Classic & Vintage - My new winter project!! 1965 Schwinn varsity

Just got my new winter project, its going to be a lot of work cause its really weathered but I'm
very excited about it. Its a 1965 Schwinn Varsity, sprint derailleurs, and the funny part is it has
original braze on down tube shifters. like all the other Varsity's its weight is extremely light and
is somewhere around that of a small bus but it should be fun. I probably paid a little to much at $40.00
but I thought it had a certain coolness to it and its completely original so I bought it. Anyway let me know what you guys think.
By the way I will be repainting it due to the poor condition of the paint so suggestions are appreciated
Also I may need help determining if its definately a 1965 so any imput there will help as well (LA20853)

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/dadof2/schwinn%20varsity/schwinnvarsity001.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/dadof2/schwinn%20varsity/schwinnvarsity002.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/dadof2/schwinn%20varsity/schwinnvarsity003.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/dadof2/schwinn%20varsity/schwinnvarsity004.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/dadof2/schwinn%20varsity/schwinnvarsity005.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h267/dadof2/schwinn%20varsity/schwinnvarsity006.jpg

I think it's cool, most of the Varsities that I see are the later ones with the big stem mounted shifters, and I never see that color.

The originality and the attitude of that bike, as shown in your first pic, really are substantial. Good choice for a project.

From Bob Hufford's site:


L A = November 1965

Bob or Scooper can veritfy for sure.

Cool bike.

Terry

Too bad the paint is in such rough shape, that really is a nice colour. Love the pie plate on that :D .

East Hill

Love the pie plate on that :D .

East Hill

Let's send all of our pie plates and dork disks to East Hill!

Beautiful. 1966 was the last year for downtube shifters on Schwinn road bikes, with the exception of Paramounts, until the imported Schwinn Approved models started to appear during the 2nd half of the '70s.

I believe your color is Sky Blue, which can be bought from here (scroll down and look on the left side of the page): http://www.hyper-formance.com/paints.htm

Thank for sharing and best of luck on your project.

I cant get over how heavy this damn thing is its pretty funny. I was talking to the original owner and he told me when he was a kid they used to run it through the woods over curbs down stairs and anywhere else it would take him. Its been sitting since 1981 and has been garaged since then but originally it sat outside for years when he was a kid (hence the paint). Tommorow morning Im going to start stripping it down. Mechanically it seems very sound the rear hub has a bad wobble in it but aside from that I think everything on it is suitable for restoration

pastorbobnlnh, Thanks for the link, I want to go back to the original color so that link is going to help alot. Have you ever dealt with them?

overpaid? ....nah, not at 40$!

Clean 'er up good and you'll be good to go

Can I get opinions on (100% stock V/S Upgraded) upgrades would include a better wheelset, the BB conversion to lighten er up w/ possibly an old 600 or old sugino crankset (I have both laying around) a new set of bars with aero levers.
The other option obviously is 100% restore keeping as original as possible.
Not planning on putting a lot of $$$ into it but definately a lot of time and effort so what do you guys think.

Shimano 105 and Mavic Cosmos wheels....

Too bad the paint is in such rough shape, that really is a nice colour. Love the pie plate on that :D .

East HillThe paint doesn't look too far gone to me. Some cleaning and a little rubbing compound will bring it around. I've recently cleaned up a similarly patinated 63 Continental.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc248/keikaku_2007/MVC-880F.jpg

I need to figure out why the front wheel is askew

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc248/keikaku_2007/MVC-883F.jpg

cupcake protector

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc248/keikaku_2007/MVC-886F.jpg

Let's send all of our pie plates and dork disks to East Hill!

Better than hubcaps on the fence!

East Hill

Better than hubcaps on the fence!

East Hill

Most hubcaps have salvage value as metal, and most of us are dumpster divers at heart.

I dare you to even give us a PO box.

You work for the PO, right? I'm a retired UPS driver, the last thing I wanted is more packages in December.

I have a box ready for you!

King of Kadence
your continental cleaned up very nicely, how far gone was the paint pre cleaning. This varsity has a lot of little chips and some mild cracking you can really see it in the pics of the Down Tube shiftres, theres also some descent flaking on the rear triangle

Most hubcaps have salvage value as metal, and most of us are dumpster divers at heart.

I dare you to even give us a PO box.

You work for the PO, right? I'm a retired UPS driver, the last thing I wanted is more packages in December.

I have a box ready for you!

P. O. Box 5755
Kent, WA 98064

hehehe

You know, a long time ago I started a thread on how to identify your bike through pie plate/dork disk identification. Unfortunately, the thread died an unnatural death when we had the Great Server Crash of uh...well, in one of those server crashes. The thread was well on it's way to becoming an excellent source of incalculable value :p . Sigh...

