Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - 1950's Peugeot Racer ID?

Ive had this bike for probably 30 years now. Curious as to what it is...please help.

http://www.oldbug.com/peugeot.htm

that'sa early one, perhaps a PX-10 if that's what they called them back then...MiamiJim will know, he's the Peugeot expert. In any case you've got some old and collectible parts on it for sure: that Simplex RD and the Stronglight crank for example. My guess (not expert) is they are of the same vintage as the frame and you should keep it together and carefully clean it all up. This may have "Japanese collector" potential, not sure if you want to go in that direction...interesting details: the stamped-plate vertical dropouts and 27" wheels (replacements for tubulars?). Couple more notes: Looking at the pics in the CR pages, your decals look to be consistent with the "1950s" touring model, and the paint scheme, too, but that one has a lever-type Simplex FD. The "1960s" PX-10 shown there has more similar features to yours, but different logo (later) obviously different color (metallic green) and later Stronglight crank and derailleurs, plus forged Simplex dropouts. Leads me to believe yours could be late '50s...but again, I'm just guessing.

Yeah, Miamijim should weight in on this bike. I'm only guessing too, but I believe you have a very valuable bike there.

EDIT: I sent him a PM.

PLX10 methinks... predecessor to the PX10.

The Simplex rear derailer is a late 50's model... a JUY 59 perhaps ?

Early 60's bikes would have been fitted with the Simplex model 61 which is a parallelogram derailer as opposed to the old push rod design.

The use of Reynold's tubing puts the bike into the late 50's as earlier PLX 10 models used Vitus tubes... thinking the change to Reynolds happened in 1957 or 1958.

They only came in this colour.

Jim will tell me if I am way off base here ... :lol:

I seem to have forgotten to say... that bike is gorgeous !

Yeah, great bike - I think pre-Px-10 like Sixty-Fiver, but not an expert. But I keep an eye out for the blue-yellow ones from that vintage with the desirable Simplex bits, and would snap one up in a heartbeat.

I'll look into it later...for know its a late 50's early 60's model.

PLX10 methinks... predecessor to the PX10.

The Simplex rear derailer is a late 50's model... a JUY 59 perhaps ?

Early 60's bikes would have been fitted with the Simplex model 61 which is a parallelogram derailer as opposed to the old push rod design.

The use of Reynold's tubing puts the bike into the late 50's as earlier PLX 10 models used Vitus tubes... thinking the change to Reynolds happened in 1957 or 1958.

They only came in this colour.

Jim will tell me if I am way off base here ... :lol:


Tubing:
From what I can tell Reynolds tubes were first used in '58 or '59. I have a December '58 catalog showing Reynolds as the tubing. Based on tubing I'd say its Post '57.

Derailleurs:
December '58 catalog doesnt say but they resemble the OP's bike. '61-'62 parts manual (October '62 print date) lists Juy 61 rear and LJ 23 front. '63-'64 parts manual (October '64 print date) lists Prestige derailleurs front and rear. Based on deraillers I'd say its its pre-'63.

Crankset:
December '58 catalog lists 50X46 gearing. '61-'62 catalog lists gearing as 52X45 and 'square fitting'. '63-'63 parts catlog lists gearing as '51X'45 with 'square fitting. Based on the crankset I'd say pre-'61.

Decals:
Correspond with December '58 catalog and '61-'62 parts catalog. '63-'64 parts catalog shows checkerboard seat tube decals. Based on decals I'd say Pre-'63

My best guesstimate is '58-'60. No clue as to the overall value.

Jim

A close up pic of that derailer will really help with nailing down the year as will a tooth count on the chain rings.

More pics, especially closeups of all the components and decals would be great. :thumb:

So...probably a PLX10 from 58 or 59? That sounds about what I was thinking age wise.

What details should I look for?

Im curious as to the definition of "very valueable". I really have no intention to sell it...Ive had it many many years...but if it is a LOT of money perhaps I would give it deep thought.

