JimboMartin

Hello All:
Apologies up front if 1999 is not old enough but hopefully the fact that it is a Paramount will help with that.
I am in email contact with the seller of a 99 Match made Paramount. Pics below. I'll be getting more pics when he gets back in town. As you can see, the paint is glossy but has several bare spots. The seller claims it was never crashed. Also, it has a somewhat beat up Ultegra build and will not come with wheels. He is asking $700. What do you guys think?
Thanks,
Jim

howsteepisit

I think these are some of the least informative yet still clear pictures I have seen. Post the new pics when you get them, but 700 sans wheels seems high to me.

TugaDude

Mixed emotions on this one. I think you will be buying it for the frame essentially as it lacks wheels and the drivetrain may or may not be shot. If not overly worn, it at least will be on the rough side aesthetically.

Would you be touching up the paint or having it professionally stripped and painted? Figure that into the budget.

Don't know much about Match, but as far as collectibility, doubt that there's much of a premium.

So that leaves you with a nice lugged steel frame. Is it worth 700 bills knowing the paint is so-so? What is the steel? 753, OX Platinum, other?

Seeing it in person is going to be Paramount, pun intended. Good luck!

bargainguy

I believe these were Reynolds 853 steel made by Tim Isaacs et al under contract as Match Cycles. Lots of respected builders working there.

FastJake

It's a nice frame but bikes presented like this always scare me. Without wheels, stuffed in someone's trunk... It just looks so sketchy. If you go, look it over VERY carefully for dents, damage, etc.

If the rest of the components are 6600 Ultegra to match the crank, this might not be a bad deal. But inspect every component carefully as well.

JimboMartin

Howsteepisit: I agree, nicely stated! He said he just took these pis as an afterthought with the bike in the back of a car and would send me better (more informative!) pics later on. I'll update when they come along. I also agree that $700 is on the high side. I had offered $400 but he said he would rather just hang on to it at that price. Its a long distance purchase so I can't haggle in person.
TugaDude: Yes, paint or touch up is the question and yes, the build kit looks like a tosser. These were 853 as Bargainguy said. He insists that the paint is in really good shape except for the paint chips.
Cheers,
Jim

Scooper

These are nicely made frames, but the geometry has a slightly longer top tube than typical for a given frame size. This could be a good thing if you have shorter than average leg length for your height with relatively longer torso and arms, but if (like me) you're all legs with a shorter torso, the geometry just doesn't work.

The brazing for most of the Match Cycle built late nineties Paramounts was done by Curt Goodrich.

$700 for the frameset sans wheels seems steep to me.

rccardr 

Scooper, you never cease to amaze me.