Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Centurion Super Lemans frame

It's a CL ad and the guy has no pics. He wants $60 and I am thinking that's too much. I want to build it for a friend to ride and I have most of the parts on hand to make it happen.
My research tells me the frame material is nothing special. I don't know the year and he doesn't either.

Would it be worth $50 or $40? It's only 1 mile to go and see it later.

Selling my 54cm Centurion Super Lemans race bike frame. Lightweight
Tange steel frame, Champion No.5.
Custom drop down handle bars.

Original silver paint with Centurian emblem.
I can also have some components if interested:suntour derailiur, dia compe brakes, Sugino cranks

The bike is Still aviable if this posting is up & sorry no pics (no camera). If interested please email.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/1135845486.html

Tange 5 is the lowest (worst) level of Tange tubing. Tange goes from #5 (the lowest grade) to level #1 (the best). And Tange frame is decent, so even the lowest is OK.

$50 or $60 is kind of on the high end for a frame particularly one that has gotten Drewed. Anytime you buy a frame, even for a good (low) price, unless you happen to have parts on hand, the economics of finishing the bike quickly mean you will have more into the bike than it is worth. You are usually better off buying a complete bike.

I bought a Centurion Lemans 12 frameset two weeks ago, with a Tange 5 frame, with seat post, bottom bracket, crankset, brakes, handlebars and brake levers, for a lot less than that price (but it was a pretty good deal). And it had not been Drewed. Even at the lower price, the only reason it will make economic sense is that I already have the remaining parts in hand: seat, shift levers, derailleurs, chain, some miscellaneous clamps, and so on.

The "Drew" treatment is when the current owner cuts/grounds off/tears off/whatever all the braze-ons and cable stops, making the frame basically unusable as a multi-speed bike. So I would guess the frame is now a mess.

If I tried to buy this bike, I would look for a package deal, including all of the left over parts he has laying around. I would base my offer on the value of the parts, assuming the frame will be messed up.

But I would not buy a Drew frame myself.

There shouldn't be much Drewing on the frame, since I think it had clamp-on DT shifters or maybe stems. If it's the frame I think it is, it makes a good single speed frame, depending on condition.

I'd go $25 max. I just don't spend, in general, more than $20 on a frame for single speeds that I build.

If a frame's been Drewed, I simply don't buy it.

I checked it out and I am glad it was only 1 mile away.
It was not a 54cm but a 56. No Drewing involved, it used to have clamp on DT shifters and it never had cable guides.
It had some rust but no dents. Bottom bracket that would turn, a little.
And, a seat post that was jammed all the way down and stuck.

<begin rant>
I had forgotten for a moment that even though some people on Craigs list can speak well on the phone and describe a bike or frame as if they have some knowledge of it's condition they actually exist in a parallel cycling universe where the standards for a used bike or component are a LITTLE bit different from mine.
<exit rant>

Hanging out in C & V has spoiled me and I am afraid there's no turning back.

this side yeah