New (old) Paramount
09-19-17, 05:50 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
New (old) Paramount
So I pulled the trigger and got myself a Paramount off of eBay, the seller listed it as a 1978, but the decals were wrong, they seemed too new. The rest of it looked right and I didn't want to ask too many questions since it might have driven the bidding up. It arrived today, and according to the serial number, L7832, it is a 1978 Paramount, all the hardware is correct (Campagnolo & Cinelli). So why the decals, did someone paint my Paramount to look like it was from the 80s. Any thoughts? More pics to come.
09-19-17, 06:30 PM
#4
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Wow! Definitely wrong decals, but a beautiful bike nevertheless. Nice score!
09-19-17, 07:57 PM
#5
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It has definitely been repainted along with braze-on top-tube guides, water bottle bosses and 80's decals. Originally it would have had different decals, chrome "socks" and lugs, and screw-on cable guides.
09-19-17, 08:13 PM
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So what's your plans for it?
Ride and enjoy? Hang on the wall? Restore with another re-paint and correct era decals?
Great find BTW.... beautiful bike.
Ride and enjoy? Hang on the wall? Restore with another re-paint and correct era decals?
Great find BTW.... beautiful bike.
09-20-17, 04:07 AM
#8
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Thread Starter
Short Run: Tear it apart, clean everything, put it back together and ride it, she's a keeper.
Long run: Paint & period decals.
My question on the new (1980s) paint & decals, why???
Long run: Paint & period decals.
My question on the new (1980s) paint & decals, why???
Last edited by Alleytom; 09-20-17 at 04:15 AM.
09-20-17, 04:43 AM
#9
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Should clean up nicely - congrats!
09-20-17, 05:48 AM
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When the 1964 Corvette came out with the solid back window, people were clamoring to have the window well modified on their 63 Split window cars modified to look like the 64's and accept the solid back glass
09-20-17, 07:53 AM
#13
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$.02 in!
Oh, and SWEET bike!
__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
Last edited by Fahrenheit531; 09-20-17 at 08:15 AM.
09-20-17, 10:40 AM
#14
Senior Member
I'm a sucker for that look so it was probably someone like me that changed it
Send it to me and make me live with it until I learn to better respect history
Send it to me and make me live with it until I learn to better respect history
09-20-17, 12:36 PM
#15
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A one year old car is just last years model. A fifty year old car is an icon!
09-20-17, 03:59 PM
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dude, it LOOKS great. i don't even like red, and i love it.
non-period correct decals??? who cares.
it's a paramount with campy nuovo and sewups.
strip it including cups.
clean EVERYTHING.
re-pack bb, hd, hubs.
new cables, pads, chain, hoods if needed, bar wrap ( cotton ) .
ride the bike ...
non-period correct decals??? who cares.
it's a paramount with campy nuovo and sewups.
strip it including cups.
clean EVERYTHING.
re-pack bb, hd, hubs.
new cables, pads, chain, hoods if needed, bar wrap ( cotton ) .
ride the bike ...
09-20-17, 04:38 PM
#18
Decrepit Member
The "L78" serial number identifies the bike as a November, 1978 frame which would make it a 1979 model year. 1979 was the last year Paramounts were made in the Chicago factory "cage", and the '79 Paramounts didn't have any chrome plating.
I suspect the repaint with the eighties decals and braze-ons was done just to give it an updated appearance.
Here are the '79 catalog pages. No chrome. In fact, the 1978 Paramounts also lacked chrome plating.
I suspect the repaint with the eighties decals and braze-ons was done just to give it an updated appearance.
Here are the '79 catalog pages. No chrome. In fact, the 1978 Paramounts also lacked chrome plating.
Last edited by Scooper; 09-20-17 at 04:44 PM.
09-20-17, 11:13 PM
#19
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Sweet Paramount. The '80s decals, which I love, on a Nervex-lugged frame definitely make me do a double take--certainly two different eras! At the end of the day, you have a flippin' Paramount! Campy pieces of the '70s looked a whole lot like ones in the '80s so bonus on the components looking 'period correct' (or close enough for this Campy non-expert). Like the others say, ride it and enjoy it.
09-21-17, 12:01 AM
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Good chance it was resprayed in the 80's... Maybe even through a Schwinn dealer? I have seen two other Paramounts with later graphics, could well have been a period that what you got with a respray was the current graphic set.
As the rear dropout faces have chrome, I bet it had "half" chrome, when you drop the fork check the steerer near the crown race for possible chrome.
As the rear dropout faces have chrome, I bet it had "half" chrome, when you drop the fork check the steerer near the crown race for possible chrome.
09-23-17, 01:06 PM
#21
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I had to leave town for work the day the bike arrived, so I get back, want to throw some pedals on it to take her for a short ride and they don't fit, it's that Italian 9/16 x 20F thing. Dropped her off at the LBS to tap them out to the standard 9/16 x 20, get her back Monday 
09-23-17, 02:37 PM
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09-23-17, 08:53 PM
#24
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I had to leave town for work the day the bike arrived, so I get back, want to throw some pedals on it to take her for a short ride and they don't fit, it's that Italian 9/16 x 20F thing. Dropped her off at the LBS to tap them out to the standard 9/16 x 20, get her back Monday
OP and new Paramount owner, I'm uncertain what your problem is with your pedals, but "Italian versus Other" probably ain't it.
I hope the shop you dropped it off at is an ethical one, and can set you on the road on your new bike.
09-24-17, 01:46 PM
#25
Decrepit Member
Good chance it was resprayed in the 80's... Maybe even through a Schwinn dealer? I have seen two other Paramounts with later graphics, could well have been a period that what you got with a respray was the current graphic set.
As the rear dropout faces have chrome, I bet it had "half" chrome, when you drop the fork check the steerer near the crown race for possible chrome.
As the rear dropout faces have chrome, I bet it had "half" chrome, when you drop the fork check the steerer near the crown race for possible chrome.