Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Is this bicycle worth anything?

My wife got this Gitane bicycle in the early-to-mid-1980s, rode it a few miles, and then never touched it again. It has been hanging in her parents' garage for more than 25 years, until I finally took it down today. It looks like it would be ready to go after new tubes and tires and a tune-up. Any idea what it might be worth?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/AcornMan/IMG_6966.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/AcornMan/IMG_6967.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/AcornMan/IMG_6968.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/AcornMan/IMG_6969.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/AcornMan/IMG_6970.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/AcornMan/IMG_6971.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/AcornMan/IMG_6972.jpg

My wife got this Gitane bicycle in the early-to-mid-1980s, rode it a few miles, and then never touched it again. It has been hanging in her parents' garage for more than 25 years, until I finally took it down today. It looks like it would be ready to go after new tubes and tires and a tune-up. Any idea what it might be worth?


Ask a mod to move this thread to the Classic & Vintage Appraisal sub-forum for better response.

I'll do that for you.

Ok, now that we're here.

The bike is not real collectible but is a nice bike. For someone looking for a mixte frame your bike could be a nice choice. I doubt you could get $100 and some will say alot less but if someone is looking for a clean mixte frame bike, you never know.

Try looking in Craigslist or EBay for similar bikes. Here is one selling for $135: http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/bik/1367985559.html
No idea if the price is realistic (i.e., if it actually sold). Also, used bike prices in Portland are higher than most other parts of the country.

Those early-1980s French bikes use different threading that is not compatible with modern Asian or Italian component groups. High-end French bikes are collectors items, but not so much for the cheaper bikes.

Still looks a great "ride-around-town" bike, nice & clean.

I would pay about $100 for something like that. Nice bike.

I'd pay $100 if it was here.

I'd only pay $100 myself, but I bet someone in my area would pay up to around $175. Mixtes are getting pretty popular, I am just to cheap to pay full market for one.

I'd bet that this is late enough that it has British threads in the BB and HS (but not stupid enough to bet real $$, it's French, after all!). Since it's practically mint, you might be lucky and not have to open anything up for new grease, but after 25+ years, maybe that grease has turned to cement. I'm sure you could sell it for more if you list it on CL near a College: mixtes are in demand by fashion-conscious girls...at least until they discover Dutch City bikes ;) (the next wave in female bike fashion)

I would peg it at $100-175 --

It does look to be in very nice shape.

Unusually nice mixte. Cromoly tubing, cotterless cranks, prolly alloy rims. Here, 150-200. Kansas? Heck if I know.

Yeah, that is one of the nicer mixtes that I have seen. I got 150.00 for a steel rimmed lesser mixte, so based on that I would say 175 is possible. The big value killer is the fact that it probably needs a tune up.

Still, it's a nice bike and Mixtes are Tres chic at the moment. The Gitane name does not hurt either, plus I dig the decals.