pstock

I'd love a sense of the possible value of this beaut.

While maybe not so well known as a brand, it is most exceptional because it is in almost mint condition. I really don't think it has ever been ridden.

Reynolds 531 with first generation black Dura Ace / Crane

full photo gallery here.

https://picasaweb.google.ca/TOcycles/...ds531Unridden#

Bianchigirll 

that is very beautiful.

4Rings6Stars

I recently sold my 57 cm Austro Daimler Vent Noir II for $500 + shipping (craigslist not ebay). Different machine though, Still full 531, but smoke chrome w/ Campy Gran Sport.

I'm not sure if your bike is more or less desirable, but I would guess more because of the condition and Dura Ace > Gran Sport. I'll throw $500 - $700 out there as a ballpark value for your bike, maybe more though.

pstock

this rear cluster is quite amazing (condition-wise)

5cagm

I think the most value would be attained on ebay, but that's just my personal opinion. That being said, if you do find someone who is a knowledgeable buyer or if this is someone's grail bike ( I dunno, maybe they're Austrian) then it wouldn't be a bad idea to list locally. I am guessing you're the person who listed this in Toronto?

wrk101

Great condition, absolutely. Great bike too! Amazing condition, not really. If you look for bicycles regularly, you will find quite a few that were bought with the best intentions, but never ridden or used. I have found dozens of 30+/- year old bikes that were never ridden, or ridden less than 10 miles. At that point, its all about storage conditions. Sometimes, they get knocked around the garage quite a bit. Other times, they are left hanging in the garage, away from everything.

I no longer get amazed when I find 30 year old bikes in great, near NOS condition. Very thankful, yes, and it certainly makes it a lot more valuable. About 10% of the vintage stuff I find is in similar condition (but usually lower end bikes, yours is a nice model for sure). Might be a US phenomenon, but a lot of exercise stuff tends to be bought with the best intentions, sit idle for years (or even decades) and then show up eventually back in the market.

Ultraslide

Wow. Gorgeous.

afilado

Yours is a 1976 one-year production model. In the following two years they went to the "black chrome" frame finish. That was it - three years for the Vent Noir. My understanding is that in 1976 only 500 were exported to England and U.S. combined. Considerably more for the '77 and '78.

It's an iconic bike, and rare.

That's marvelous condition. I owned one about as nice, selling to a fellow BF'er in U.S. a few months ago. He may chime in.

"Puchultima" is an Austrian BF member who is an expert on Puch/AD. You can contact him via PM, I'm sure. Also, "Teambhultima", another knowledgeable Vent Noir I owner, I believe.

pstock

very Helpful. (as always) many thanks

cudak888 

It is not NOS/unridden. It is a very nicely preserved example, but there are definite brake caliper rub marks on the rim sidewalls. Someone has ridden this, if only for 50 miles or so, but it has been ridden.

In fact, if the photos are of any indication, the brake pads have been fitted much too high; they are rubbing on half of the rim, and half of the tire sidewall. This must be rectified immidiately before anyone dare rides this thing, if only for 25 feet:



-Kurt

Bianchigirll 

such an eye for detail. however now that it is used and therefore worthless I can scoop it up for a mere $200 LOL

afilado

And that "wear" appearance is a little puzzling considering the lack of wear on the chain rings. I don't see 5 miles wear on them, in these pics. The rims are gold anodized and do apparently show wear. As do the tire sidewalls.

These tires - if original - are tubular and will almost certainly be dry and brittle. That could account for rapid loss of sidewall on contact from pad.

On close look the shown pad presently seems more or less in proper alignment on the curvature of the rim.

Definitely needs checking out, as you say.

J

miamijim

Regardless, the value is unaffected. This one needs to go Ebay with a properly written and well presented ad for maximum value.

BobHufford

Perhaps they only coasted downhill on the bike ...

This is a beautiful example and, while not my grail bike, is up towards the top of the list. I lusted after the catalog pics of the A-D Vent Noir more than a few times.

The price estimates so far seem to be in the ballpark.

Best of luck,

Bob

5cagm

It is currently posted on the Toronto craigslist... https://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/1802831626.html

EjustE

Gorgeous bike, incredible condition and you could get close to what you are asking there, but +1, I am not sure that CL is the place you want to sell this... ebay will get you more exposure to appropriate buyers.

wrk101

+1 That's a really high price for Craigs List. I can't see it getting that price, but it only takes one buyer!

Good luck on the sale!

unterhausen

I wouldn't guess you could find a buyer at that price anywhere, but who knows?

We sold a couple of the smoked chrome vent noirs, I just loved those bikes.

unterhausen

I wouldn't guess you could find a buyer at that price anywhere, but who knows?

We sold a couple of the smoked chrome vent noirs, I just loved those bikes.

cudak888 

Hard to pass judgment on the chainrings. I've seen wrecks with mint outer chainrings, for many riders simply don't use them. Photos don't show the inner ring in any detail, and even then, black anodized rings don't wear that fast. Case in point, my Peugeot PY-10 has black anodized Stronglight 105's. Drivetrain is 100% original, and has roughly 200-400 non-abusive miles on it. Anodizing is only just starting to wear at the edges.

I disagree. An NOS Schwinn Paramount sold a while ago for a bit over $2k. Equally perfect - though ridden - examples will generally bring half that. Certainly never 2k.

-Kurt

P.S.: OP is out of his mind at that price.

5cagm

The Toronto Craigslist market has gone insane. Think credit crunch/housing bubble type numbers. The market will probably collapse as soon as fixies and being a hipster isn't cool anymore. Here is an example of a bike listed at $700. https://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/1803911663.html


Ok, yes it is a Pinarello but it's 105 equipped and their bottom offering from that time, a Veneto, in a bad colour to boot. I recently sold this Veneto for $450 and that was double what I paid:


IMHO the one I had was in much better condition, has a more attractive and uncommon paint job, and has been cleaned up and even had some decent rubber. (I got rid of the Miyata seat and garbage seatpost and replaced it with something more appropriate).

Prices like this for middle of the line bikes in Toronto seem to start at $400 for some reason, where in other markets this would be a top of the line C&V (non-grail) bike.

There also is a strange obsession with Miele's where not a single one can be found for under $250, even at the bottom end of the line up. I guess what I am saying is I can understand how the OP would post a potential grail bike at such a high price when far lesser machines are going for $400. That being said I don't think it will sell at that price and I think the OP should consider posting it on ebay.

Cheers

zonatandem

The Austro Daimler Vent Noir was also available n a mixte model . . . very rare!

miamijim

Its an AD not a Paramount.....I guess you didnt see what my Paramount sold for. And I agree, the OP is out of his mind if he thinks he'll get $2000 for it. This is another example of PSS (Pawn Stars Syndrone).

Last week the OP would have been thrilled to get $300 for it...untill someone mentioned it might be worth more.

pstock

Good eye Kurt.

I realize that I should have added a "?" to the original title, because I was really asking the question "is it possible/reasonable that this could be unridden?"
Understand too that I did have to pack it to ship it. I might have loosened a few things at that time. since then I have only rolled it around the garage a bit (and has gathered a bit of that dust you see on the frame.)

pstock

Agreed that the odds of finding a local fanatic on CL is slim. But I thought I would try.
And the price is pretty much arbitrary. I'd rather start it out on the high side (even the way high side) than dump it at some lowball price. there are evidently many knowledgeable collectors out here who I am sure would be happy to take advantage of my ignorance.
Ebay it probably will go.
Though it is such a good looking bike I am loath to let it go at all. it's the space man, the darn space.....