danmar

With the help of Bike Forums, I've figured out that I have an '83 Panasonic track bike. (See discussion here. It's got a Tange CroMo frame, chrome Tange CroMo fork, and some nice vintage Japanese components. It's not the NJS track bike but a version marketed to consumers (an early factory-built fixie!)

It's paint is messed up with a botched spray can overcoat and I'd like to invest in powder coating it. I've also go some reproduction decals that'll make it look very close to OEM.

My question is, what would this bike be worth all fixed up, assuming I keep all the original parts on it? Is it worth investing in a powder coat? Also, should I invest in modern brakes? We have a strong bike market locally, tho probably not nearly as strong as the East Coast.

Thanks in advance for your help.

wrk101

If maximizing return is your goal, either sell as is or part out. If it’s a keeper get it painted. Yes you will be upside down but on a keeper that’s not so critical IMHO,I can’t think of a single keeper I have that I am not upside down on.

danmar

Sure, I'm OK being upside down with it. But I have no idea whether I'd be trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear or if this bike really deserves a full restoration.

merziac

As always beauty is in the eye of the beholder, being upside down is subjective. This seems as though it was very standard stuff as it came which would work to your advantage as some/most of the parts should be not that difficult to come by. That frees up $$$ for the refinish which I would totally go for on this unless you have the skill to scrub/strip off the ugly and the paint underneath is usable. If not I would wind it up and get it well done to really make this nice. Panasonic did things very right and this would be very cool to return to what it was.

zukahn1 

Interesting bike you don't see many of these early Japanese fixies in the US. As for value I would say $200-250 at the end of the day it's a Japanese fixie as is. Petty much any money you put in it will likely be a black whole decreasing value. As for paint NO NO there current is good and looks good a repaint will hurt value.