DMC707

For something completely different for me (I have already posted a thread in the valuation area -- here are the pics)

Schwinn Corvette --- the seat dates it to 1959 or later , if it is correct, earlier models had a different seat

My research shows these were made between 1954-1964 with a couple different variations

Condition is somewhere in between pampered garage queen , -- or buried at the bottom of the sea for 30 years - I don't know

I purchased the car a few weeks ago, so have become enthralled in Corvette geek-dom as well. Its fitting , - Corvette guys are bigger nerds than us C&V guys. I fit right in. I'm considering growing a mustache, and V neck shirts and monogrammed jackets with vette logos now look appealing, but I digress

Pre-purchase inspection for this was done by lamplight and I drug it home for $160 --- it doesn't look to be downright abused, just a victim of decades of poor storage techniques

I thought it would be a decent candidate for a re-spray and some re-pop fenders, rims and racks , ------ but... unlike the 20" and early BMX bikes, I am not finding a lot out there for brightwork for these things. I was thinking a fun, functional restoration rather than being catalog perfect, --- but I am not going to invest in paint and prep unless the rest can get sorted out --- It would look better as is





One of my doggies, April, is seriously interested in it, so I'm thinking another dog must have mistaken the tires for a fire hydrant



Lots of "patina" but no real bubbling or any scale that would make me leery of more serious rust issues



All the brightwork is oxidized and there are dents in the fenders



Sturmey Archer thumb shifter



Pinstriping on the fork is cool


My monsters were involved in the post purchase inspection --- I think you can tell by the facial expressions how excited they are about this (Dad? Why couldn't you have brought us another DeRosa to sniff? )






Against the brick backdrop -- it looks kinda' cool and art-deco 'ish as it sits --- I may just restore it mechanically and score some distressed handlebars and headlamp and call it a done deal -- one could easily go down a rabbit hole with something like this and have $1200 into it before blinking

curbtender

THE SCHWINN DATE CODES BY YEAR,MONTH AND DAY

frameteam2003

The fenders are part of what makes it a Corvette---they are Stainless Steel polish them don't replace. If it has the earlier Schwinn written in "script" the later ones--after 1957 or58 used the Roller Ball Schwinn logo.

rhenning

The hockey stick shaped chain guard is from a 1959 and earlier bike and was changed in the 1960 model. Roger

Metacortex

The last year for the hockey stick style guard was 1958, the guard changed to a different style in 1959:

John E

The frame is probably identical to that of my first bicycle, which was a Schwinn middleweight with 26 x 1.75" tires and a Bendix 2-speed coaster hub shifted by a handlebar-mounted lever that looked like a brake handle. Same black on the paint, but black fenders, as well, and paperboy "ape hanger" handlebars.

Come to think of it, I have come full circle by owning another fat-tired Schwinn -- the Project KOM-10 mountain bike.

DMC707

Life is good

The Golden Boy 

I love the old Schwinn aesthetic- the fonts used, and especially the use of the starburst on the forks and next to the Schwinn logos. If those things weren't so damned heavy... I ran across a coppertone (I think) Corvette for $75 or so at a rummage sale... I was going to grab it- literally- until I realized how heavy it was. I don't have a problem up to about 30 pounds.

That's just for my riding- I'm sure I'd get used to it pretty quick- those bikes just look so magnificent.

Congratulations!!!

frameteam2003

Corvettes came with Sturmey Archer or S.A. clone 3 speeds. The green bike shown has the "Roller Ball" Schwinn name I think the black bike would have had the older Schwinn scrip style name.