I picked up this awesome bike today, its an old murray with the number m066 40-56p5756237 on the head tube, and a little sticker that says Murray-Ohio Mfg. Company Lawrenceburg, Tenn., U.S.A.- Battery's dead in my camera, maybe i can get some pics up later. Any ideas? Oh, and the sticker also say 08-76. It would seem likely for that to be the month and year made. I have a friend that does paint and this thing could be so awesome (it has some really sweet fenders). Just want to make sure im not ruining something worth keeping original. I know, its a murray, fat chance its worth the 3 dollars i spent on it-just thought id run it passed you all first. Its gonna make a killer litle cruiser for the family rides. My Torelli would rather stay at home then poke along at a 6 year olds pace. I figure i can ride in style on this bad boy.

I was talking old bikes with a shop mech one day and he said that occasionally an old murray or huffy will come through the door and everyone will just stop and stare at it. Alot of the time a brands that used to be something special will become something crappy but the long and the short of it is that if you think it's a great bike - it's a great bike. If it turned your head, it will turn others.
As a general rule I wouldn't paint anything old and classic unless the origional paint was way far gone. if you put a new coat of paint on an old bike what you end up with is something that looks alot like a new, heavy, crappy bike. Just clean it up the best you can and maybe wax it for a little shine.
I don'tknow anything about your bike, BTW. I have several old european bikes that are insignificant enough that I can't find any real information on them, but I know that they're cool to me and they're not ready for the scrapyard quite yet. A little heavy but you'll never see anyone else riding one around town.
Dan

Murray of Ohio--should have been boaring of Ohio---but then again they just keep on going like that little rabbit.I use a murray for my city bike.Had it 35 years.Not bad for $29 new.---sam