Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Centurion Ironman Turbo 57cm frame

Whaddya all think this is worth?

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/hpsworkshop/Centcollage.jpg

Some paint scratches and scuffs. Small dent on the toptube at the middle cable guide. Beautiful fork with perfect chrome.

Bump for a better link

Need a better pic of the dent. That can decrease value a lot.

We need member Robbie Tunes, AKA, Mr. Centurion to look at this one. Tange 1, nice. Hope that dent isn't serious. That's a hot lookin frame. I wish it was smaller.

Need a better pic of the dent. That can decrease value a lot.


Here's one:

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/hpsworkshop/Centtoptube.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/hpsworkshop/TTcloseup.jpg

We need member Robbie Tunes, AKA, Mr. Centurion to look at this one. Tange 1, nice. Hope that dent isn't serious. That's a hot lookin frame. I wish it was smaller.

With a cable inserted, there isn't a dent. As it is, the guide itself is in the center of it and it dips ever so slightly to the right.

If the fork is Centurion, it's from a Turbo, and it's 100% chrome plated. It's odd that it has no threads, though. Perhaps Drew got at it, tried to convert it to threadless for his stem and flat bars.

The frame is either a 1985 Ironman, which makes it a rare bird, or a 1986. My 1986 of that color had a much lighter grey head tube, darker than the rest, but not near as dark as that. The simple graphics and flat silver/grey paint tend to make me guess 1985. The 1986 had metallic silver and a "shadowed" IRONMAN.

Value? As I see it in the pics, $100-$125. I don't see it bringing $150 without a solution on that headset and bottom bracket. I've bought two Ironman frame sets, both in great shape, with forks, and paid $120 for each, $30 shipping. I've paid more for a Prestige, and would again.

Then again, I've given away two Ironman framesets, too, and I just sold an Ironman bike, with some new parts, for $100 less than eBay's current.
I'm no flipper, and other Centurion owners have given me good deals, it's only right to keep it up.

I still think $100-$125. I don't know your market, but if I had it, the rest of the parts would run an easy $150 or more, and face it, Ironman or not, it's a $300-$350 bike tops.

Hi Robbie,

The fork is threaded, just didn't delineate well in the photo. I thank you for your valuation but I'm thinking that it has to be worth at least $150. The fork is worth at least $75. The frame has got to be worth $75 as well. $175 is right around where my head finds a balance point.

Well, if the fork is threaded, then it's a Turbo fork, and that seems to be the "solution" I alluded to earlier. That definitely brings the price up some.

Without a headset and BB, I'd not go $175, or even $150. I'd probably offer you $75 for the fork, though..:D Splitting them up may bring more money, for sure.

I'd go $175-$200 on a Turbo or Prestige frame, but an Ironman frame set, here in eastern NC, is $150 max, unless it's a black '89 Expert.
roccobike can probably vouch for that. For example, I just paid $100 for a 1989 Ironman Master, complete, on CL a month ago, and I'm looking at another one tomorrow, a black '89 Expert, smallish, per the owner, around $250. I'll either buy it or show him the recent eBay ads and suggest he can get more that way. I don't buy to flip, I buy to fix and get local people into the sport.

The other variables make the difference here:
Size of the frame and size of the buyer. If frame = buyer, you can always add $$.
Market-what else is out there? and is it a higher/lower market than eastern NC.

I think you're on the right track there, and of course, now I'm thinking of stripping my Turbo's fork.

I hope you get more. Recent Ironman sales on eBay are up about 40% in price.
PM me if you sell it, I'd be curious, as the market seems to be climbing, and this would support that.

I'm looking over the other thread and it seems like 85 Ironmans are just about done distilling. Seems like this would make a $350-$425 dollar full build. Maybe I should buy a donor Ironman and build this out?

roccobike can probably vouch for that. For example, I just paid $100 for a 1989 Ironman Master, complete, on CL a month ago, and I'm looking at another one tomorrow, a black '89 Expert, smallish, per the owner, around $250. I'll either buy it or show him the recent eBay ads and suggest he can get more that way. I don't buy to flip, I buy to fix and get local people into the sport.


+1, As I recall, I paid $160 for this original Ironman, but it came with a nice MagTurbo trainer that I estimate was worth at least $35, probably more. So I would say I paid $125 for the Ironman about a year ago. With the increase in prices for vintage bikes I would guess this would flip for about $200. Maybe $250 max and if I was patient, and if it's in the spring...

I'm looking over the other thread and it seems like 85 Ironmans are just about done distilling. Seems like this would make a $350-$425 dollar full build. Maybe I should buy a donor Ironman and build this out?
I think you're right on the money.

A donor Ironman with a crappy frame would likely still have good components.
I've bought two, both at $100, and the components were a lot better than the frame, so they seem to age better.
With that pretty fork and the rare frame, it would be one great Ironman build, classic Centurion and one of a kind.

I envy your chance to take a crack at it. I can already see a black Cinelli stem, 66-42 bars,.. :D

Let me know if you decide to do it, I may have a few spare Ironman parts lying around...:)

Growing the cult, one Centurion at a time....

LBS just sent me a note, wants me to bring whatever I can spare to the shop, said demand is hot, and if I want to sell something, bring it in. Now's a good time, market up, spring time, etc.

That's a really pretty one. I wish I could find one in that price-range that was as clean and around 55cm.


+1, As I recall, I paid $160 for this original Ironman, but it came with a nice MagTurbo trainer that I estimate was worth at least $35, probably more. So I would say I paid $125 for the Ironman about a year ago. With the increase in prices for vintage bikes I would guess this would flip for about $200. Maybe $250 max and if I was patient, and if it's in the spring...