Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Zeus 10-Speed -- Fixer-upper?? -- Worth $40??

Not sure where to put this...

I found an old Zeus 10-speed, rusty, looks like it could be be sanded down and repainted, besides that, it seems to be in proper working order. Good tires, wheels, brakes, and shifts as it should...

Would it be worth it at $40??

How hard is it to strip the bike down to the frame? Can you sandblast the frame or would you have to sand it by hand?

If it turns out the frame is toast... would the good parts be worth $40?

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/nrophoto/c513e4bb.jpg

I have an old Zeus Criterium from the '70s and it is a pretty nicely made frame. The sticker for the tubing type was located just above the shifters on the downtube - the top frames are usually Reynolds 531. Sandblasting (or some other abrasive material) would probably be easier than sanding. One thing to note: Zeus bikes used French threaded components.

Buy. Worth it for parts. Fork looks funky, but pics are notoriously inaccurate when it comes to forks.

Yes it's worth it $40 if it was listed on CL's in my area I would probably buy it. This bike has a lot of potential if it has all of the original Zeus parts in working condition it could realisticaly be parted out for a couple of hundred. Or rehabed into a very nice C&V potentialy worth 10x the asking price maybe more depending on model and components.

Pictures aren't the best and are taken from the worng side but I can see enough to tell that it's worth $40 for the parts alone. The frame is questionable. If it's rusted that much on the outside it's probably just as bad inside and there is the potential for a catostrophic failure. I wouldn't waste my time and money on it, unless you're in desparate need of a piece of wall art. +1 regarding the French threading.

As said in the value thread this bike is worth $40 even if the frame is trash. If not bent the the stem and crank are worth more than the asking price for the bike.

well, I screwed up that merge :)

I would definitely think any Zeus would be worth $40

Its not a fixer upper, its a donor bike. If you can use the parts, or are interested in selling them, then its worth it.

$40 for a Zeus (in almost any shape)? And you have a complete bike? How do you say "no brainer?" Of course it is worth 40 bucks...

Buy the bike and then put the brakes on. Think carefully about painting the bicycle. Original art and paint is much sought after when vintage road bicycles are the concern.

Take some time to ask for advice on the Bike Forum, as you have already started to do, and take some more time to ask yourself the question - Should I Paint My Bicycle? (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Site%20Contents/How_To_Do_It/PAINT_OR_NOT/PAINT_OR_NOT_1_Start.htm) You might be surprised at the answer.

The bike is yours, of course, and you can do with it as you please, but I do recommend caution. If painting is your only choice, you might want to take a look at How I Paint Bicycles (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/FREE_SITE_1/FREE_SITE_17_Painting_A_Bicycle.htm).

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/French_Bicycles/Peugeot_Bicycles/PeugeotPX10/PX10_1963_Mine/PX10_Done/PX10_Done_Full_TQF_Left_5.jpg

Hope that is a help and a Zeus, for what it is worth, is a highly collectable bicycle. I have owned a couple (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/FREE_SITE_1/FREE_SITE_BICYCLES_SPAIN.htm) but never a high end model.

Also, when offering pictures, it is best to display the drive side of the bicycle...

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/Spanish_Bicycles/Zeus_Bicycles/Zeus_Alpha_Roy/ZeusAlfaFullRight.jpg

and, if possible, take close up shots of frame and component detail, although you do not have to remove the components to do so...

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/Spanish_Bicycles/Zeus_AlphaFF_52/ZeusFF_52_ComponentCollage.jpg

Somehow I missed this thread. I am the one who bought this bike I was the first one to email the seller. It took three weeks to have them contact me. The bike frame is not rusted inside and is in good mechanical condition. There is no saving the paint. This would be a very big project to take on for a first time restoration. All the parts are original and it is a 531 frame. I will repaint the frame using auto lacquer add decals and clear coat. Polishing all the parts will take quite a bit of work.
Ed

Congrats Eddy... I could never get a response. :)

Thanks nrowensby
The seller a new bike co-opp didn't check there email. I had given up and they relisted it so I emailed them again and finally got a response. They were very nice people but I think they have a lot going on in there lives right now. I don't normally buy a bike rusted like this but a Zeus is so hard to find that I would take it in any condition for the parts. The bike is complete except for the wheels. The rust looks much worse than it is. I rebuilt this Italvega it had no paint and every inch of it was rusty. It was a quick job and I sold it. Now I wish I had it.
E