Before malls (“What’s a mall, daddy?”) and even online shopping, millions of us browsed through big, fat catalogs and bought items from underwear to houses and everything in between, including motorcycles. This 1960 Allstate DeLuxe 175 is one that would have been in a Sears catalog, and it’s listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Fayetteville, Georgia, and the seller is asking $2,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to PRA4SNW for the tip!
We’ve seen a couple of these Austrian-made bikes over the years here on Barn Finds, and it’s hard to argue with the look. It appears to have been customized, but this is how it looked from the factory. My mom still has a few big catalogs from Sears, Wards, and Pennys, along with a few “Wish Books”, the medium-sized holiday season ones, and then some smaller specialty catalogs from Sears, such as one for Volkswagen parts, one for camera gear, etc. I need to dig those out the next time I’m there, I’m sure there’s one related to motorcycles.
This model of the Allstate 175 DeLuxe was available from 1958 through 1962, and you could get this fantastic, beautiful, single-seat 175 Allstate DeLuxe in maroon. The 175 model reportedly was available before the 125 or 250 versions, and 1953 was the first appearance of the 175 Standard, from what I can find. It would have been a light blue color called Medium Blue, and we saw one about six years ago here on Barn Finds.
I just rode my ’76 Honda CB200T yesterday, and it doesn’t even have 700 miles on it yet. I was thinking to myself, “Dang, this thing is slow.” I can’t imagine riding a 175 for 6,601 miles, but that’s the mileage on this example. This bike appears original and in need of some updates, such as cables and regular maintenance items. We don’t know the age of the tires, but if they’re older than a decade, it’s time to change them if this bike sees any road time.
The engine is a Puch 175-cc two-stroke twin/single, known as a Twingle, a split-single with two pistons in a single bore and 10 horsepower. It’s backed by a four-speed transmission, and this engine is an interesting setup and always gets a few comments, so let’s hear your thoughts on this engine and this 175, in general. This one runs and drives and comes with the saddle bags shown in a couple of the photos, and the owner’s manual. Any thoughts on this Allstate DeLuxe?
It’s certainly not fair to rate the writers, they all do a wonderful job,,HOWEVER,,,if one WAS to rate them, and I may be a bit partial, Scotty has got to be the most innovative. Take this submission, for example, An Allstate/Puch DEEE-luxe 175 “TWINGLE”. Where else but here, who else, but him! The only experience I have with an Allstate bike, was a neighbor had a 50cc moped( that me and my brother got busted on as kids at 3am. The old man was not amused) We never heard of a “twinkle”, or we surely would have made fun of it. While there was the “Big Twin” crowd, someone at Sears knew how big the small bike foreign market was overseas, and remember, the Honda 50 Cub appealed to another large group that didn’t want a big bike, and Sears wanted in on that. Apparently, while understandably not popular in Harleytown, Sears did manage to sell 38,584 “Twingles”, the peak year was 1954, with over 10,000 alone. I read, this bike cost $399.50, the 250 was $100 more, available with Sears revolving charge( remember that? Oooh, a charge card, wow!) for a mere $40 down. The “all new” 250 Scrambler was almost $700 BUCKS! Remember, a new Honda 50 Cub in 1960 was $295. This however, was a real motorcycle, and was actually pretty fast for the day. I don’t know if the split cylinder was as effective as 2 separate pistons. I read, this bike has 5.5 HP and could do almost 50, and deliver 85 mpg, just not at 50mph. The 250, however, could do almost 70, still, never saw’r one in Beer City. Vintage bike prices are beginning to slide, while a “Twingle” is not on my radar, perhaps that $1000 Z-1B is out there,, great find, SG!
You are way too generous, Howard, thanks much. I’m barely up to cleaning the Barn Finds HQ bathrooms, let alone being a decent writer among this group of gems. But, thanks… (big shocker, I’d love to have this bike!)
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I’m certainly agree with Howard’s assessment if your writing skills….
I certainly agree with Howard’s assessment of your writing skills….
I agree 100% with Howard’s assessment of your writing skills….
Being only a mediocre mechanic, I learn a lot from your writings as well those of the other writers, not to mention all the great commenters!