East Hill

pastorbobnlnh, Thanks for the link, I want to go back to the original color so that link is going to help alot. Have you ever dealt with them?

You'll do fine with Hyper-formance. Schwinn has approved them to produce repop items, mostly for the muscle bike crowd.

King of Kadence, love your Coppertone '63 Continental. I have a '62 in Radiant Blue with the chrome fork and that same "cupcake protector." :) Mine has been Campagnoloed, so it is far from original.

The Schwinn Varsity and the Continental were the two most popular bikes in the early '60's when we were youngsters. Strong and well built they took quite a beating from all of my friends who rode them. Made to last as your Schwinn proves. Good luck on your winter project.

King of Kadence
your continental cleaned up very nicely, how far gone was the paint pre cleaning. This varsity has a lot of little chips and some mild cracking you can really see it in the pics of the Down Tube shiftres, theres also some descent flaking on the rear triangle

Sometimes "little chips" add to the character. Try cleaning and polishing the bike first. I used Meguiars 3 step system after using their "Scratch X" first. Here's a '62 Continental with lots of little chips after the treatment! :)
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Continental/Campagnoloed%20Continental/ContiHeadbadgeView.jpg

That looks great. Ill start with a rogourus cleaning and polish and see how it looks then Ill post pics and get opinions. I wish I could save the schwinn decal on the seat tube but it appears to be really eathered. Is the decal on your continental the original

*rigourous*

I love old Schwinns! Pie plates and all! ;)

My seattube decal is rather "yellowed" but still intact. This gives you a better view (including the Campagnolo parts).
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Continental/Campagnoloed%20Continental/CampyDrive1.jpg

I'm not saying "don't paint it." Just try a really good cleaning and polish before deciding. Painting and new decals will cost somewhere in the $300-$500 neighborhood.

My Conti was in better shape than yours to start, but it was still pretty scrubby.

For me, my personal taste likes a little rougher looking original Schwinn rather than a newer looking restoration or respray.

I would strip all the parts off of it, give it a good bath & degreasing, then rub it down with rubbing compound. Not too much though, just enough to get the tarnish off. The compound works on the decals too, just work slowly and carefully.

Pastor, I'm familiar with your campied Schwinns. I actually de-campied my Sports Tourer I think I'm actually using a suburban derailer on it(it works better than the campy gran turismo)

cupcake protector

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc248/keikaku_2007/MVC-886F.jpg

The above is what a spoke protector should be. It will keep you chain out of the spokes in case of an overshift. Anything larger is an ugly dork disc. I love chrome but I make an exception for dork discs!

My Conti was in better shape than yours to start, but it was still pretty scrubby.

For me, my personal taste likes a little rougher looking original Schwinn rather than a newer looking restoration or respray.

I would strip all the parts off of it, give it a good bath & degreasing, then rub it down with rubbing compound. Not too much though, just enough to get the tarnish off. The compound works on the decals too, just work slowly and carefully.

Pastor, I'm familiar with your campied Schwinns. I actually de-campied my Sports Tourer I think I'm actually using a suburban derailer on it(it works better than the campy gran turismo)

Vintage Suntour works better than either.

Beautiful. 1966 was the last year for downtube shifters on Schwinn road bikes, with the exception of Paramounts, until the imported Schwinn Approved models started to appear during the 2nd half of the '70s.

I believe your color is Sky Blue, which can be bought from here (scroll down and look on the left side of the page): http://www.hyper-formance.com/paints.htm

Thank for sharing and best of luck on your project.

http://www.alphabluetech.com/kjhanlon/offsites/LeTour02a.JPG

Isn't this more the Sky Blue (leTour) that Schwinn made? I am pretty sure this bike is a 73' as I just picked it up a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.alphabluetech.com/kjhanlon/offsites/LeTour02a.JPG

Isn't this more the Sky Blue (leTour) that Schwinn made? I am pretty sure this bike is a 73' as I just picked it up a couple of weeks ago.

That's what schwinn called opaque blue

Let's send all of our pie plates and dork disks to East Hill!

He ain't gittin' MY pie plates! I love 'em! :)

If you decide to refinish and don't want to spend that kind of money on paint go the powdercoat route. I did my Continental that way and it was 130.00 to do the frame and fork. On my latest build I got and estimate of under 100.00 and thats going to be a metallic orange so its a 2 step layer powdercoat instead of one. I was going for a light mist green but couldn't find one that suited me unless I do a spray can or get a regular paint job so powdercoat makes sense to me cause I'm cheap and would rather spend more money on the running gear and other stuff like a nice mavic wheel set. http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb150/stringbreaker53/100_1097.jpg

Stringbreaker how was decaling? Aren't there extra steps with powdercoating?

