Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - whats my bike worth?? 1968 bianchi??

i have a 1968 (i think) bianchi milano 'sport' bike and am looking for the value of it. the serial number is located on the back of the seat post bracket and is 315930. the paint is perfect but there are some scratches on the forks. this bike was bought by an older man and never ridden much. its been stored all this time. its all origanal right down to the tires and tubes which still hold air. a very smooth and quite ride. if someone knows the value of this bike, please e-mail me at zeyen77@aol.com i have many pictures for anyone to see.

i also have two june, 1968 green schwinn ten speeds in the same condition as the bianchi. one is a varsity girls bike and the other is a continental, mens bike. both have been stored for many many years and all three are in perfect working condition. these serial numbers are fd28161, fd25447. someone out there has to know the TRUE value of these bikes. these pictures are very large so if you copy them and blow them up you can see close up details. this is my first time on this site and im not to sure my way around here, so if you can, please use my e-mail to contact me. thanks for looking.

Value on these vintage bikes will vary from one city to another, or region to another.

Frame size is also a factor.

Being completely original is often very important to buyers if your price is on the higher side. The Continental's handle bars have been swapped, they are not original as this model would have been a SPORT version with drop bars.

In rural Midwest the Schwinn Varsity would likely attract attention if priced for about $40, depending on rust on the chrome and nicks of the paint and amount. The Continental as picture may receive interest if priced anywhere between $30 - $60.

I do not know about the bianchi milano name plates, but will suspect it will be attractive if priced the same.

Again, if the right buyer could be matched with the bike (s), price could be higher.

They all look very nice and in good condition. It would unfortunate, but many woman bikes are stripped for parts on other restoration projects.

I would be careful and try to locate a seller that wants a bike for reasons other than vintage value, but to ride and enjoy, that would make every one happy.

Pics/links aren't showing up.

I recommend you use Photobucket.com to post online links to your photos.
This way you can link them to multiple sites for your inquiry.

merged 2 threads from OP and responses from bab2000.

I have not seen bikes stored for many, many, years and yet be in perfect mechanical condition, unless they were recently serviced. Cables, bearings, tires, tubes, bar tape, brake pads, etc., all deteriorate in storage. Depending on the humidity of the storage, you can also get rust.

Continental and Varsity are the bottom two models that Schwinn offered. Not a lot of value, $100 to $125 in perfect, rust free, and ready to ride condition. The Continental does look like a clean bike. Original old tires might hold air, but if they are truly the original tires, they will be dry rotted.

+1 Continental came with drop bars.

Continental and Varsity are the bottom two models that Schwinn offered.
+1 regarding service being required, the grease becomes solid and looses effectiveness as it ages.

Actually of the 5 speed and 10 speed models the Collegiate was the most introductory model, then the Varsity, and the Continental. These bikes are electro-forged built bikes of Schwinn's own rolled steel. These are heavier than other road bikes, but basically bomb proof. One reason there are some many of these two models available for restorers today. The other reason is because Schwinn sold so many of these models in the 60s and 70s.

If these bikes have just came from storage, even in +7 condition, the bearings all require service, and likely new tubes and tires plus new brake pads my price for rural Midwest stands. If serviced and made ride ready (no doubts) then much more could be realized, along the the suggested price wrk101 indicated.

The trick remains to find the correct buyer, someone wanting to recapture a bit of their youth, or own a bike the other kids had, or some one who truly appreciates the beauty of the these well designed and built steel bikes of American craftsmanship.

+1 regarding service being required, the grease becomes solid and looses effectiveness as it ages.

Actually of the 5 speed and 10 speed models the Collegiate was the most introductory model, then the Varsity, and the Continental. These bikes are electro-forged built bikes of Schwinn's own rolled steel. These are heavier than other road bikes, but basically bomb proof. One reason there are some many of these two models available for restorers today. The other reason is because Schwinn sold so many of these models in the 60s and 70s.

If these bikes have just came from storage, even in +7 condition, the bearings all require service, and likely new tubes and tires plus new brake pads my price for rural Midwest stands. If serviced and made ride ready (no doubts) then much more could be realized, along the the suggested price wrk101 indicated.

The trick remains to find the correct buyer, someone wanting to recapture a bit of their youth, or own a bike the other kids had, or some one who truly appreciates the beauty of the these well designed and built steel bikes of American craftsmanship.

+1 in found condition (sitting idle for years) rural price is on target.

My higher price really requires a special buyer, as they really are heavy bikes with bottom end components. While they are built like a tank, they weigh like one too. Someone looking for a bike to ride will be much happier with low end bikes (good brands) from the 80s.