Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1513811
January 2024 35 When the effort is put forth, occasionally we're fortunate to find that par cular needle in a haystack. Seemingly out of the blue, a 1977 Can-Am 175 Qualifier popped up on Craigs. Even be er yet, it was priced at what I felt was a very reasonable 800 bucks. The descrip on was weak, but the two pics posted told the story. The bike was unmolested. All the original and unique components were there; even the decals were in decent shape. The headlight, taillight, and number plates looked intact. The stock bars with the dipped cross bar and the super cool leather tool bag were the icing on the cake. A phone call was placed immediately but unfortunately, there was no answer. A er a day or so of anxiously awai ng a return call, I forgot about it. Another day passed when a strange number popped up. Yup, it was the guy selling the Can- Am. I asked him the basic ques ons: "Does it run? How long had it been si ng? Does it have spark?" The seller was honest and said he knew absolutely nothing about the bike. He was liquida ng an estate of an elderly couple who'd passed over a decade ago. The family was just ge ng around to cleaning out the property and the old Can-Am was found buried in the basement. A er a quick chat, I made a sight-unseen offer over the phone, based on the fact that he didn't know if it was stuck or if it even had spark. — Old Can Am's are known for stator issues, and finding parts can be a challenge. Not wan ng to miss out, but against my be er judgment, I offered to pay him immediately through PayPal and pick it up the following weekend. Some mes you just go a trust your fellow man... Craigslist finds can be interes ng for sure. The thrill of the hunt is a good part of the fun when scrounging vintage dirt. The bike was located in Massachuse s, a few hours' drive south. The GPS led us to a creepy overgrown Victorian property located in an older suburban neighborhood. It was clear the home had been unoccupied for years. The seller arrived soon a er and led us down to the back of what was a very large mul -story home where we entered a walk-in basement. Fans of the show American Pickers would have loved this place as the previous owners were hoarders of astronomical propor ons. We were led to the Can- Am, where a repair tag was immediately spo ed on the bars. It read: "No Spark" and was dated 11/1981.