I bought the bike at a Police auction in the late 70's or early 80's...I think I paid $20 for it. I remember it has a really cool aluminum Ale water bottle with a cork stopper...(for the life of me I cant remember what I did with that...may have sold that at a yard sale or something). The handlebars were turned up and it had a hideous book rack on the back and I think a goofy seat. It cleaned up real nice, I had one wheel re-laced with stainless spokes, the other is original steel spokes in kinda rusty shape. I put new brake handle rubbers on it way back then...I remember the originals were white...I could only find tan, and new tires, toe-clips, etc...rode the heck out of it, did some local races and organized rides...would get all decked out in my jersey and pretend I was the guy from "Breaking Away"...all my buddies (the "cutters") thought I was nuts. :)

It needs some detailing, but it's aged well (better than I have). Ive had it in my shed for quite some time...Im looking forward to tuning it up and polishing it a bit and go for a ride.

Really want to learn all I can about it though...you guys have been awesome so far...much thanks!:thumb:

Ive been giving it some serious thought...I love the bike but if I havent ridden it more than around the block in the past 10+ years...Im probably not going to start now no matter how much I dream of it. Ive pitched it up on fleabay just to see what happens. I may regret the choice later...who knows, but up it went. I will post a link on the classy-fied forum. Again guys, thanks so much for the help.

E-bay is not always a fgood indicator of value but rather, what people are willing to spend.

I saw a nearly identical bike to that sell for 600.00 U.S. some years ago and that is because pre- bike boom Peugeots are rarer on this side of the pond and when bike models get to be 50 years old the number of surviving examples becomes greatly diminished.

I have a 1957 PLX8 in beautiful condition... I have never seen another one posted anywhere or seen one offered for sale.

These bikes can be the holy grail for some collectors.

Ive been giving it some serious thought...I love the bike but if I havent ridden it more than around the block in the past 10+ years...Im probably not going to start now no matter how much I dream of it. Ive pitched it up on fleabay just to see what happens. I may regret the choice later...who knows, but up it went. I will post a link on the classy-fied forum. Again guys, thanks so much for the help.

So does that mean you're serious about selling it or what?

Yes, I am serious about selling it. I have it posted on ebay currently.
Value vs what someone will pay is a common argument I suppose.
Its really only worth what someone will pay...anything else is just an ego boost.

I dont know if it will meet the reserve price, I had no clue where to set it as I have never seen another for sale so I just picked a number out of thin air. A $600 sale "some years ago" is something to go on I suppose, but how many years ago, and what condition it was in would be big factors. I had posted hoping to find out the value and nobody really had much insight, so after some soul searching and realistic thoughts of how much I probably wouldnt ride it once I tuned it back up brought me to the decision to sell. Also Ive got a trip to England coming up and if I sell it I will have some more money to fund that voyage.

So...its up there and Im watching the bids and answering the questions. If it's a "Holy Grail" bike for someone, than it should really be theirs so they can fully appreciate it. It's sadly collecting dust here and that's not cool in the world of collecting...it's a rare bike to be sure, never seen another exactly like it, but it's real monetary value is unknown at the moment...it's only worth what someone will pay.

We shall see...

Yes, I am serious about selling it. I have it posted on ebay currently.


It's just that you've sounded kind of ambivalent. Still, 66 ebay watchers has to be encouraging.

I dont know if it will meet the reserve price, I had no clue where to set it as I have never seen another for sale so I just picked a number out of thin air. A $600 sale "some years ago" is something to go on I suppose, but how many years ago, and what condition it was in would be big factors.

The other big factor would be size, as larger bikes like yours are usually a bit less likely to attract bidders from Japan.

Congratulations! Your $20 investment is turning out quite well. Three hours to go and your PLX is at $1500. An excellent specimen of a vintage Peugeot and you're being rewarded for your years of care. Now aren't you glad you didn't turn it into a fixie? :D

Anyone post the link to the auction?

Anyone post the link to the auction?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-1958-9-Peugeot-PLX-10-Race-Road-Bike-all-original_W0QQitemZ140342335159QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20ad0e16b7&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14