Classic & Vintage - ned help bike id

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lunatic
11-26-04, 07:08 PM
I have a 20" schwinn bike frame that has a 1957 serial # and I can't find any other info about this frame can anyone help me? Junior

TheOtherGuy
11-26-04, 07:26 PM
Doubt it's a '57... Looks like some variant of the 5 speed Stingray or Fastback. Where is the serial, and what's the #? I'm no Schwinn expert, but have had more than my share of Stingrays way back when they were $5-$10 bikes used (around '76...).
lunatic
11-26-04, 08:12 PM
the serial # is R87385 and it had the smaller schwinn crank and was a green color frame when my friend found it ,it had been sitting around for awhile also the # was located on the left side were the back wheel mounts on the frame

TheOtherGuy
11-26-04, 09:21 PM
That serial # is confusing to me... The frame sure looks like either a Manta-Ray or a Fastback 5 speed frame. I'd bet money on that... Thing is though, those bikes weren't around 'till mid or late '60s. That brake bridge on the frame you have is intended for a caliper rear brake, which indicates a 5 speed frame, not a coaster brake model. I seriously doubt they made a 5 speed model in '58. The first Stingrays weren't 'till about '63-'64. Are you sure you're reading the # correctly, or that no one has altered that #? It was REALLY common for those to be stolen & parts switched around in the '70s...
mswantak
11-27-04, 12:38 AM
Fastbacks had a straight downtube, so that can't be it.
TheOtherGuy
11-27-04, 10:20 AM
Fastbacks had a straight downtube, so that can't be it.

Yup; you're right... I wonder what other Stingray variants had the shortie seat stays that stop at the seat tube like that one... I'm sure some Stingray expert will ID it.
lunatic
11-27-04, 10:27 AM
it don't look like the frame or # has been altered and it doesn't have a welded on kickstand also the holes for the nameplate are not like stingray they are like a 50's( the crank has the marking"SA 9 69")the other frame that was found with it was a 20" schwinn with a skip tooth sprocket and had 2 single bars on top.I guess its a mystery for now.thanks for any help now and in the future Junior
TheOtherGuy
11-27-04, 10:56 AM
I wonder then if your dating from '58 may be correct... Something tells me that Ashtabula crank is a '69 though. Maybe the frame's a "pre-Stingray"- the Stingray's daddy! Whatever you do, please don't make a "lowrider" bike out of it... That should be a good one to restore as original.
lunatic
11-27-04, 11:13 AM
even though I am a lowrider originally I hate lowrider bikes :) I put a springer on the front and used a 61 schwinn girls bike for a donor I usally do chop and rake my bikes but decided to try and make it as original as possible,thanks for the input
Junior