Your conti came out great btw.

Stringbreaker that Conti is sweeeeet....

I might have to drag my '75 back out and re-hab it.

He ain't gittin' MY pie plates! I love 'em! :)

Careful, East Hill is a woman who can out pedal most of us men! :D

I got the decals from memory lane classics. They didn't list them on their website but they have lots of stuff they don't list. They are water transfer just like the original item. Thanks for the compliment but I put a LOT more money into this thing than it will ever be worth because I started with the idea that I'll never sell it, however I would have dumped at least another three hundred in it if I had done a paint job instead powder coat. If you do powdercoat make sure to sand any dings out of the paint and frame cause powder coat like will paint will not fill them in so any chips make sure to feather them out. I missed a few and they do show up

Careful, East Hill is a woman who can out pedal most of us men! :D

I don't know about outpedalling anybody, but I know I was disappointed when my pie plate thread disappeared...there were some nice examples in there, too :( !

This calls for some serious study!

:D

East Hill

upgrades would include aero levers.

If you decide to replace the brake levers, I am interested in buying the ones that are on the bike now for one of my Schwinns of the same vintage.

Powder coating kind of makes a DIY rebuild impossible. Doesn't it? Unless you have a kiln big enough. Maybe I have no idea how the powder coating works, but my friend used to PC automotive parts.

Powdercoating is really reasonable compared to paint. I don't think its possible to get the choices you have in a good paint job as far as colors and finish types but for a resto on a bit of a budget it worked for me. I think if I had a really high end frame like a Paramount or some of the really pricey Italian jobs I would pony up for a nice paint job but for me right now with my lower end stuff its let it alone as is or do the powdercoat.

SB, your Volare is not "lower end." It is "high end" and more rare than any '70s Paramount.

If you decide to replace the brake levers, I am interested in buying the ones that are on the bike now for one of my Schwinns of the same vintage.

Ill let you know Im still in the decision making process at the moment

Honda,

Was this bike on the Maryland craigslist?

PB: I stand corrected thanks. I guess I don't realize sometimes how rare this bird actually is. Thanks. I may even ship it off to a certain respected paint genius on this board

I don't know about outpedalling anybody, but I know I was disappointed when my pie plate thread disappeared...there were some nice examples in there, too :( !
East Hill

My latest avatar is a homage to those good times, EH.

Neal

I would second Pastor Bob's comment. I feel very lucky to have my 1977 Volare with original paint, decals and Dura-ace headset. One of these days I'll restore it to period correct, but for now I love riding it period:

http://www.schwinnbike.com/heritage/attachment.php?attachmentid=47523

Bars are wrapped now.

Can I get opinions on (100% stock V/S Upgraded) upgrades would include a better wheelset, the BB conversion to lighten er up w/ possibly an old 600 or old sugino crankset (I have both laying around) a new set of bars with aero levers.
The other option obviously is 100% restore keeping as original as possible.
Not planning on putting a lot of $$$ into it but definately a lot of time and effort so what do you guys think.

Truth is, it's still going to be heavy as an anchor. It'd be more interesting (to me anyway) to try and keep it as original as possible.

My '62 Columbia has one of those "cupcake" protectors, of course if the dérailleur is out of tune, they're basically worthless, as the chain will just try to climb onto the protector. I think mine is actually aluminum, and not chrome. Columbia used Simplex dérailleurs, and Schwinn used Huret.

My latest avatar is a homage to those good times, EH.

Neal

I noticed that :love: !

East Hill

Beakgeek: Can you post some more pictures of your Volare or better yet send me some in a PM. I have found a powdercoater that can do a very close (I think) rendition of the Pearlescent orange and I would love to see some good pictures of the decals so I can try to get them reproduced. I'll PM my e-mail address to you

Honda,

Was this bike on the Maryland craigslist?

U got it! I found it on the Maryland eastern shore Clist. The guy actually ended up being my wifes family dentist like 15 years ago. He was a great guy and even delivered the bike to me. Then he offered to knock $10 off the price when he found out I was going to completely restore the bike, he said he was glad it was going to a good home. I haven't had alot of time too work on it yet so its like a big tease sitting in my garage but tonight Im starting on it for sure

I was looking on ebay for a few things for my bike and came across this http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1964-SCHWINN-VARSITY-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-10-SPEED_W0QQitemZ300182768064QQihZ020QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

if anyone else is looking for a cheap varsity there you go

I was looking on ebay for a few things for my bike and came across this http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1964-SCHWINN-VARSITY-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-10-SPEED_W0QQitemZ300182768064QQihZ020QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

if anyone else is looking for a cheap varsity there you go

Thanks. I'll watch it on ebay. I work in the area. Gotta love direct pick ups.