Bradleykd

Someone donated an old 70's Schwinn Paramount touring bike to the local bike co-op I volunteer at. I know this bike is worth more than the standard co-op bike, but I don't know how much, exactly.

Full Campagnolo components (pedals and hubs too)
Nervex lugs
Reynolds 531 tubing
Campy dropouts
Brooks saddle (and maybe Brooks tool bag?)
Cinelli stem and bars

It looks all original with no rust that some steel wool won't take off the chrome and no big paint chips.

I took a few pictures, but I know the lighting and positioning aren't the greatest, so if I need to provide more detail, let me know.

If we clean this up really nice, what's it worth?

Also, would it be better to clean it up and pass it on to someone else to make it the bike they want, or go ahead and change the cables, brake pads, chain, etc. and sell it as ready to go?

Bradleykd

Also, I was going to provide a serial number, but it wasn't on the bottom bracket. Where would I find that? Rear dropout?

mparker326

Yes - Rear dropout on the date. Plenty of info on how to date the bike once you have that. I would say as is, you wouldn't have much trouble getting $500 for it locally. Cleaned/tuned up could bring in the $700 to $900 range, but you may have to go to eBay. Check eBay completed listings.

It appears to be all original, but Metacortex will be around soon to confirm that. It does have some of the undesirable original items on it such as the Campy Gran Turismo rear derailleur and the Twin Stick shifters.

Campy triple crankset is a desirable attribute.

Scooper

The triple crank and the top tube braze-ons for the rear brake cable identify this bike as a P15-9. The seat tube decals (without the Olympic rings) say it's a 1973 or later. The serial number will be stamped into the non-driveside rear dropout.



M=December, 72=1972, 274=274th Paramount frame scheduled for production in December, 1972.

In 1972, Schwinn switched the P15-9 rear derailleur from the crappy Gran Turismo to the long cage Shimano Crane relabeled as a "Schwinn Approved GT-300 Le Tour", with greatly superior performance. So it's weird this '73 or later P13-9 is equipped with the Gran Turismo. Here's the Le Tour RD on my 1972 P13-9



Cleaned up and tuned up, the bike is easily worth $800 - $1000.

KonAaron Snake 

On ebay - the sale would likely be around 1100-1300, deduct fees. That's probably maximum value. On CL, you could probably sell it pretty quickly for $700ish if in a decent area. You won't have to ship. I know what I'd do.

oddjob2

I'd suggest you clean it some, but sell it otherwise in "as acquired" condition. Most enthusiasts/collectors would rather do their own overhaul. $650 +/- 10% in the nearby Lexington or near enough Louisville markets should be achievable.

I recently had a friend acquire a 1988 Paramount on my behalf. Low and behold, when I went to visit, she had as a gift to me had it overhauled with new hybrid tires, galvanized cables, and flipper blue bar tape. It set her back almost as much as I paid for the Paramount and unfortunately.........................

In the process, a $50 set of Panaracers were stolen for another bike.........

C'est la vie.

Bradleykd

The owner of the co-op and I were talking and were thinking the same thing, but upon a short look on ebay sold listings and seeing one that sold for over $1500 a few weeks ago, I started questioning whether we should get it running like a top and shined up nice before attempting to sell.

zukahn1 

+1 A big part of the appeal of this bike is that is in very nice all original survivor condition. I would be inclined to leave it as is and sell it that way unrestored fixed up it will sell for about the same amount.

mparker326

$1500 is an outlier. It was probably in pristine condition. In looking at the paint and yellowed decals on yours, I don't think you can get it nice enough to garner that kind of cash. You would also have to spend plenty of money on consumables such as tires/brake pads/cables etc. which cut into your profit.

Bradleykd

Yeah, I knew this one wouldn't bring $1500. I'm more partial to the idea of just making it shine and leaving the rest to the future owner. That is how I would want to receive it if I were buying.

ramzilla

$1k

Kactus

I agree with the $1000 price point if on eBay. I would clean it up first and put it on with an opening bid of $875 and a BIN of $1300..

Scooper

What is the serial number? Just the first three characters will do...

mparker326

Not to belabor Aaron's point above, but eBay/paypal takes a nice chunk out of the $1000 price tag - 15%. Figure about 3 hours to properly pack and fit inside a box that won't exceed 130 inches. All this makes the local sale for less look much more appealing.

AngryFrankie

I've been a casual volunteer at my local co-op for years, and one thing I've watched the co-op struggle with is the more valuable donations. My advice to them has always been, keep them moving out the door, or you'll end up with a pile of these things. I'd price it at 750 or so in the co-op or CL, and work with the first serious inquiry to turn it into a sale. The longer it sits around, the more likely it is to get stolen or damaged or "parts picked."