leave the "gray hairs"  where ever I can.
My mighty MX360 is that way. Although it is a put together with parts gathered for over 20 years. It is a reliable as a rock and is is more fun to ride than words can describe.