Two companies I rarely think of as collaborating on a vehicle are Rupp and General Motors. Both are legendary, but on different scales, not to mention the scale of the vehicles they normally make. This 1960s Rupp Monza SS Chevy Jr. Go-Kart is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Mooresville, Indiana, and they’re asking $2,200 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Sam61 for the tip!
This is a rare beast, and like a lot of rare vehicles shown here on Barn Finds, it appears to have been at least partially modified. It could be brought back to its original spec if a person can dig up a Tecumseh engine and put the paint back to what it was originally. In the original spec and appearance, it could be worth $10,000+. I’ve heard of car flippers, but how about go-kart flippers? Who’s in?
Made from 1965 through 1967, restyled and made into the 1970s, these little machines are said to be based on Chevrolet’s 1965 Monza SS show car. Rupp Industries created this go-kart based on a design by the Chevy Tech Center, reportedly for Bill Mitchell’s stepson and Corvette kingpin Chuck Jordan’s son. Using the Rupp Dart go-kart chassis and a 3.5-horsepower Tecumseh engine, this fantastic little kart had a top speed of 25 mph. The seller says this one will go 35+ with what appears to be an aftermarket engine.
The photos are all kinds of wonky Batman angles; my apologies for how they had to be formatted to work here. Once again, I’m stumped as to why sellers take such weird photos when the vehicle is clearly a horizontal design. The good part is that this appears to be really in outstanding condition and with some tinkering could be a real show stopper, not to mention a blast to own. It would draw more people at a Cars & Coffee-type event than probably a real Monza SS car would. Just a guess.
Here’s the engine in there now, we don’t know what it is, and the seller doesn’t mention it. They do say this car has a VIN, but they don’t list that either. A chain-drive system sent power to the rear wheels. A 3.5 horsepower Tecumseh can be had for $150 to $500ish, give or take, and with a quick rebuild or just some tinkering, along with factory-correct paint, this would be fun to own. Have any of you heard of this go-kart?
This is a really neat find. Scotty, it looks like the engine is a either a Honda GX series ( they are the more “comercial grade” series of engines, very well built and designed. Or, it’s possible it’s what they call a Honda Clone, there are numerous manufacturers usually from China that make Honda clones. Some aren’t half bad either. But if its a Honda it will run forever with a little maintenance.
Love the Corvair /show car styling. If I was a kid in the 60’s you’d never get my butt out of that thing!!!
I’m going to go on a limb here and say its a Honda GX . It looks like theres a tiny bit of red paint showing on the engine shroud which it would have most likely. Its easier to tell if you can actually see the engine under that cover. Either way I think its great.
Thanks for the engine info, Driveinstile! Now that you mention it, yes, Honda, I should have deciphered that. I still have an 11-hp Honda engine from a propane-powered floor buffer that I’m trying to figure out what to do with.
OOOOFFF!! Thats one heavy engine to Buggy Lug around. Thats probably a GX 340, they only have one size bigger in a single which is the GX 390 13 HP. You’ll find a use for that engine.
It looks to be in great condition.
A coupe version of the Monza SS, the Monza GT first appeared in 1962. The GT was so popular at shows that an open version, the SS debuted in the spring of 1963 at the New York International Car Show.
In 61 & 62 Chevrolet offered a Rupp 61 Corvette go kart as a give-a-way through Chevrolet dealers and at car shows and Chevrolet sponsored events. In 63 the Corvette give-a-way was replaced by the Monza SS Rupp go kart. I think the Monza SS was used as a give-a-way through 65, but dropped after that when Chevrolet abandoned the Corvair and stopped all promotion of them. I have an unused raffle ticket for the Rupp Chevrolet go kart in my collection of Chevrolet literature.
Oh my! This brings back sad memories. Our local Chevrolet dealership (Jack Sommer in Wadsworth, Ohio) had a drawing for one of these when I was a child. My parents won and I was so excited!!!… until they decided to take the cash they offered instead!!!
Talk about a dream crusher. You have my sympathy. JDC
Wow! That’s something that stays for you the rest of your life!
Poor guy. You can’t pick your parents.
I wanted a Schwinn Stingray & got a stinkin Huffy.
Oh, they got me there, too. All the other kids in the neighborhood had stingrays. I had a “Pee Wee Herman” bike. It was a rough childhood.
Tried to win one at the ’66 Chicago Auto Show when I was nine.
Author M.J. Frumkin wrote a great book on the shows history.
Of course I didn’t win…
I stopped doing car raffles after I missed two– a ’55 Ford Country Squire and a ’57 Plymouth– by one number on each.
I got the message… ain’ no free lunch!
Listing update, someone grabbed this sweet little go-kart!