Well, got a little over done here. The 1st 2 didn’t register, then when I added the 3rd, they showed up….sorry for the excess!!
I’m late to the party here today ( had to work a 12 hour shift today) but Howard worded it better than I ever could. All the writers here are terrific and I enjoy all of them, and appreciateall the time spent that everyone puts in. Scotty, you have a very nice way about you in your writing thats relatable to regular folks like us.. You should give yourself more credit than that. I appreciate all the new things I learn on this site every day. Thank you. Keep them coming!!!
I had the 1958 model Sear 175 with the two cylinder, two exhaust pipes, but one spark plug. It had two side compartments in the middle of the uni body, one was for the battery and one was to carry 2-cycle oil container. The carburetor came out on the left side of the motor and if you cupped your hand around the intake you could get an extra one or two mph. The faster I got it to go was 72 mph. My friends had a Sear 124 four stroke, a 125 two stroke and a saber 60, we were known as the sear gang, which was not good because everyone else was driving Honda 90, Harley Davidson, 65 from Italy, Bridgestone 125, and a Suzuki 256 speed. But we did have fun for 15 and 16 year old kids. We were the terror of Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1968 and 69.
Nailed it, Howard.
Scotty, your modesty illustrates who you are-youâre most definitely a standout in your profession and have a well earned place on an incredibly knowledgeable team of excellent writers. The thing that stands out about the Barn Finds team is the obvious hands on experience in a vast array of mechanics that can only come with experience. With each writer having a favorite subject matter this makes for yet another reason why BarnFinds is so popular with a well versed and encompassing reader community that enthusiastically shares their knowledge, a common ground regardless of personality.
You could buy nearly anything from Sears catalog. Even a complete house kit!
Wow. I learned to ride on this exact bike back in the 60’s. I wonder if this is the same one? Now, with seven bikes (2Harleys, 2 Triumphs, Ducati and a few Yamahas, and a mint, original 53 Whizzer Pacemaker) ), I still have fond memories of the Allstate 175, except having to mix the oil with the gas.
Maybe I’ll buy it.
Being older than Howard, That is old. My recollection of a Twingle was 2 piston on a single connecting rod. I think it would be impossible to have 2 pistons in a single cylinder. I also see 2 exhaust pipes for 1 cylinder? My older brother owned 1 and we were surprised to see the 2 pistons on 1 connecting rod joined about 3/4 of the way down the rod. It was pretty well thrashed so we never put it back together.
It was; y-shaped conrod. Exhaust went out the front and fresh charge came in from the back (?). One combustion chamber for both pistons. Think it might’ve been an EMC design to start with.
I remember the slightly newer bikes in the Sears catalog. In the beginning I always thought they were rather frumpy but they sold a few of them. And now, I wouldn’t kick one off my driveway.
I remember a neighbor of my uncle’s had a smaller version that, if I remember correctly, was a moped (long before Cow-Patty and Flame). He rode it back and forth to work.
If I remember correctly, he was a school superintendent, so he would fit well into the stereotype of a school teacher who was so cheap he squeezed a penny until Lincoln’s eyes popped out. I might add that he also drove a Chevy II with a 4-banger, that, driving west, up the western slope of the river valley in a typical chinook, he would never reach high gear.
Anyways, he rode that tiny motorized conveyance until one frosty day when the pavement had as much traction as a block of wood on a bed of marbles, and he went down in a rather unglorious heap of threadbare suit and trenchcoat. I don’t know what all happened after that.
He eventually bought a Toyota Corolla (the original, Front engine/Rear wheel drive type) that he still drove when he retired in around 1975. The Chevy II sat at the curb in front of his house for a good year then it disappeared. Who knows, if you got into the old man’s garage, you might still find that moped, right next to the first nickel he ever made…
My older brother had one of these. This one was $399.50 in the 1960 Sears catalog:
https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ShowCatalogPage/1960-Sears-Spring-Summer-Catalog/1041
Very cool! Just wish I could see well enough to ride one! With my sight condition, riding a bicycle is about as good as it gets for me. But with today’s crazy drivers and my age, I’m
somewhat reluctant to try it these days. I’m thinking of getting one of those motorized scooters with a body
on it that are built for disabled people
to use. These things have everything
a car has like blinkers, headlights,
windshield wipers, doors with roll down windows, even a radio and A/C!
