

Yamaha heaven: Hiding inside this never-opened crate is a brand new 1979 Yamaha RD400F

If you thought the 11 brand new Norton Commandos we told you about unearthed in Belgium were cool, you need to check out this story. Instead of a cache of Nortons, Motorcycle Classics reader Scott Lees stumbled across a brand new, still in the never-opened crate 1979 Yamaha RD400F, the last year for this collectible 2-stroke classic.

Scott found the bike at Britt Motorsports in Wilmington, N.C., resting just inside the front door of the motorcycle dealership, pushed up against a wall and being used as a table to hold racing trophies. A reading couch sits in front of it, all but obscuring it from view. It’s not for sale, and we’re told it never will be. That it exists at all is delightful, that it’s never even had its straps cut is incredible. Maybe someday it will be uncrated and set up on display. Until that day, we can all daydream about the opportunity to find a treasure like this of our own. Scott Lees writes:



Here's where the RD normally sits, barely visibly behind a couch in the showroom at Britt Motorsports in Wilmington, N.C.

Not For Sale at Any PriceIf it can be said that two large buildings, one each on either side of a main thoroughfare, are “tucked away,” then tucked away on the outskirts of Wilmington, N.C., are the shops of Britt Motorsports. To the right, the smaller of the two buildings houses the metric cruiser and metric custom side of the company, while the shop to the left displays myriad offerings from most of the Japanese manufacturers, including as my first sight on entry the Rossi R1 replica.

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Also on display are a pair of old Yamaha two-strokes in passable street-ready condition, though one is clearly more passable than the other. As explorations continue, my eye notices an old Yamaha shipping crate, nestled in behind a couch and topped with an impressive collection of trophies. My examination reveals the banding has never been cut off; this crate still protects its original cargo, never yet revealed to light of day or human eye. Ah-hah … this requires detailed investigation!