It also depends on your intended usage. No question that the Paramount was Schwinn's top-of-the-line bike. But if you want a bike to put baskets on and to ride to the market; or you need something to ride to work and you don't want to worry about it being chained to a parking meter at the corner of Scum and Villainy, I’d go with a LeTour. I have a ‘72 Continental that I bought for $8 in 1985 and it has been my general purpose and commuter bike ever since. I’ve tried to replace it with lighter and “better” bikes, but for my size and the way I use it, it can’t be beat.

I should also confess that the only original parts are the frame (of course) and the stem and maybe the seatpost.