justaguy168 

What is the value of this Austro Damlier Puch Vent Noir purchased from Vinsentin's Bike Store in Oyster Bay Long Island circa 1983? It has the black shiny/anodized finish. The Styr Astro Damlier Puch decal is on the seat tube but the head tube badge says Puch.

Dimensions

• Seat tube: 20"
• Stem Reach 4"
• Handlebar Width 17"
• Chainwheel Triple: 50 - 45 - 28
• Freewheel; 13 teeth smallest 32 teeth largest
• Wheels: 700 x 23C

Parts

• Tubes: 531 Forks Tubes Stays
• Dropouts: Gipiemmes
• Hubs: Campagnolo
• Rim Front: Mavic Open Sport
• Rim Rear: Mavic MA3
• Brakes Front & Rear: Winemann Carerra Sidepulls
• Handlebars: Deda Alumninum
• Handlebar Stem: Nitto Technomic
• Derailleur Front and Rear: Huret Duopar, R has titanium parts
• Shifters: Huret friction
• Suntour Freewheel
• Cranks and front sprockets: TA
• Pedals: Look
• Seat: Terry Anatomic Mens Liberator
• Seat Tube: Selle San Marco
• Headset: Shimano 600 (will throw in that weird scalloped wrench)
• Rims, spokes, seat, pedals, chain not original

Also have the following original parts:

• Cinelli Giro D'Italia aluminum handlebars 15 1/2"
• Cinelli aluminum stem reach 4"
• Atom 77 Freewheel worn out
• Original chain also worn out

Pictures on DropBox
click here

Very rideable. It has been stored indoors suspended from padded hooks on the top tube.

oddjob2

As you've disclosed, rims don't match so that hurts value a bit. I would say $275-$300. Might be worth more as a part out, as the TA triple is worth some coin.

The frame is steel so the finish is unlikely to be anodized, typically aluminum only. The engineers/scientists here will way in.

big chainring 

Another beauty. That's set up very nice. I think on ebay, $500 range.

justaguy168 

Many thanks for the correction. Yes it is not a true anodization, but not paint either. Everyone who has written about it seems stumped about what exactly the process is. Any suggestions from the forum about an accurate way to represent the coating would be appreciated.

Tim_Iowa

That coating is commonly called "black chrome". It's a metal plating, but I'm not sure exactly what it is.

It was also used on a handful of Schwinn bikes in the 80s, notably the Impact.

bikemig 

NYC has high bike prices; I'd take a shot at Big Chainring's valuation and see what happens. The bike is in nice shape and will make a heck of a rider. The mismatched rim won't matter for someone who wants an old bike to ride; it just means that the PO took good care of his (or her) bike.

oddjob2

Since the advent of bikeshare, demand has dropped considerably. While the OP might luck into the right buyer of European heritage, I have not experienced any pricing premiums in the NYC market area with respect to marketing a mens 60cm PX10 or Super Course MKII. However, women frames are still pretty strong.

justaguy168 

The rims are mismatched only because they were purchased years apart. The first rim was not available when I bought the second. They are functionally quite similar but the labeling is different. I'm assuming you mean Craigslist? Would E-bay be better for this sort of thing?

bikemig 

Sure, I think the different rims is pretty meaningless because they are the same functionally. It might matter to someone who is looking for a period correct bike.

Typically E bay is where you get top dollar but there are issues (and costs) with using E bay. In a big market like NYC, I'd use Craigslist. But I'd keep in mind what oddjob said in post no. 7; he knows his stuff.

That said, that bike will command a higher price in NYC than IA where I live for sure. I'd write a good CL ad and start high. You can always drop your price accordingly if it doesn't move.

KonAaron Snake 

I think the current estimates are low...these have a following. That said, I'm not sure how to value it much better. I think it's more an ebay bike and is more a part out.

justaguy168 

This was always a conflict I had with this bicycle. I always knew it was a valuable bike for the period and I knew it really should have been preserved in an argon intert gas hermetically sealed case on purple velvet but it just rode too damn well. And I kept it for quite a while and parts did wear out. I saved the handlebar and stem even though I got older and became too stiff. Vinsentin saved the freewheel because he's an honest guy and I kept it. So those parts are there. The rims alas aren't. KonAaron is probably right but I don't have the diligence or the heart to sell it for parts.

For me what is the real draw of this bicycle is that is a bit of the last gasp of mainstream European bicycle manufacturing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but while they still make bicycles there, it is more for niche markets. Reynolds, Campagnolo, Gipiemme, Huret, TA, Wienmann, Selle San Marco, Mavic. While some of the parts of have changed it is not a museum piece and it rides well. There's a lot of bicycle history in it and there's also a lot of non-bicycle history. The Steyr company was notorious for using Jewish slave labor during WWII. The weapons company and the bicycle company were linked. There is a certain poetic justice/injustice to having a American/Jewish guy riding atop a product with a history of trying to defeat him.

I don't know, I thought that would be more of a draw. I guess folks look at these items a bit more dispassionately.

Wildwood 

I bought my '81 Olympian a few years ago, $140 for frame/fork + BB/crank/headset. The rest of the parts from my inventory. The Vent Noir, 'black chrome' model (although the same frame/fork as Olympian) does have a much stronger appeal. You just have to find that 1 buyer. I'd put it on CL at $400 and see where it goes, but I'd be surprized if you got more than $250. Mine is a large frame, 63cm, and a favored rider wearing tubular wheels. If you part it out, I'd buy the derailleurs & bb/crankset.

Good luck!

daf1009

Aaron and I usually agree...but not here...while I do agree that the estimates might be low...they are not too low...and...it is more an eBay bike...and you would get more for parting it out...but...this is a bike that is mainly original...keep it that way...as you say in some of your posts, there is story here as well! Once the bike is broken up, it is broken up!

Well...Aaron...guess we do agree more than I thought when I started this!!!! :-)

justaguy168 

Wildwood, I received your PM but because I have nowhere near 50 posts I cannot reply. Please sent alt contact info so I can properly reply.

KonAaron Snake 

Heh! I get where you're coming from...I think some of the background mentioned above makes me less fond of Austro-Daimler and more sympathetic to part outs.

juls

Chimeing in here-that is a nice sought after higher level AD. Ignoring wheels-nice 531 set/400-500 in my estimate.

juls

PS-wheels would've been 27"-so upgrade done.....someone's grail bike-mine if it werea mixte w/da doubt it is 50cm tho.....not even the mixe came that small.

0.2HP

I've read on the internet it is chrome with black translucent clear coat on top.

justaguy168 

0.2HP, do you have a link?

0.2HP

Maybe this https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...vent-noir.html and/or Vintage Lightweight Pricing Guide Atala to Fuji and/or Bikes to Like: Ritchie?s 1979 Austro-Daimler Vent Noir II | chasing mailboxes

Googling "Vent Noir Smoked Chrome" will yield more, differing opinions on what the finish is and how it was applied.

Chombi

I've heard the same....... similar to a "Chromavelato" finish....
One real good thing going for this bike is that the black chrome finish seems to still be in really good condition and same goes for the AD graphics that use usually started flaking and scratching off that "black chrome" finish the first day owners took home their Vent Noires.....

rootboy 

Looking at the pics, it's hard to tell, but I don't think that one sports the smoked chrome finish.
Didn't they also produce these in standard black? Or matte black?

juls

I concurr w rootboy/does not appear to be a smole chrome finish. Actually I believe the VN had an AD headbadge. I've been wrong before however.