Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - 1996 Waterford Precision 1200 - "753" 57cm - white with red logo

I have a 1996 frame - #G96066 - I assume this a 1996 model produced in July of 1996.

It has cable stop adjusters at the top of the down tube, bottle braze on and cable stops for external rear brake wire.

It has numerous nicks and some paint failure at chain stay etc....

Is it worth anything - I got it used in 2000 and wore out an old 8spd group that was on it......?

I guess I would sell it with existing BB and headset - h-bars/stem seat post etc .. all else is shot.

What should I ask?

Good, clear photos are needed. Condition is everything.

I'd guess it would go for $300 - $400 assuming the nicks and paint failures are cosmetic (no dents, nothing bent).

I paid a little over $500 for a 1994 Waterford Paramount (753 OS) frameset with a new Waterford paint job I bought on eBay about four years ago. It was advertised as NOS, but I got a provenance report from Waterford indicating it was repainted at the factory in 2003 and "a slight bend in the seat cluster" was straightened. Still, I think I got a good deal.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/1994%20Paramount%20540ALWA94012/540ALWA94012med.jpg

Note on Stan's bike above. Price out a repaint by Waterford, and it will run quite a bit, plus shipping both ways. Just checked, Waterford currently charges $750 for a repaint, plus shipping. So Stan got a nice deal on his.

If you try to sell locally, or on ebay with limited/no reputation, then I think the pricing above is high.

Well - I can see some people will pay to restore Paramount frames - but this frame says "waterford" - with an oval logo......

Anyway - is "ebay" the thing - maybe put it out there with a "buy now" or reserve for $200??? I think I can testify that the frame has no structural damage - but it ain't too pretty......... I'll get around to pics

Well - I can see some people will pay to restore Paramount frames - but this frame says "waterford" - with an oval logo......

Anyway - is "ebay" the thing - maybe put it out there with a "buy now" or reserve for $200??? I think I can testify that the frame has no structural damage - but it ain't too pretty......... I'll get around to pics

I think I'd start the bidding at $200 and have a "Buy It Now" price of $350 (plus shipping, of course). Knowledgeable buyers will know the Waterford 1200 is basically a post-bankruptcy Paramount, or you can include a short paragraph explaining that.

Include detailed photos, especially close-ups of the worst nicks and paint failure.

EDIT - On another forum, a member paid $300 for a similar vintage 1200 frameset with beat up paint, and powder coated it for $150. He is thrilled with the way it turned out (it looks great).

I think the suggestion about Waterford paint is jsut that - a new paint job by Waterford will increase the value. You can go somewhere else but they won't have the Waterford decals. You can buy them yourself though and give them to the paint shop.

If the paint is really bad, I think $250 is a good price. If the bike was 853, then it's worth a lot more.

+1 My point about the Waterford repaint was not a suggestion, it was just to explain that the price Stan paid for a freshly restored by Waterford frameset was a lot less than what Waterford charges just for a repaint. And I am not sure you could get that two tone paint with fade from Waterford for the $750 price. A good deal for sure.

Forget about a reserve on an ebay auction, it just irritates bidders. Instead, start it at the $200 and let it go. Be sure to not get greedy on shipping. Bike framesets, if packed right, can be shipped at a reasonable cost.

If you don't want the hassle of shipping, that only leaves a local sale. In my experience, selling frames locally = selling for way under market. This is great as a buyer, lousy as a seller.

Myself, personally, I would put it on ebay, with a starting price of $200, charge $30 or less for shipping in the continental USA, and go.

200 bin is way low. It would go quick. I paid 300 for a 1250 from the same period, in great condition, and thought it was a steal. Try 400 on the BIN. Start bids at 200. If it doesn't move go down a bit until it does.