Orange Taco 44 ?

#1
I purchased a frame 8-10 years ago at a swap meet & it has been sitting in my back yard since as yard art. After watching a you tube video, "Mini Bike History and the 1967 Taco 44 by TACO Don Steens I realized my frame is an early Taco 44 with the Round Swing arm. now I feel bad about leaving it outside & think I should build it.

I never thought it was a Taco or anything special because its not purple. Did tacos come in other colors? is this really an early 44?

My thoughts were to lengthen it and build a drag bike or a chopper, but now I an thinking that would be the wrong direction to go.

Thank you for your info.
 

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#2
There should be a number stamped on the frame. Usually it is down on the inside left frame rail around the jackshaft, may even be on the bottom. The # means something and someone will come on here and tell ypu where on the site to find the decodong info. Number=Taco
 
#4
There should be a number stamped on the frame. Usually it is down on the inside left frame rail around the jackshaft, may even be on the bottom. The # means something and someone will come on here and tell ypu where on the site to find the decodong info. Number=Taco
Thank you for your reply.
 
#8
I just guessing that by 1966 everything was purple… Although, I bought this original factory assembled Frijole with original yellow paint!
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I'm thinking your Frijole was most likely painted and assembled by the O'Dorey guys. I don't think Steens sold the Frijoles already assembled. One the guys I used terrorize the backalleys with rode a Frijole that had never seen paint and was as basic as could be. It lacked a clutch so conversations were either very long with him killing the engine or very short with him driving in very small circles.
 
#10
Unfortunately the guy that could probably add to this conversation is no longer with us. Steve Durham had a shop back in the day and was pretty familiar with a lot of the SoCal vendors. Thanks for the pics, it sure brings back some old memories.
 

Hounddog

Well-Known Member
#11
The round tube taco 44 should have the serial number stamped on the left swingarm tube. That is where mine is.

I noticed the Taco that the young man is sitting/dreaming on has a Briggs engine with the small gas tank. We have rarely seen that....

Thanks for sharing! HD
 
#12
The round tube taco 44 should have the serial number stamped on the left swingarm tube. That is where mine is.

I noticed the Taco that the young man is sitting/dreaming on has a Briggs engine with the small gas tank. We have rarely seen that....

Thanks for sharing! HD

I didn't look there, Thanks for the tip.
Where can I see more photos of yours?
 

Harquebus

Well-Known Member
#13
....& it has been sitting in my back yard since as yard art
OOF.

If any of you have the same sort of sensibilities and a similar situation :D, I'll offer cash money for your "yard art" and perhaps please your significant other in the process (by making it disappear). Hit me up via private messaging.
 
#15
OOF.

If any of you have the same sort of sensibilities and a similar situation :D, I'll offer cash money for your "yard art" and perhaps please your significant other in the process (by making it disappear). Hit me up via private messaging.

I might considering selling it.
Because of what it is, I don't want to cut it up to build a stretched drag bike looking minibike.
 
#16
I looked all over & I can not find any stamped numbers. Some flat plates have an 0 stamped, but i think that is more of a part # as I see that on more than one plate.

Is this a real Taco or is it possibly a copy?
 
#19
Its a metal stamp so you could take a pic and run it in the grooves to see better. Or take some chalk and rub it on and then lightly smooth of the excess leaving the chalk in the grooves
 
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