Anyone who bought a TV or a stereo at a small independent shop during the 1980's probably ended up with at least one of these. Millions were built and given away. They became a running joke for many decades, and most ended undoubtedly up in landfills. Thrift stores had difficulty even giving them away.
But at last, after decades of people disposing of them in one way or another, these bikes are finally becoming relatively scarce. I only saw one Ebay ad for one. Yes, they were hi-ten steel, yes, the components were garbage, and almost no one ever rode the things. But I am wondering if the Firenze free bike that came with your stereo has a place in history. Not because it was a great bike, but because there were once so many, and now so few. And people remember them from the 80's.
Many times, the things people least expect to become collectible, become collectible.
Lots of old Schwinns are heavy, outdated, and virtually un-ridable. But they are collectible and valuable. Will the Firenze be the same?