Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Austro Daimler Vent Noir II

Hello, new to these forums, forgive me if I break and rules :)!

I just acquired my fathers 1983 Austro Daimler Vent Noir II. He had been trying to sell it for $100-$250, and I thought it might be worth more than that. Poking around the internet it seems like this bike has a bit of a "classic" status. I'm not actually trying to sell it yet, I may decide to keep it, but I am just trying to get an idea of what its worth. It has all Campagnolo componentry, and the "smokey chrome" finish and is in pretty good condition, I know when he pulled it out of storage he greased up the bottom bracket, and did some other tune up stuff, but I bet some of the components are just down right old.

Anyways, any help would be lovely!

Send to me and you will be worry free.

Seriously those are sweet bikes. Hang onto it.

Lucky you. If the bike fits, do consider keeping it. I have an early 80's smoked chrome Vent Noir II featuring a mish-mash of vintage and modern parts. It's a blast to ride and looks great.

In terms of value, I am aware of a couple of VN II frames with fork/headset (not complete bikes) that sold on E-Bay during the last year or so in the $300-$400 range. The frames ranged from very good to excellent condition.

This should probably be moved to the Value Inquiry subforum, but if I came across a VNII for $100-$250, I would have three in the garage ;). I bought one (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_fwpE_eHSWYM/SZ4Ene1iCtI/AAAAAAAABMc/VXafwZk93X0/s912/DSC00334.JPG) not too long ago that was in excellent original condition, but needed a lot of cleaning for $300. Generally, I'd say $400-$500 is fair for a clean, unblemished, Campy G.S.-equipped VNII (I'm guessing G.S. as that's what VNIIs shipped with, although many dealers, likes the shop I worked at, swopped out the G.S. for Suntour or Shimano 600). Is the headbadge "Puch" or "A-D"? Pictures when you get a chance!

This should probably be moved to the Value Inquiry subforum, but if I came across a VNII for $100-$250, I would have three in the garage ;). I bought one (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_fwpE_eHSWYM/SZ4Ene1iCtI/AAAAAAAABMc/VXafwZk93X0/s912/DSC00334.JPG) not too long ago that was in excellent original condition, but needed a lot of cleaning for $300. Generally, I'd say $400-$500 is fair for a clean, unblemished, Campy G.S.-equipped VNII (I'm guessing G.S. as that's what VNIIs shipped with, although many dealers, likes the shop I worked at, swopped out the G.S. for Suntour or Shimano 600). Is the headbadge "Puch" or "A-D"? Pictures when you get a chance!

You are correct. It will get better response there.

I will be moving it there in 3...2...1

You got some photos? There was a guy tried to sell one on Seattle CL a while back. No sell for $250 locally, I think he sold it on ebay for over $300+shipping. Very nice condition with Campy GS components, I think.

If it's not your size, just box it up and ship it to me here in Nebraska...:D

There's another one that's been on Dallas CL (http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/bik/1084567033.html) for quite some time. Asking price is down to $550. It's nice but nothing extraordinary. I'd love to see it sell for that, but under $500 is more realistic. There was also an original noir Vent Noir in Boston a while back that was listed for $3,500 and I don't think it was a typo as it was relisted a couple times. While I would love to have a nice original VN with complete Dura-Ace Black, I would need a zero dropped from that asking price.

I have what I am guessing is a mid-70s Puch…no model name on the bike, but, as dudeona3v mentions above regarding the Vent Noir, this one is fully Campy GS equipped with a Reynolds 531 frame and fork…maybe this one was supposed to be the “White Wind” model…:)

Looking forward to seeing the picture…always interested in learning more about Puch/AD bikes.

I have what I am guessing is a mid-70s Puch…no model name on the bike, but, as dudeona3v mentions above regarding the Vent Noir, this one is fully Campy GS equipped with a Reynolds 531 frame and fork…maybe this one was supposed to be the “White Wind” model…:)

Looking forward to seeing the picture…always interested in learning more about Puch/AD bikes.

Pretty close... Looks like a Mistral Replica (that's the model name; it's not a "replica" of anything that I'm aware of) from 1980 or so. Identical to the Vent Noir II in geometry and kitting for the most part, although the Mistral Replica had that nice Ideale saddle as opposed to the suede ones on the VN II that only lasted a season. Really cool bike in any case!

Pretty close... Looks like a Mistral Replica (that's the model name; it's not a "replica" of anything that I'm aware of) from 1980 or so. Identical to the Vent Noir II in geometry and kitting for the most part, although the Mistral Replica had that nice Ideale saddle as opposed to the suede ones on the VN II that only lasted a season. Really cool bike in any case!

Thanks for the info! I thought the Mistral Replica was an AD model name....but its a Puch instead? Or are they interchangable? Interesting stuff....!

