72 :OLD BIKE AUSTRALASIA
The rest of the restoration followed normal
procedures, then lastly restoring and painting the
steel mudguards and fibreglass tank (which I sealed
inside with epoxy resin to proof it against the
nasties in the modern fuels). I followed the factory
parts book to ensure that all the parts I used were
correct and wherever possible original or genuine
NOS– right down to the “Bultaco” headed bolts, anti
vibration washers and rubber handgrips, gear lever
and carb top rubbers and control cables. But I did
use Loctite products to ensure parts did not vibrate
loose! A wiring harness was made up using the
correct size and colour wires pushed through
“spaghetti” tubing. The wiring was modified from
the standard roadster harness as no rear brake light,
switch or resister were fitted; the headlight, tail
light and horn are fitted and work, as per production
racing regulations. The colours of the racing plates
and numbers are strange. During the TT the oval
front plate on the bikini fairing was painted white,
with black numbers, the two oval plates on each
side of the bike (where the roadster tool boxes
would normally go) were red, with white numbers.
To complicate matters, there are photos of the bike
taken sometime after the race showing a red front
plate with white numbers, to match the side plates!
In these ‘photos the Girling shocks have also been
temporarily replaced with standard Betors – but who
knows why?
The end result is a bike that I am proud to own
and which takes pride of place in my collection of
Metrallas. I plan to give it the occasional outing at
selected rally events, beginning with the Debenham
Rally at Moss Vale in June 2017, which is where the
photographs you see here were taken.
Now, if only I can find Bill Smith’s winning bike! FOOTNOTE: This story is edited from John Somerville’s
book, “Bultaco – Mi Obsesion”, copies of which are
available form Bultaco Parts Australia at Toongabbie,
Victoria.BULTACO METRALLA MK2 TT
Undergoing restoration in the workshop.ABOVE Works fuel tank is higher than the Bultaco
race-kit version. ABOVE RIGHT ‘Inside out’ leather seat.
RIGHT Switchgear; that’s it. FAR RIGHT Authentic Bultaco-
headed bolts throughout. BELOW RIGHT Cockpit view.RIGHT Light and
functional – the
superb front brake.
BOTTOM LEFT Girling rear
shocks replaced
standard Betor.
BOTTOM RIGHT Front
cowling with its
controversial number
plate – should
it be red?