Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Info on this ebay auction

Hi,
I'm looking at this ebay auction for a Union Sapporo: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320375446051

I understand that it is a Dutch bike and a similar bike on velospace is listed as having 531 tubing. Can anyone give me some perspective on the company, the model/year, the quality of the bike, and lastly, what a fair price is for something like this (because as you can see, the shipping is pretty steep)?

Thanks in advance,
Paul

Also, does anyone know if the components (threading, BB, etc.) are standard or will it be hard to find replacement parts for the bike?

Assoming 531, if it was listed locally, no shipping, for that I'd snap it up. Can't tell you anyting about the tubing or thread specs, though. Too bad about the high shipping.

It certainly is a nice bike but I'm going to question if those are Dura Ace hubs. The reference hubs on Velobase have a much nicer cone/locknut configuration. I may be wrong but Dura Ace hubs should have lock nuts with flats for a cone wrench.

$510 'Buy Now' w/ shipping ok but only becasue of its overall superbe condition.

http://velobase.com/CompImages/Hubs/3CF78503-96D4-4862-AF14-C4DB8FBDEA42.jpeg

$510 'Buy Now' w/ shipping ok but only becasue of its overall superbe condition.



So around $500 is sort of my upper limit anyway. This bike will be my first real road bike, though I've owned low-level roadish bikes in the past. Can anyone think of vintage steel road bike models that consistently come in around this price with something like 531, sl, slx, etc. and a mid-level group? So far late 80s treks (560, 660) and the Schwinn Paramounts also from the late 80s fit the bill as a good mix of value and quality (especially the last few Waterford Schwinns that have sold on ebay). Any others? What else should I be considering in my quest for a new bike?

-P