Brand and type can be very decisive for the 'value' of a classic. Either financially or emotionally. Rarity is also such a value-determining component. And so the sales flops from then can now be very wanted. Sometimes because they are now better than ever. (The poorly-acclaimed Yamaha TX750 'foam beater' lost after some modifications its fringes and modern oil with anti-foam dopes did the rest.) Sometimes because scarcity is their only trump card.
And then the limits for what is acceptable are correspondingly lowered. Because: "It's one!" Or it is almost one. Or it is a (challenging) project. As our example for example a Honda, Moto Guzzi or Triumph 3TA had been? He would have been worth at most a single blast furnace. But these remains of what was once a Lilac are for sale. But the seller is also approachable if you have a Lilac engine block for sale for him.
Marusho / Lilac
The Marusho Motor Company was a relatively short-lived Japanese motorcycle manufacturer, founded by a former student of Honda San, Masashi Ito. That was 1948 in April and despite a reputation for building good quality machines, the brand only existed until 1967. Although it was commercially successful by the end of the 50 years.
Compete with Honda
In order to compete against Honda, the dated 1959cc and 125cc line-up of singles were replaced by a new V-twin in 250. With an electric starter and cardan drive, the new 250cc V-twin head valve, like the first Honda Dreams, had a shifting four-speed gearbox plus telescopic front suspension and swingarm rear fork. The first Lilac V-twin was referred to as the LS-18 model, available in a single or double version. The V-twin family expanded to smaller 125cc to larger 300cc models in the early 60, but financial difficulties caused the company to be reorganized into 1963 and renamed Lilac Co. Ltd.
A flower name
'Lilac' means 'lilac' and that brand name was chosen because the wife of the director found lilacs such beautiful flowers. To make a long story short: The V-twin, clearly inspired by Victoria's Bergmeisters, was not ready for production when it hit the market. The machine had quite a few technical problems. Somewhere in Noord Holland someone fitted his Lilac with a VW Beetle engine. That turned out to be a good modification.
But Marusho / Lilac wanted to continue
To serve the lucrative American market, Lilac came up with the ST (for Sport Touring). Where the 250 LS was a copy from the loose wrist of the Bergmeister, the boxertwin was a successful tribute to BMW's boxers, including the stylish black paintwork. A number of Lilacs found their way to Australia, England and the Netherlands in the late 1950s and 1960s, but the brand is almost forgotten here, despite growing cult formation in their homeland. With an active club and register, owners of Marushos and Lilacs are now well supported and surviving examples prove popular with collectors around the world. A top restored 250-300 cc Lilac can now earn around $ 10.000. But such a restoration is difficult and expensive. So Lilacs remain more interesting for enthusiasts than for investors. The 'challenging project' in the photo is for sale at Dutch Lion Motorcycles in Grubbenvorst. Where, as stated, it is also very approachable for people who still have an engine for such a Lilac.
It should be something like that ...