Noah Scape

I'm going to be looking at a 1977 Paramount tomorrow. A friend of mine is interested and I agreed to tag along for a value assessment and negotiations. I've attached a couple of pics taken by the owner. He says the bike has been in storage since 1979. Anyway, I have not been tracking going rates for Paramounts, but my recollection is there are people asking crazy prices on ebay. He's wanting close to a grand and I'm not sure what's fair. I'm not inclined to do more that $500-$600. Does that seem reasonable if it is in fair condition?

Barrettscv 

I'd take that bike for more than $600 if it is in clean-but-dusty & unused condition. If the paint is rough and there is any abuse, then $500 to 650, depending on what's needed. At the minimum the bike will need tires, chain, cables and a full rebuild and repack of all bearings.

That kick-stand drives me crazy, but it is the touring version.

wrk101

Looks to be in very good condition to me. $500 to $600 sounds low. The 1970s Paramounts tend to go pretty well. $1000 probably is pretty close to full value on ebay. Maybe you can meet the seller in the middle as a local sale avoids hassle (and costs) for the seller and buyer.

Scooper

With the triple crank and the top tube rear brake cable braze-ons, it's a P15-9 touring model. I have a fully chromed 1972 P15-9, and paid nearly $1300 for it several years ago, so I don't think the $1k asking price is too far out of line if it's in as nice shape as the photos present.

Two things bother me, though: 1) the seventies Paramounts would not have had the Schwinn chrome molybdenum decal on the seat tube, so someone has added that. I can't imagine why they did, though, since it has the correct Reynolds 531 manganese-molybdenum sticker, and the two stickers are mutually exclusive. 2) the kickstand wasn't on any seventies Paramounts and was added by someone. I'd ditch it.

Barrettscv 

For sure. Whoever owned it wasn't a weight weenie ;-). Those bar-end shifters were not OE. The suicide levers are an eyesore and a safety issue.

BlueDevil63 

$1000 is fair. He could get that on Ebay pretty easily. Make sure that kick stand hasn't crushed the chain stays.

Picchio Special

My .02: 1k is too high. I think somewhere in the neighborhood of 600-700 is more like it - maybe a touch more if you really like the color.

I think it's possible some doof in the Schwinn paint department put that Chro-moly decal on there via accident or ignorance, though I've never seen it before.

Scooper

The bar-end shifters were a factory option.

The 1977 Paramount Order Form offered standard down tube shifters or optional Twin-Stik stem mounted shifters as a no-cost option. Extra cost shifter options were Campagnolo Finger-tip (bar-end) Controls or Schwinn-Approved Ratchet Finger-tip (bar-end) Controls.

Noah Scape

Scooper, I was wondering about the conflicting stickers too. Not sure what to make of that. Otherwise, it appears to be all original.

3alarmer 

From the look of photo #3, I'd lay odds that
that is the case. Shouldn't affect the overall
serviceability of the ride, but anyone who did
this ought to have to pay a penalty in the
form of a reduced sale price.

Just look carefully, and if you still want it,
point it out and bargain politely.

Scooper

Noah, did you get to look at the Paramount?

Noah Scape

Yep... we didn't consummate a deal on it, however. It was a very sound bike, but had a fair amount of scuffs and scratches, which put my friend off the $1K price tag. I think negotiations may continue. In other news, there was a very cherry 1975 Voyageur II that we snagged!

Paramounttim

I think the 1k is a little high based on what you had said on condition. If you can get it for $ 750 or $ 800, it would probably be a fair price. in cherry condition it might bring $ 1200 to 1300, but from what you have said it sounds far from that. Big $ goes for paramounts of significance such as the Elite, Campy equipped 50th Ann., or 1st generation bikes. vintage wise, there is nothing of great significance on this one, but it would be a nice bike if you got it at a reasonable price.