SchwinnNewbie85

So I cleaned out my grandparents home last year and found this bike in the garage, hardly used but with surface rust since it's probably been sitting there for 20+ years. Can anyone help identify some details about the year and hopefully give me a rough value for it?

Metacortex

That is a 1965 Collegiate Ladies' model in Sky Blue. You can see the catalog page here: Schwinn catalogs, 1961 - 1970 (271 of 765)

You can see the dealer spec. page here: Schwinn catalogs, 1961 - 1970 (302 of 765)

According to the JA00016 serial number the frame was built on 8/26/65: THE SCHWINN DATE CODES BY YEAR,MONTH AND DAY

It does look to be completely original but due to the condition and it being a ladies' model I'd say the value is between $50 and $100 depending on your local market.

SchwinnNewbie85

Thank you so much for the info and links!

Is there a way I can clean it up or is it done for due to the rust?

mparker326

It isn't worth the effort to clean off the rust. It would be a long time before rust kills that bike. Either sell as is or keep it for sentimental reasons.

dweenk

If it were mine and I intended to keep it, I would clean and wax the painted surfaces, take off the surface rust with aluminum foil and water or vinegar, and service all of the bearings. You may be pleasently surprised with the outcome.

turky lurkey

+1 Polish that thing up. There is a lot of information available online on how to refurbish old bikes. You tube, here at bike forums etc. Ask specific questions in the C&V forum and/or mechanics forum and people will help you. The bike won't be worth a lot of money but it will be a fun, inexpensive project.

SchwinnNewbie85

Thank you everyone for your input! I'll probably end up keeping it for awhile for sentimental reasons but may as well polish it up and get it tuned up. Took it for a spin today and adjusting gears is weird but it's a fun little bike for my flat neighborhood.