New owner with 1963-64-65 Dream basket case

[Bugman]

I have been out of motorcycles for 32 years. I had several bikes,all Hondas back in the 70's. My first was a 1972 CL350 which I dearly loved. Recently,I retired and started looking for a Honda Dream to restore. I found one in South Carolina in parts. It was on Craigs list,for not a lot of money,so my wife and I decided to visit her cousin in Lexington and pick up the bike. It had a title from 1987 in North Carolina as a 1965. The engine number is CA77E 1000065 and the chassis number is CA78-107073. The wiring loom had a date of 1963. Is this a 63-64-or 65? Has the motor been replaced? The odometer has 11,000 miles on it. Is this a high mileage or middle mileage bike. Are there any records of the original colors? Mine is black,but it looks like a old repaint job. Thanks,Bill

[JSchuster15]

Ca78 were produced in 1964 I believe. The vin isn't too far off from mine.

[OldStan]

There's been discussion about the CA78, but I believe the concensus is they were the same as CA77 but built for the American market. So as far as year is concerned, CA77 and CA78 are interchangeable.

As to your serial numbers, unless you've left out a digit on the frame number it looks like you have a 61 frame with a 65 engine. From 61 to 64 the serial numbers were 6 digits, the first number being the year (1,2,3,4.) In 65 they went to a 7 digit serial number always beginning in 1. That goes for both the engine and frame numbers.

[LOUD MOUSE]

I'd say 1964 not 1961. .........lm

There's been discussion about the CA78, but I believe the concensus is they were the same as CA77 but built for the American market. So as far as year is concerned, CA77 and CA78 are interchangeable.

As to your serial numbers, unless you've left out a digit on the frame number it looks like you have a 61 frame with a 65 engine. From 61 to 64 the serial numbers were 6 digits, the first number being the year (1,2,3,4.) In 65 they went to a 7 digit serial number always beginning in 1. That goes for both the engine and frame numbers.

[Bugman]

Thanks for the year ID. I cleaned the chassis thoroughly and the number is correct. It is 107073. Is it normal that a 64 would come with a 63 wiring loom date? If the engine is a 65, was it replaced sometime in it's life? I am accumulating parts for it. I would post pictures,but it is in pieces and not real pretty yet. Thanks so much for the help.

[conbs]

For 1964 there was a Type 1 CA78 with a 6-digit VIN number beginning with a "1". There was also a Type 2 CA78 for 1964 has a 6-digit VIN number beginning with "4".

I have asked several times and no one has pointed to any difference between CA 77's ('63 and prior) and CA78 ('64 and after).

Any body know if there is a difference between the 1964 Type 1 and Type 2?

As LM pointed out Bugman, you have a 1964 Type 1.

[LOUD MOUSE]

Ya have me confused.
All DREAM engines are TYPE 2 and I don't don't know of any of the 1964 issues with a 4 as first number and 6 digits.
The CL72 had 7 digits with a 1 and a 4 as the first digit in 1964. .................lm

For 1964 there was a Type 1 CA78 with a 6-digit VIN number beginning with a "1". There was also a Type 2 CA78 for 1964 has a 6-digit VIN number beginning with "4".

I have asked several times and no one has pointed to any difference between CA 77's ('63 and prior) and CA78 ('64 and after).

Any body know if there is a difference between the 1964 Type 1 and Type 2?

As LM pointed out Bugman, you have a 1964 Type 1.