Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Mint (Literally) Vintage CCM Elan 3 Speed for $30 - Did I do good?

This is my first 3 spd. Literally. I never drove such a bike before in my life, until tonight when testing it from the buyer. I was so scrunched up it felt like my knees were going to hit my chin on every stroke, but I bought it anyway, because it oozes character and did I mention it was $30 bucks? Of course I'm very curious to know what it might be worth if I resold it. If this is from the late 50's, as the seller "thinks" (can't confirm), then I am amazed at the condition. Not a scratch on the bike, or any sign of rust, even on the springs under the seat. (For comparison, the rusted bucket of bolts behind it is maybe 10 years old, and I created all that rust in about 2). The Elan and other stickers, despite being really cheaply applied, are wholly intact. The chain is rust free, the bike was professionally maintained every year. The seat squeaks when you ride, that's about it. It's also lighter than I would have figured.

How do CCM Elan's compare to Raleigh (ie. Supreme), in terms of quality and collectability? Do they have any value; would this old women's bike at all be attractive to bike theives? I know the hubs are AW Sturmey-Archer, made in England, and to my untrained eyes, other parts appear to be very similar to the Raleighs I have studied recently on the net.

Now about the date of the bike....: I thought I could date it myself, but Sheldon Brown's photo is not like my AW hub. There is no number under the model name (AW), there are only a design of lines there (which go around the hub). The only number I can see is on the side where the model and manufacturer names are. This number says "4 9", but the two numbers are spaced widely apart (fitting the area where there are no lines). I can't believe this could be from 1949, so.... can someone tell from looking at it approx what year it might be? Or confirm how to date an AW SA hub? Thanks!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3727897611/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3727897613


http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3727897611/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3727897613

This is my first 3 spd. Literally. I never drove such a bike before in my life, until tonight when testing it from the buyer. I was so scrunched up it felt like my knees were going to hit my chin on every stroke, but I bought it anyway, because it oozes character and did I mention it was $30 bucks? Of course I'm very curious to know what it might be worth if I resold it. If this is from the late 50's, as the seller "thinks" (can't confirm), then I am amazed at the condition. Not a scratch on the bike, or any sign of rust, even on the springs under the seat. (For comparison, the rusted bucket of bolts behind it in the pic below is maybe 10 years old, and I created all that rust in about 2). The Elan and other stickers, despite being really cheaply applied, are wholly intact. The chain is rust free, the bike was professionally maintained every year. The seat squeaks when you ride, that's about it. It's also lighter than I would have figured. I thought the gears didn't work at first, but you have to pedal backward a bit before you change them, and they work just fine then. For all I know, all 3 spds are like that.

How do CCM Elan's compare to Raleigh (ie. Supreme), in terms of quality and collectability? Do they have any value; would this old women's bike at all be attractive to bike theives? I know the hubs are AW Sturmey-Archer, made in England, and to my untrained eyes, other parts appear to be very similar to the Raleighs I have studied recently on the net.

Now about the date of the bike....: I thought I could date it myself, but Sheldon Brown's photo is not like my AW hub. There is no number under the model name (AW), there are only a design of lines there (which go around the hub). The only number I can see is on the side where the model and manufacturer names are. This number says "4 9", but the two numbers are spaced widely apart (fitting the area where there are no lines - see pic below). I can't believe this could be from 1949, so.... can someone tell from looking at the bike approx what year it might be? Or confirm how to date an AW SA hub? Thanks!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3727897611/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3727897613

Close-up of date on Sturmey-Archer (AW) hub:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3729022064/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3727897611
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3727897611/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3727897613

The date code should be on the hub shell with a single digit for month and a two digit number for the year.

Sometimes they are not stamped really well and if this is the case you are probably looking at a newer bike as SA quality dropped off in the 70's... earlier models have deep crisp imprints.

The straight tubes also indicate more recent 70's production... older CCM's were very curvacious and 50's ladies frames look far different than this.

The date code should be on the hub shell with a single digit for month and a two digit number for the year.

Sometimes they are not stamped really well and if this is the case you are probably looking at a newer bike as SA quality dropped off in the 70's... earlier models have deep crisp imprints.

The straight tubes also indicate more recent 70's production... older CCM's were very curvacious and 50's ladies frames look far different than this.

I posted a macro closeup pic of the hub, so you can see the two digit number says "4 9", and maybe how deeply it is stamped. But that can't be right, can it, because a bike of that year is unlikely to be in this condition, and it seems the saddle would be a leather Brooks, not (what appears to be) a vinyl mattress type saddle. Older Ladies CCM's I've seen from the 50's did have a very curved top bar, but aren't the 70's Ladies Elans of the "mixte" style? (two thin sloping top bars), and perhaps more likely to sport a derailleur? "64" may be a better guess, but that would mean the 4 in "49" is upside down!

Looks like the date code is 6 (June) 71...

Looks like the date code is 6 (June) 71...

Thanks, I could see where you get the "6" but could you explain where you get "71" from? The other number is a 4. I thought the two digits referred directly to a year, and not a code for a year.

The date code extends across the hub shell... from our picture go straight up from the 6 and I see what looks to be a 7 and a 1... that would probably make it a 1972

Is this your bike ?

http://www.retrovintage.ca/_userfiles/images/items/bicycles/CCM%20Elan/IMG_4469_324x288.jpg
1972 CCM Elan

Silly me, I missed a number..... I see now by the light of day that it says "74" (not just "4", the 7 is more lightly stamped). The number opposite is "6", printed upside down relative to the "74". So I presume this is the month. If its a 1974 model, all I can say is CCM were making -very- good bikes in 1974; with English hubs, and the tires are "Dunlop Good Seal" (rims Made in Canada). But the 72 Elan you pictured, though close, is not my bike. If you look at my first picture, my top tube is not a "mixte" style, it is of similar diameter to the bottom tube.

Only thing is I see now the front tire won't hold air, so I'm wondering if it requires a special kind of inner tube...

When you said it was literally mint, I was hoping for a bike that would freshen my breath on my morning commute.

Or at least a green bike.

When you said it was literally mint, I was hoping for a bike that would freshen my breath on my morning commute.

Or at least a green bike.

Check my photo (or even that of 65er). It IS a green bike. Literally -mint green- (the green of a mint leaf), and literally in mint condition (not even rust on the seat springs). For your breath? Just chew some mint while riding.

I may have to resell it, because it appears it's not the ideal bike for who I bought it for, and I don't think I can spare the room for it to keep and ride it myself... So if anyone can tell me what I might be able to fetch for it on the open market....

$100.00 - $200.00 is my wag on this... it will depend on your local market and who is buying.

If it has been tuned and serviced you could ask for the higher amount.

$100.00 - $200.00 is my wag on this... it will depend on your local market and who is buying.

If it has been tuned and serviced you could ask for the higher amount.

Thanks, I was hoping it wouldn't be unreal to ask $200, because the bike has been kept serviced professionally every year, and is in totally top shape, save for air in the front tire (which I will fix). After all, $200 is the price of a cheap Walmart bike that will never last a fraction as long as this has! However, I'm seriously thinking of keeping the front basket, because it will come in handy if the next bike doesn't come with one.