Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Help with a Flandria and Schwinn Le Tour III

Hi there.
I picked up these two bikes at a yard sale at my brother's urging. He's a competitive cyclist in Florida and when I sent cell phone pics of these two, he told me to pick them up for the asking price ($20 each). I'm new to cycling however and I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I'm hoping the forum readers can help me identify what I've got here and what they might be worth. The orange bike is a Schwinn Le Tour III and the black on is a Flandria, but that's about all I know.

I've taken a few pictures, but I don't know if they're the "right" pictures and a few that I took wouldn't attach, so please let me know if you'd like to see something I haven't captured. Previous owners had been riding them regularly.
Thanks for your time,
September

1. Take pictures from the drive side (the side the chain is on). That's where many of the key parts are located. Also good to have pictures of any decals that mention frame material (you have one on the Schwinn). Schwinn catalogs all on line, and the build date on that bike is stamped into the headbadge. For example, 0497 would be the 49th day of 1977 (or 1987).

The Schwinn has a dent in the down tube unfortunately. It is also missing shift levers and perhaps some additional parts as well. Well worth the $20 price of course.

There is something really interesting going on with this brake...

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=144796&d=1270411464



You Le Tour III is probably a 1978 bike in Pearl Orange. Here are the specifications:

http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1971_1980/1978_14.jpg

Cannot tell much about the Flandria without a whole bike drive side picture and a picture of the tubing decal, other than it was a Belgian manufacturing company that made some pretty good quality bikes as well as entry level bikes in the 70s. Need more pictures to tell more about this particular bike. It seems that it has steel rims and at some point someone changed the wheels from the original 27 to 700c (thus that brake thing)

All in all, I think that you got a great deal.

Here are the additional pictures as requested.
Anyone know about how much these might be worth? Or what I should pay to get them fixed up? I'm a newbie.
Thanks again!

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You're going to need shifters for the Schwinn, and at least a front brake for the Flandria. That drop bolt on the rear brake is sort of sketchy too. Is that a fixed gear or does it have a freewheel? I wouldn't have sold that to someone the way that it is. Especially a newbie.

You Le Tour III is probably a 1978 bike in Pearl Orange.
I agree. Looks like my wife's which is the same year. Headbadge will confirm.


Here are the additional pictures as requested.
Anyone know about how much these might be worth? Or what I should pay to get them fixed up? I'm a newbie.
Thanks again!
I don't know about the other bike but wouldn't think the Schwinn would be worth paying for the work that needs to be done. The parts for the Schwinn can be had fairly cheaply and the rehab work isn't that difficult.

The Schwinn also needs a front derailer.

Both are low end/bottom end projects, and both are missing some parts. Paying someone to fix up a low end project is cost prohibitive, it will cost more than the bike is worth when it is done. I would sell both of them in as is condition. Around here, you could get $50 each, maybe a little more, as fixed gear/single speed projects. The orange color on the Schwinn is nice, too bad it has the downtube dent.

Now if you have the tools/time/aptitude and interest, then fixing the Schwinn could make sense. You will need a donor bike or similar to supply the missing parts. The cottered crank on the Flandia is a negative, and rear brake does not fit the bike, AND IS NOT SAFE IMHO. It has too many negatives to make fixing it up a smart idea financially.

Your Flandria looks like an ealry 70s F11 model (entry level) that has been fixified. The PO got a short reach brake instead of a medium-long reach brake, that's why he had to do what he did (which is awful). I would suggest that you get a proper brake for it if you are going to ride it (or get 2 brakes :) ). Real snap on cable stops would also look better. Both bikes need work, but it is in the $50 range for each of them.

Thanks everyone for your help.
Pulling these out after winter storage has reminded me of just how big these frames are...a little too big to be comfortable for me, unfortunately. I guess my next question for the forum is how to sell them:
1. is craigslist the best place?
2. what particulars should i post in the ad? what things do you look for/want to see when buying a bike?

Thanks again,
September

2. what particulars should i post in the ad?
"Fixie ready!"

Yes, Craigs List is your best bet. Use a photo hosting site so you can put full sized pictures in your ad, instead of those crappy small pictures that Craigs List uses. The shipping cost alone will exceed the bikes' values, so ebay is out IMHO.

I think that Flandria would bring some good money on ebay. Its a very cool bike. I'd take the parts off except for headset, bottom bracket and cranks.

List it on ebay with lots of detail pictures. I would think the frame alone will bring close to $100 and maybe more. I was looking on ebay, at a Flandria very similiar to yours, last year. It sold for $80. Flandria's arent seen to much in the States. Yours is a good example in decent shape.

This is a good example of a bike that appeals to certain collectors. I find a lot that is interesting about that Flandria. The cranks are a plus in my book. Bike has nice decals and pinstripes. Its a winner and one that I and others that like that sort of bike would spend money on. Others may find it low end and not worth much, but I find it highly desirable.

The handlebar stem is interesting as well. Its an older style you dont see often.