Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Schwinn Paramount Sprint

http://www.djcatnap.com/blogimg/para_sprint1.jpg

this is a 56cm Schwinn Paramount Sprint frame & fork i recently acquired. There's very little information on this model of Paramount online, so I was hoping someone could help shed some light on its value.

I has been re-painted red, although not the best job. Under the red there seems to be a beige / yellow color. Chrome is in great condition with no pitting or rust. There's no dents in the frame and only a few scratches. I can provide a lot more photos but I wanted to wait to see what angles / areas would be most helpful.

BB / headset / shifters are Campy Record, but I'm primarily interested in the value of the frame itself and not those parts.

Those generally have a lot of value, but that one's been messed with and would take a fair investment to set right. In particular, it has a number of added braze-ons (top tube cable guides, shifters, front derailleur) that would need to be removed. That reduces its value considerably.

Those generally have a lot of value, but that one's been messed with and would take a fair investment to set right. In particular, it has a number of added braze-ons (top tube cable guides, shifters, front derailleur) that would need to be removed. That reduces its value considerably.

so these bikes originally used a clamp-on FD and shifters? is the cable-guide braze-on located on the drive-side chainstay also not original?

so these bikes originally used a clamp-on FD and shifters? is the cable-guide braze-on located on the drive-side chainstay also not original?

Yes and Correct. For "value' to the period correct police, all that would have to go. from a practical stance a case can be made for the braze ons as they are. The front derailleur braze on probably would improve shifting, the curved seat tube placed the standard Campagnolo cage at a divergent angle. I would assemble the drive train and review.

So, it depends on what you want to do with it. I would be tempted to ride it as is for a while.

That was called the "short couple" frame style. One other Schwinn had the option. Was only sold for 2 years in the 70's as I recall. Scooper might know more. Chris

Thanks, Chris.

The short coupled, or "Sprint style" frame was a Paramount option in 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978. The other Schwinn model with a similar bent seat tube was the electroforged Sprint. The frame style was developed for hill climbing. The P10-9 would have had top tube "cable stop" braze-ons for the rear brake cable as shown below, while the P13-9 would have used Campagnolo bolt-on steel top tube cable clamps for the rear brake cable.

If you check the serial number on the left (non-drive-side) rear dropout, the first character is a letter representing the month followed by two digits representing the year. A= January, M=December (I is skipped because of possible confusion with 1). For example, M75132 would have been the 132nd Paramount frame scheduled for December, 1975 production.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Schwinn%20Publ%20Pages/1975Sprint-styleP10-9.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Schwinn%20Publ%20Pages/1975Sprint-styleP13-9.jpg

It occurred to me that this 1976 Paramount order form may be helpful, too.

Notice that the P14, P10 and the P13 (and T22 tandem) were the only Paramount models available with the Sprint style frame. Also, note that the Sprint style P13 and P10 were supplied with a Huret front derailleur rather than Campy (note is at lower right on form).

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Schwinn%20Publ%20Pages/1976ParamountOrderForm.jpg

One just cropped up on eBay: SCHWINN PRO RACING PARAMOUNT “short couple” F&F 4sale (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290538452481), opening bid of $499.


Why does this one (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/615307-Short-Wheelbase-Bicycles-(Curved-Seat-Tubes)?p=10275164&viewfull=1#post10275164) have such a large gap?

http://www.jaysmarine.com/MACKcycle_3.jpg

700c wheels instead of 27"?

Bob

700c wheels instead of 27"?

Bob

Makes sense - the under-TT braze-on guides point toward a touring model that would originally have had 27" wheels.

These guys might be able to help http://www.schwinnbikes.com/schwinn-life/forums/

I believe that style frame with the bent seat tube was 1974-1975 only. that is a fantastic looking frame.

I had one with the electroforged frame last summer, I think I sold it too cheap as I've never seen another one.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/FORDSVTPARTS/Bikes/DSC02727.jpg

Why does this one (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/615307-Short-Wheelbase-Bicycles-(Curved-Seat-Tubes)?p=10275164&viewfull=1#post10275164) have such a large gap?

http://www.jaysmarine.com/MACKcycle_3.jpg

A. It's a P10 w/700C tubulars. By comparison, the OP's bike - a P13 - would look far different with the very same set of wheels.

B. Rear wheel is shoved all the way back in the drops. Take my word for it - I took that photo.

It may look original, but I'm pretty sure it has Flying "C" Cinelli bars. Case in point, the chrome Paramount shown in that same photo set looks as if it's from the early 1970's - even though it's a 1960's P13 with a Nuovo group tacked on it.

-Kurt

P.S.: I dare say the OP's frame should bring around $500-600.

I believe that style frame with the bent seat tube was 1974-1975 only.

There's no mention of the Sprint-style Paramount frame in the 1974 catalog, but it is advertised as available in the 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978 catalogs.

There's no mention of the Sprint-style Paramount frame in the 1974 catalog, but it is advertised as available in the 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978 catalogs.

I'd be curious to know if the later Sprint Paramounts had the kicked forward seat tube though, I know the Sprint name continued but the frame style (at least in Electroforged) was only a two year design and I may have been off a year.

Yes, all the Sprint Paramounts had the curved seat tube.

The '70s EF Sprint was in the catalog for '74 and '75, but there are a few '76s out there (some with different colors and decals).

The '80s Sprint was a low-end model with a diamond frame.

Bob

Yes, all the Sprint Paramounts had the curved seat tube.

The '70s EF Sprint was in the catalog for '74 and '75, but there are a few '76s out there (some with different colors and decals).

The '80s Sprint was a low-end model with a diamond frame.

Bob

+1
Good to keep in mind that we're really talking about two completely different animals, produced in different ways, and in different parts of the Schwinn factory (assuming that the Sprint Paramount wasn't in fact made in Wisconsin) by a whole different team of people. The EF Sprint was produced using mass production methods, and had a two-year catalog run, with some spillover into '76. The Sprint Paramount was basically a special order job, produced in very small numbers. Not surprising the two models wouldn't track identically in terms of chronology and duration. The two models have almost nothing in common aside from the curved seat tube.

Thanks, Chris.

If you check the serial number on the left (non-drive-side) rear dropout, the first character is a letter representing the month followed by two digits representing the year. A= January, M=December (I is skipped because of possible confusion with 1). For example, M75132 would have been the 132nd Paramount frame scheduled for December, 1975 production.



serial on mine is E7582... so it was the 82nd frame made in May of 1975?

serial on mine is E7582... so it was the 82nd frame made in May of 1975?

Correct!

so Kurt says he thinks it's worth $500-600. any other opinions? anything I can do to improve the value? i have the original decals and owner's manual, by the way.

also, there's a hole, threaded for a screw, in the bottom of the BB shell. i assume that's for a plastic cable guide? or was there a specific / proprietary guide made by Schwinn for these bikes?