Originally Posted by Walter

I understand wanting a specific bike. Obviously, you weren't the only person interested either. We always think about the "ones that got away." I bought a 1977 vintage Motobecane Gran Jubile some years ago for similar reasons. When I bought my own first "real" bike it was a Motobecane Nomade b/c that was all I could afford. The Jubile sitting on the rack next to it was what I wanted. In reality Jubiles before 1977 were better bikes but it was 1977 when I was a 14 year old standing in the shop. Not NIB but very clean and original, I paid about $200 including shipping. Prices have gone up.

Originally Posted by vintagebicycle

I would say first off, $750 would be a lot to spend on an old bike but the OP says this is new in the box, that's a whole different animal than what were used to seeing.
The 412 is a three tube Ishiwatta frame, the forks and stays are Ishiwatta hi-ten steel. In a tall frame, that's probably a good thing. I don't think I'd want my 325 lbs riding a top two 1/2" diameter or smaller seat stays made of tubing .022 thick. Most larger frames, whether advertised or not get a step down in tubing for the stays and forks likely for this reason.

If you break down that bike in parts, figure what it would cost you to build a bike that age brand new, if you managed to find a brand new old stock frame, What will that cost you, sure it may be a higher end model, but what brand with it be? Anything decent is going to cost you big these days. I'd figure no less than $200, plus some hefty shipping for a tall frame, they don't fit in any bike box even stripped down. So a $200 frame is likely a $250 frame after shipping. If its anything really iconic, double it.
figure about $250 for the wheelset, if your lucky enough to find all the parts to build one, because finding a new old stock set like that isn't going to be likely, unless your very patient.
Figure another $125 plus for a vintage derailleur set, that one uses Suntour V, the last pair I saw went for $90 new in the box plus shipping, plus another $45 for a pair of matching shifters.
Tires and tubes of any decent quality will run you $80 these days.
A good saddle another $40, plus shipping, plus you need to hunt down a new old stock seat post, again, likely another $30-40.
Bars and stem, $50? depends on what your after, but most SR stems like that bike uses are going in the $35-45 range, and handle bars about the same. Again, you gotta add shipping because none of these items are coming from the same source.
You need a new old stock crankset, even a cheaper vintage crankset will run you $50, then add a BB for another $35 or so with more shipping.
Then you have brakes, two new old stock calipers or a whole brake set in a box will likely cost you close to $80 if you get lucky and spot one on fleabay.
Again, likely there will be more shipping.
You also need bar tape, and end plugs, another $20, maybe more.
With all these parts, you still have some added labor, your time hunting it all down, and then making it all work together. Plus, chances are you'll splurge a bit here and there, maybe a better saddle, maybe a Brooks B17? Then figure closer to $100 for the saddle, maybe a lighter forged crankset, another $100 or so and so on.

Building something like this starting with a used frame, your looking at first buying the frame, stripping it and paying someone to properly refinish it and replace all the lettering or decals. I just repainted a 1950's Raleigh Sports, I paid $100 for the bike in fair shape with mismatched paint on various parts. It was made up from three different bikes. The paint alone cost me $165, by the time I bought primer, filler primer, sealer, and the black lacquer, then a bottle of gold One shot to redo all the pinstripes, another 9 hours making up all the jigs to repaint the pinstripes exactly as they belong, plus a reproduction water slide decal set, added another $50 plus shipping from the UK, the whole repaint cost me over $300 before any labor is figured and I have over 30 hours in it so far. AND, when its all done, it'll just be another restored old Raleigh Sports. Not an original, and likely too perfect to really use the way I'd like to because I've got way too much money and time in it making it perfect.
If it were a modern bike, I may well be dealing with a high metallic candy color or multiple colors and gold leaf, plus base coat, clear coat and higher dollar paint.

So if I came across something I liked, that was my size, that was new old stock, perfect, never molested or abused, and I could afford it, I'd likely jump on it. Especially if it were only $750. Like mentioned above, where on earth will you ever find another one? More even so, when will you ever find another one that is for sale.

Originally Posted by bargainguy

Depends. If you absolutely must have a NOS Trek in the box, there probably aren't too many available.

But you have to consider what an '80 412 is worth. Even in cherry condition, $375-400 is pushing it. So is $750 reasonable? I don't know, you tell me.