Fairview 

I’ve outgrown my Paramount...just joking...I am more comfortable on a 25 inch frame so I found one and just swapped all the components from my 24 inch frame which is a chrome 1972 Paramount. So I am trying to decide whether to keep the chrome 24 inch, or sell it. This would include the frame, fork, and headset.

I am the second owner. The first was a resident of Chicago who was a musician in the Chicago Cubs Dixieland Band. The build date is June 1972, serial number F72183. The bottom shell is stamped P2 which indicates this frame was built in Racine, Wisconsin by Don Mainland’s company, Pioneer Manufacturing.

The condition is close to perfect, just a couple of the tiniest imperfections. Some of the original decals were flaking and beyond rescue, so I replaced them with new ones, installed exactly as the originals.

I’ve had inquiries from members of our Bike Forum family, but I am not sure what would be a fair price. Can you help me with it? Thanks, Jeff

Fairview 

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wrk101

$1000 to $1250.

3alarmer

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...can you really get that kind of money for the frame, fork, and headset ?

It's been a few years since I bought mine, but I have that chrome Paramount in the same size in the P-15 version, and the whole bike cost a thousand bucks, used on the local Craigslist (in excellent condition.) I'd be delighted if it were now worth that sort of money, but all the prices asked for stuff here seems to be down right now. I don't follow e-bay at all, so maybe I'm missing something.

wrk101

Local sale, no. Like almost any top of the line vintage bike, I was referring to an ebay sale. I'd have no problems paying $1000 for that frameset if it were my size. Then I would take the parts off my 1974 painted frame, and resell it. I'd be out just $100 to $200 and I'd have a chrome Paramount. How cool is that?

A little over a year ago, I bought a complete 1973 Paramount (not chrome) off Albany C/L for $600, and it sat there for over a month.

The chrome above looks superb. I am assuming it is rust free.


A complete chrome Chicago Paramount for $1000, you got a great deal.

Prices on the forum tend to be under FMV. I've sold stuff here for half of what I get on ebay, just to move the item. I've never asked FMV here. Ebay sales come with all the ebay headaches of course!

TugaDude

I guess it all depends on how bad someone wants a chrome Paramount. It's not like they are falling like leaves, especially in that condition. And to get something similar new you will pay $2,000.00 or more.

well biked 

I own a '71 chrome Paramount (complete bike) I purchased on ebay several years ago. The condition of the frame and chrome on my bike are similar to the frame pictured here. I would say I probably paid close to $1000 for the frame, considering the complete bike price I paid the ebay seller. And keep in mind, this was several years ago. I've certainly never regretted that purchase.

I did have a hard time hitting the bid button during the ebay auction, it was just a lot of money for a very old, used bike. But it was a grail bike for me, it fits me, and it was chrome as a bonus. I finally decided to go ahead and put in a serious bid when a good friend of mine said to me, "you know, we're getting further and further away from 1971."

Just my perspective. It's certainly a beautiful frame you have there.

Fairview 

Thanks for the input guys, that is helpful and makes sense to me.

It would be nice to “cash out” and sell the chrome frame, but the more I think about separating it from the original components, the less I want to. I wonder if I could contrive a way to hang it for decoration in my office? That would be fun storage, then I could reunite it with the parts if I can find a nice Nuovo Record group for the blue bike.

For comparison sake, I paid $590 shipped for the blue Paramount frame. It is not in the excellent condition of the chrome, but very nice. 25 inch is probably less desirable, too.

Best to all, Jeff