In search of Penton knowledge...

[fasmith]

Gentlemen

As you might remember, I purchased the 1977 Penton GS6 400 that had sat in quiet solitude in a barn in North Texas for 28 years.  It was missing the right side panel.  I have since sent money to Tom Brosius to obtain a pair of reproduction side panels to make the bike complete.  (Tom, the money is on the way, really )  Now in the meantime, I purchased off Ebay a NOS side panel that had never been mounted and has a silver sticker on it that says .. 51st ISDT Silver Vase Team and lists Carl Cranke, Dane Leimbach, Jack Penton and Tom Penton.  (I am still drooling btw.)  My plan is not use this side panel when I get to the point where I can ride the bike, but only when it is sitting in my foyer of my house... -- I got to figure out how to get that past the wife -- I hope to get the four gentlemen to autograph the side panel one day but the real question I have is this .. on my 1977 GS6 the left side side panel has in the rectangular indention a decal that says "400" and this NOS panel has the "GS6" sticker.  So.. I am wondering...  did the 1977 GS6 400 come originally with "400" decals or did the 1977 250 use the "GS6" decals or could the bikes come with either the 400 designation or the GS6 designation depending on who stuck the decal on the side panels?
Or was it a year to year difference?  The ebay seller advertised the side panel as a 1977 panel.  That silver decal also...  I was stroked to see it... I remember the 1985 KTM 500 had a decal highlighting Heinz Kinigadner as the 1984 World 250 Champion.. I wished I had the smarts to keep that sticker...  they were on the radiator shrouds.  so this one is going under glass when not on the bike.  

So on that note..  any info you guys can contribute as to the history of the decals?

Thanks

Freddie

[Steve Minor]

I can't answer about all 77 400 GS6's but I bought my 400 GS6 new and it is original. My left side (kicker side) sticker says "400" and my right side sticker says "GS6".

[fasmith]

Steve

if yours is like that, then the new panel will make mine like it should be...  thanks!

Freddie

[DKWRACER]

Hi Fred, I think Randy Kirkbride has the 10th Annual round decals as repro's, would look just fine on ur new panels. [8D]..Tom

[fasmith]

Tom

Excellent ! I will go spend money with him too.  I gotta have the stickers on the new panels.  Remember to shoot me an email when you get the money for the KTM GS...  so I can then get with you to see when you can do the hard work to package it for shipping and when I need to reserve the crate.

Thanks

Freddie