Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Raleigh Sports 1951

Hi all

I've just bought my first vintage bike and am in the process of restoring it. I'm finding loads of websites who have supplies of 'new old stock' and other reproduction parts, but it got me to thinking about where you draw the line with keeping the bike 'original' . I'll be getting the frame, forks and chaincase resprayed, and as such will be searching for new parts which are in the same 'as new' condition so that they don't look out of place, but to do this I'll have to use some Japanese reproduction parts (they look exactly the same, but clearly are not original Raleigh components). Is this sort of thing frowned upon?! I'm not looking to sell it on claiming it to be totally original or anything like that, its purely for my own enjoyment, but I do feel quite bad that a number of the original parts won't be used because of their cosmetic condition. Or should I just stop worrying and enjoy myself?! :)

If it's just for you to ride or you don't care about destroying its market value (if any, depending on condition) or historic value (always when you repaint), why should it matter? Who cares if others are frowning if you are smiling?

Personally, I'd think five times about respraying and re-equipping a 1951 raleigh sports unless it was truly shot to crap. It's only original once. If you are hesitating, take good quality photos and post them in the main forum and get folks' opinion on whether it really needs repaint and replacement parts.

You can do a lot to remove rust and polish an old paint job, getting a bike that still looks its age, still looks sharp, and retains its historic and market value. If you're not familiar with these methods, learn about them before you do something irreversible.

How bad off are the frameset and components? Personally, I'd rather clean them as much as possible and have it all original. A re-spray is a negative, in my opinion.

Englishgent: Yes, send some photos. I spent two years cleaning and restoring what looked to be a gonner of a 54' full chaincase Raleigh Sports with dynohub and rod brakes. I took my time and enjoyed the process. It is now absolutely gorgeous! The original paint is better than anything you could paint today. Really. It is thick and rich and polishes out so nicely. Of course it has it's compliment of scratches and tiny bits of rust... but when you finally clean all of the caked on grime and really start to polish it up... the vintage look of it is extraordinary. All of the chrome looked to be permanently rusted. I brought it all back with patience and elbow grease. If you do decide to get it painted, have it done right or don't do it. You can't just wave a can of Krylon across it and expect a miracle. But even if you do have it professionally sprayed (and pay for it dearly) all you will be left with is a newish looking old bike that you could have gotten the effect of with a 70's model Raleigh. Heck, I will GIVE you a Raleigh Superbe frame if that is what you want.:saweeet::saweeet::saweeet::saweeet::saweeet::saweeet::saweeet::saweeet::saweeet:

Try a little cleaning and see if you like it. Once you paint it black, you can never go back.

Here is my bike, still awaiting better tires and a few tweeks. Note the New old stock black 54' headlamp mounted to the front fork. It came with the original dynohub and rear light in the original box. You will never see another in NOS condition.:love:

You know, the more I think of it... An inexpensive 60's or 70's Raleigh frame is nearly identical to the 50's. So why don't you get one of those as well, which you can repaint and make into your "clean" machine. Then you can slowly restore the old one. I bet you start a fondness for the old one in original condition as you work on the newer one. Then you have the best of both worlds. Because there is no possible way once you start, that you won't eventually own 20 bicycles! See below for proof.

I agree with the owning more, Yeah I started with my Superbe, then a sports, then very old supercycles and a few others, now I have many and it grows everyday, it hurts to let them go! also i'd love to see a picture of it, i've got a 1970's Sport I restored, it's got rear dynohub. I love my Sports so much, it might go to the grave with me.