Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Fair price for a specialissima?

I just listed this on Craigslist in hopes of getting a decent offer. I listed it in Albany and Boston as I'll be spending some time there this week for my kid's Dr's appointments at the children's hospital. The co-pays and travel expenses for our sick child have been taking a serious toll on our budget so I'm trying to get as much as possible out of this bike but I also know I have to be reasonable if I'm going to sell it at all. Can anyone tell me if I'm over shooting or if this is a fair asking price.
http://albany.craigslist.org/bik/2778631627.html

Rust is a value killer, otherwise, nice bike! Not sure how big of a hit it will take. I would be tempted to have someone repaint the top tube.

The word "rust" needs to be banned from your ad. Either all of the rust has been treated and removed (so there is no rust), or there still is rust there. If there still is any rust left, then go back to step one, treat it, remove it and it is gone. A potential buyer sees the word rust and tunes out, and moves on to the next ad.

+1 Cover looks like it is hiding something. Needs to be removed and offered with the bike, as a "protective top tube cover".

Nice bike, really good ad, price seems reasonable, but that top tube looks pretty tacky IMO. If it were my bike I'd probably mask off the tube around the lugs and paint it an "accent color" like Schwinn used to do: http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1981_1990/1987_04.html

Will it sell? Only time will tell. Touring bikes enjoy a premium but the price might be a little high for this time of year.

Place the original saddle on the bike, ebay the Ideale.

I would expose the top tube, you mention it in the advert. but it looms large.
I would state:
Its fixed.
Not perfect cosmetically
I made a protective cover.
You get the cover with the bike.
Wrong time of year to sell, but the saddle will sell well on ebay.
There are lots of overpriced Ideale saddles on offer right now, it has lifted all Ideale boats a bit, not to the silly level, but things are relative.
That way you will get some cash soon, and have a bit less pressure to sell the bike NOW. My guess is it will get more interest at $280. but not right away.

Vintage Bicycle Value (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/FREE_SITE_VALUE/VALUE_1_Start.htm) depends on many things and some of them have nothing to do with the bicycle itself. Frame size, condition, location of sale, time of year all contribute to a final value.

That little bit said, your bike will sell for more in a large city, as opposed to a smaller one. Your bike will fetch a better price with the approach of riding season, assuming that Winter is know to impact the length of the riding season in your location. And size...

Bigger is not better, unless you need bigger. Bigger vintage road bicycles sell for less, and considerably less, all other things being equal.

Hope this is a help.

Place the original saddle on the bike, ebay the Ideale.

Wrong time of year to sell, but the saddle will sell well on ebay. My guess is it will get more interest at $280. but not right away.

^.. That is a large frame. I sold one of those the first week of October, so 3 months ago in SoCal. A 50cm, complete tear down, all new consumables and in VGC for $360 and it took more than 2 weeks. The buyer wasn't that interested that it was a touring bike. He wanted a small vintage steel bike.

It's a great rider but it is winter even here in SoCal so it could take a while to sell it in that size. IMHO it could benefit from some cleaning like the NDS crank arm has some ??? on it, etc. Good luck with your sale.

I bought a 23" Specialissima in Boston a couple of years ago while I was working there. It was slightly earlier than yours and had the Grand Compe calipers. The bike was all original and in immaculate condition with no rust, almost perfect paint, all components(fenders), clean and grease-free. All new rubber, tape, cables, Panaracer Pasela TGs, etc. The owner had done a really beautiful job of restoring an already very nice bike to showroom condition. He had it listed for $450 in several different sites including CL. It had sat for quite a while (weeks at least, maybe more) before I saw it. I offered $375 and got it that day.

http://www.bostonbicycles.com/univega-specialissima-vintage-touring-bike-bradford-495/

If you want to see it, it's still online- not sure how to do a proper link but that's it.

hope that helps, good luck. Joe