As I’ve said on here before, Iâd like to find my own way to work and not have to depend on my SIL or other people. But I digress, this thing sounds like a fun little ride for the right person. Just not me.
You folks are way too kind, thanks much!
Geo, that fourth paragraph gave me a much-needed ab workout from laughing so much! That, sir, is one fantastic piece of descriptive writing!
You know Scotty, its getting to the point where, when I see certain items on here, I can almost always guess who wrote it. ( Aarons all over Buicks and he does a great job as one example) but when I see stuff like this, I already know who wrote it.
And Geomechs, I’ll second what Scotty said. I’m going to remember a block of wood on marbles!!! That was classic. This is what I enjoy on Barnfinds. Of course I love old muscle cars, but I also enjoy everything automotive, locomotive, 2 wheels 4 wheels and up. And the the stories and comments the readers post that follow, brings a little bit of all of us and
our past back to us. Things are oftentimes chaotic in this world its nice to sit for a few minutes and unwind and enjoy this place. And for that I say thank you, both to Scotty and the entire Barnfinds team.
Scotty, the thumbs-up icon is very temperamental so I have to write my appreciation. You always present a good case and it’s entertaining. I enjoy the inputs from everyone on this page, as a matter of fact. As I’ve said many times before, I wish we could all head down to the local coffee shop and share some stories…
Count me in!!!! Only problem is, I’d be there so long, I would probably have to switch to Decaf half way through or I’d never shut up!!!!
Totally off the subject, Scotty, but I grew up in a Sears house, one of the last designs that hasn’t made it into any of the collections / catalogs. The part number stamps were clearly visible on the first floor joists from the basement.
Hey Will,We had a great family friend growing up in NJ who had a Sears Kit House, his father built it. They are very high quality, not to mention the high quality of the hinges hardware light fixtures, everything. Also I know of a man who’s currently restoring a Sears Kit Barn. He even found it in a Catalog. Theres some great You Tube videos I watched about them….
Folks….. this still technically qualifies as a “Barn Finds” subject, because Sears made Kit Barns….. I know its a stretch here, but its true.
As others have said, nice write-up Scotty. This wouldn’t be at the top of my wish list, but wouldn’t be at the bottom either. I’m pretty sure that two of my cousins each had one of these.
I just want to give a head nod to what everyone else has said. For me it is not just the variety of things that move and the great write up about them from the BF staff; but the interesting and informative comments too. I sometimes think of the line from Forrest Gumpâs Mom: life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you might find.
I just want to give a head nod to what everyone else has said. For me it is not just the variety of things that move and the great write up about them from the BF staff; but the interesting and informative comments too. I sometimes think of the line from Forrest Gumpâs Mom: life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you might find.
I just want to give a head nod to what everyone else has said. For me it is not just the variety of things that move and the great write up about them from the BF staff; but the interesting and informative comments too. I sometimes think of the line from Forrest Gumpâs Mom: life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you might find.
I swear I only hit the post button once.
Sears hada good run (well still around, a bit. Didnt they by K-Mart when THEY went out?). But they imported froma great co (long history) made 4 wheeled (cars), bicycles, 1 of my fav 4WD – the Pinsgauer (others like volvo have this model – a bread box shaped van), motorcycles, a G-wagon w/MB and more…
Love to have this 1 apart (2 comb. chambers in the head, 2 cylinder bores in 1 âjug’, âHey, whats THIS? one connecting rod???â) ? aahahahaa
I like the one frm 6 yrs ago better.
Keep it up, ur doin a great job. Now… If the company werent so puter dependent theyâd get compliments too~
KMart bought Sears. They both managed to hang on for several more years under that arrangement.
I had a classmate in high school that had one of these 175 Allstates in 1964. It was slow, heavy and butt ugly compared to the cool bikes all the rest of us road (Hondas and Yamahas). But he rode it proudly and it certainly was distinctive. We all called it a Twingle.