I have a '70 Paramount P-13 and an '85 Peloton. Perfomance-wise, the Peloton, made by Panasonic, blows the Paramount away. But - do you consider that a Schwinn or a re-badged Panasonic? It's a Schwinn to me but YMMV.... Regardless, for raw mystique and presence, no contest for the Paramount. It is, after all, my Grail Bike. It comes to this: I have a lot of bikes, and luck has given me custody of many top-or-near-top-of-the-line models from various manufacturers and various years. Schwinn Paramount. Peugeot PX-10. Bottecchia Professional. Colnago Master. Motobecane Le Champion. Raleigh International. In the end, there is no definitive best, either model or year, that definition exists in the expectations and needs of the individual. From my perspective, each of mine is best for the intended purpose at a given moment.