Thanks for all the great info guys, I will post pictures later tonight.

Thanks for the info! I thought the Mistral Replica was an AD model name....but its a Puch instead? Or are they interchangable? Interesting stuff....!

Some are interchangeable (Ultima, Superleicht, Vent Noir, SLE, SE); others were specific to brand. As far as I know, there weren't any Mistrals under the A-D brand and they were all Puch. There really wasn't an A-D counterpart to the Replica so your description of Vent Blanc would probably be closest to one on these shores.

Vent Blanc...I like it...:thumb: It's ashame it's not finished in white chrome....:)

Send to me and you will be worry free.

Seriously those are sweet bikes. Hang onto it.

its got to work eventually

What would it cost to buy a new lugged frame and forks with clearance for larger tires? And that would be just for a frame, without that special finish. Add wheels and components and your in the thousands for such a versatile and nice riding frame.

Vent Blanc...I like it...:thumb: It's ashame it's not finished in white chrome....:)

That would be awesome! To my knowledge, there's no way to paint over chrome and the smoke chrome itself was highly proprietary, but it would be a great question on the Frame Painters thread to see if Vent Blanc could be assimilated.

Here's some pictures, let me know what you think, any comments appreciated!

http://imgur.com/B013B.jpg
http://imgur.com/B02MV.jpg
http://imgur.com/B03EN.jpg
http://imgur.com/B05PZ.jpg
http://imgur.com/B06HR.jpg
http://imgur.com/B08T3.jpg

That is awesome...aside from the saddle and brake levers...that's my bike in a cooler finish...right down to the cloth handlebar wrap....I would never sell it...keep it and ride it with pride....:)

Agreed. It's in very nice condition. On second thought, maybe you should sell it for $250... To me! Seriously, keep it and love it the way it is (maybe take the sticker off the headtube). Thanks for sharing!

These typically average in the $550 range on Ebay. There is a version of this smoked chrome frame, made for one year only, called the Ultima SL that is worth considerably more.

These typically average in the $550 range on Ebay. There is a version of this smoked chrome frame, made for one year only, called the Ultima SL that is worth considerably more.

The Ultima SL was more accurately a version of the Ultima that used 531 SL tubing as well as hand-filed lugwork that accounts for about 3 lbs. of weight saved, albeit it did share the smoke chrome finish of the VNII (as did the Superleicht that same year). The Ultima was more of a racy geometry with a slightly steeper head angle, shorter top tube and shorter wheelbase. To my knowledge, only about 20 of these were brought to the US (A-D decals, but Puch headbadge and seatstay panto) and only as framesets. I was lucky enough to find a one-owner, low-mileage (although dirty as all-get-out) example a couple years ago. Here it is after some elbow grease:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_fwpE_eHSWYM/SY9F1m8l0UI/AAAAAAAABF8/ThNV0oYMT3E/s912/DSC00286.JPG

$3.50

-Lord Dark Helmetz
http://www.jaysmarine.com/darkhelmet.jpg
"Whatzamatter? CHICKEN?"

The Ultima SL was more accurately a version of the Ultima that used 531 SL tubing as well as hand-filed lugwork that accounts for about 3 lbs. of weight saved, albeit it did share the smoke chrome finish of the VNII (as did the Superleicht that same year). The Ultima was more of a racy geometry with a slightly steeper head angle, shorter top tube and shorter wheelbase. To my knowledge, only about 20 of these were brought to the US (A-D decals, but Puch headbadge and seatstay panto) and only as framesets. I was lucky enough to find a one-owner, low-mileage (although dirty as all-get-out) example a couple years ago. Here it is after some elbow grease:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_fwpE_eHSWYM/SY9F1m8l0UI/AAAAAAAABF8/ThNV0oYMT3E/s912/DSC00286.JPG

I have this same bike I am in the process of restoring, I built this bike myself 15-20 years ago after purchasing the frame. It has Campy Nuevo Record Groupo and a gold anodized crank and Handle bar stem that I bought off a wrecked titanium bike in the early '80s. The wheels are Weineman and the hubs are Hi E.
I bought some pretty cool pedals from Velo Orange just 'cause I liked them and he also had a deerskin handle bar cover that I think shipped on some ADs back then. I also had a new decal set made by Cyclomondo that I have to put on yet.
Any idea what one of these is worth fully restored?
I don't really want to sell it, it rides great, but I just want to justify to myself all I have spent on it.

Yours is a Puch badge, which seems to carry less of a price. If you would sell on ebay, maybe somewhere around $350-400? Probably get more parting it our, IMHO. It is a nice looking bike though, and I respect your decision to personalize it.

this is sexxy and looks to be my size

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