$1000 for a 531 frame?! that guy's out of his mind. i think $500 is more than fair for that bike. if i saw it in a shop, i wouldn't pay more than $400. it may be custom and have a fancy paint job...but...jesus...put all the engravings you want on it, i would NEVER pay $1000 for a 531 frame. there's nothing wrong with 531, but, honestly? you could do a lot better for a grand.

i'd imagine that these are the dropouts he's talking about. or something like it. i don't think suntour was still making stuff like that when vertical dropouts became the norm on road bikes....and a TT bike like that would most likely not have vert. dropouts considering it was built in 1985. most likely, they have just enough wiggle room to get the needed chain tension. i wouldn't set it up fixed though.

BAAAAAAH! the guy selling it obviously doesn't want to get rid of it, or he thinks sentimental attachment somehow magically justifies the $1000 price tag. don't get me wrong, i have sentimental attachment to all of my bikes, but i'm not going to try to rip someone off for $1000 just because i'm in love with my frame.

email him, see if it's still available. offer him $400 for it if you want it. if he says no, but is willing to bargain, don't go above $500. i got my pursuit frame for $150 with a campy front wheel because the guy was desparate. i got a 531 custom-built frame, SIGNED by the builder, and proven that it was actually raced by trey gannon, who did VERY well on the circuit (got a couple of silver medals for something i'm too lazy to look it up right now)...bought it for $350 from a shop. no effing way this guy's frame, without provenance is worth a grand.