1974 Kawasaki 400 S3 Mach II

Highlights:

・Like-new condition 
・Low mileage              
・Import from dry climate                           
・Matching numbers with manufacturer confirmation

The Background:

2-stroke, 3 cylinders, 5 gears, 42 bhp, 400cc, 70s styling, 339 lbs, 100 mph top speed. The figures for the Kawasaki 400 Mach II make for some admirable reading, translate that to the riding experience and the Kawasaki continues to impress. At the time of Launch, the 400 Mach II was praised by testers and critics alike for its agility and handling. Whilst not having loads of power, the little Japanese 2 stroke had plenty of oomph in the first few gears to get you into trouble. Add this to a lean dry weight of 339lbs/154kg, and the Mach II keeps on delivering the lift through the gears. 
Being one of the tamer models of Kawasaki’s 3 pot oil-burners shouldn’t take away from the fact this bike is an incredibly fun, usable, appreciating classic that’s capable of delivering plenty of smiles per mile. 
Kawasaki, capitalising on the success of their 3-cylinder H1 Mach III, which broke the American market in 1969 with its impressive power, introduced a ‘trio of triples’. One of these was the bike the 400cc S3 Mach II you see in this advert was developed from, the 350cc S2 Mach II. The model of bike you see here, is reported to be the best of the bunch from this era, with enough power to get yourself into trouble, whilst delivering it in a way that you don’t have to test the limits to get fantastic feedback from the bike. The engine was rubber mounted to a new, strengthened frame at the time of production, winning it lots of praise from journalists, critics and riders alike. 
The only criticism found at the time of release was down to the natural characteristics of 2 stroke engines, delivering power in sharp bursts as opposed to broad peaks. The inclusion of the ‘smooth-shifting’ 5 speed gearbox goes a long way to combat this however, resulting in a bike that shone against competitors in the sub-500cc class.

BACKGROUND.jpeg 1.88 MB

The History:

The current owner purchased this bike a year ago from a classic bike dealer in Bournemouth called ‘Conquest’ in this immaculate condition. Previously an import from California, it enjoyed a warm climate before coming to the UK. It was running a bit off however, but through perseverance and investigative work, the fault was found to be the wrong jets in the carburettor. This was lovingly and professionally rectified, and the bike now reportedly runs like a dream. The current owner is very reluctantly selling due to moving house, and should it not reach reserve, they are more than willing to keep it.

HISTORY.jpeg 794.29 KB

The paperwork: 

Paperwork for the bike is not extensive, however it comes with receipts for recent servicing relating to the carb work, some MOT certificates and the V5. Most importantly and crucially, it comes with the letter from Kawasaki showing the bikes authenticity and confirming the matching engine and frame numbers.

PAPERR.jpeg 1002.32 KB

The Exterior:

The exterior of the bike is arguably the most appealing aspect. Believed to be all original and without a mark on the entirety of the bike, this surely must be one of the best examples of a 400 S3 Mach II in the country. It also comes with the original key which the owner tells me, usually break due to their brittleness, along with a spark plug case which came with the bike from new and is a rare addition to find in such original condition. To top off the special original additions, the factory owner’s manual is present, hidden in a little compartment under the seat. 
The frame’s pristine condition held up during inspection with no marks or chips found in the paint or on the frame anywhere. The front fender/mudguard is a new part and is in fantastic condition, however in the interest of originality, the factory one is present and will be included in the sale. Another new part fitted in the interest of safety was the front brake disc, however the original again is present and will be included. 
All the brightwork around the bike – the headlight surround, indicators, rear grab handle, springs, front forks and handlebars appear to be in excellent condition with the seat as well showing very little signs of wear if any at all.
The paint on the tank and side pods is again in time warp condition, reported to be completely original with multiple layers of paint put down as was standard back in the day. The red colour has a deep shine and attractive metallic fleck that really stands out in the sun. 
The only slight blemish on this time capsule of a bike is the exhaust, which is just starting to show signs of the chrome flaking, shown in the gallery below. Enquiries by the owner into getting them re-chromed however suggest this is an easy fix, the originality of the bike being the only thing stopping the owner from going ahead with this.

