Hello, I am in search of the perfect candidate or several best choices for a fixie conversion bike that will be a keeper of a lifetime (and hope to pass it along to my grandchildren in like a 100 years, that'd be gnarly).

So first of all, it would have to have some horizontal dropouts.

It be nice if it was a steel frame, lugged, cause they are quality that you can't quite find now a days(?), and of CroMoly. I have a question about material on steel. Is there a comparison chart or database of the weight of the types of steel and steel alloys. I bought a late 1970s Centurion Le Man and it weighs like a boat, hi-tensile steel 25+ lbs? CroMoly is the lightest steel alloy, right?

Could someone name a couple of brands, models and time period where they would still have horizontal dropouts, and steel frames (seems like up to the 80s, and maybe 90s) or direct me to a catalogue or datebase for old bikes or review sites of old bikes or a place where I can find my answer? (Should I post this in the Classics Vintage section instead?) I wouldn't really know anywhere where I can find reviews on bikes that were made decades ago.

I've seen plenty of Schwinn Varsitys. What else are good? I want the highest quality for this keeper dream fixie conversion. But I don't want to kill my wallet either. I'm probably going to replace the Chainring set, wheel set, etc. So main concerns are horizontal dropouts, very light steel lugged frame.

It'd be nice if it had the suicide levers, but I can probably find it at a bike co-op and replace the handle bars with it.

Thanks!