EXTERIOR.jpeg 1.72 MB

The Mechanics: 

With only 2311 miles from new on the clock, the bike has barely been run in. The owner reports that all the mechanicals and running gear of the bike are as sweet now as they were when it rolled off the factory floor, due to the correct carburettor jets being fitted. All electrics were reported to be working, and the tyres are in great condition with lots of tread and life left in them. The owner recalls fondly that the bike never fails to turn heads during the sparing times it is used, due to its 2-stroke raucousness and fantastic condition. 

The Appeal:

An absolute time capsule bike if ever you’ve seen one, one with an interesting story being a Japanese bike that wowed critics in the 70s, breaking into the American market with huge success before making its way to UK soil. Being a bike nearing its 50th birthday, to look and ride this good is testament to the legendary reliability of Japanese built products and the care the bike has received over its years. 
This bike turns heads and generates smiles wherever it goes, it’s a hugely different experience to the power bulging superbikes of today but one that rewards its rider just as much. For those warm summer evening trips round the local B roads or heading off to the pub the long way round, this has to be an absolute favourite, and one that will continue to please for many more years to come. 


Notice to bidders

Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.

As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.

See our Terms & Conditions here.

Please see our FAQs here and our Terms & Conditions here

Vehicle specification
  • Year 1974
  • Make Kawasaki
  • Model 400 S3 Mach II
  • Colour Red
  • Odometer 2,311 Miles
  • Engine size 400
Auction Details
  • Seller Type Private
  • Location Cambridgeshire
  • Country United Kingdom
Bidding history
23 bids
  • ph•••• £8,400 21/07/21
  • so•••• £8,300 21/07/21
  • ph•••• £8,200 21/07/21
  • ph•••• £8,100 21/07/21
  • so•••• £8,000 21/07/21
  • gr•••• £7,900 21/07/21
  • na•••• £7,800 21/07/21
  • gr•••• £7,700 21/07/21
  • na•••• £7,000 20/07/21
  • gr•••• £6,700 20/07/21
Message C&C Auction Team

The gallery

The safest way to buy a classic car online

Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller. More about buying with us
Safe, secure payment process

About Max Bids

The max bid process allows you to bid without any hassle.

Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.

Anti-sniping

Car & Classic prevent auction snipers from bidding in the last seconds to win an auction.

Auctions are extended by 3 minutes if anyone bids within the last 2 minutes to allow other bidders to react and counter-bid.

Auto-bidding increments

  • If your maximum bid is equal to or below the reserve price, your maximum bid will be applied in full if you are the highest bidder.
  • If you are the highest bidder and place a maximum bid above the reserve, we will automatically put in the reserve as your first bid.
    • Once the reserve has been met, Car & Classic will make sure you are the highest bidder using only the bidding increments stated below.
    • We will keep you in the lead up until your maximum bid OR the increment closest to your maximum bid, providing your maximum bid is enough to cover the increment value.

Bid Amount Increment
£0 to £9,999 £100.00
£10,000 to £49,999 £250.00
£50,000 to £99,999 £500.00
£100,000 + £1,000.00

Automatically outbid immediately

When you place a max bid and are outbid immediately that means that another bidder has placed a max bid limit which is higher than yours.

You can bid again and we will use our automatic bid system to try and get you as the highest bidder.

Matching max bids

When there are two max bids of the same value, the one placed first remains the lead bidder.

Pre-authorisation

We may hold a pre-authorisation charge on your card until the end of the auction when the hold will be cancelled. If you win, we'll take a security deposit which counts towards the payment for the vehicle and isn't any extra cost to you.

What are pre-bids?

A pre-bid means you're able to place a bid before the official start of the auction.
You will be notified whether or not you are the highest bidder when the auction starts.

Problem with your bid

Bids are contractually binding. To help protect you, we have some rules in place if we think it's been mistyped. Please check and amend what you have entered.