Austro-Daimler Project
 

Just picked up what I believe to be an early 70’s Austro-Daimler AD-S. It looks rough...really rough... but my initial impression is that the frame is still in good shape.
It has a Huret Allvit derailleurs and Weinmann Semi Automatic brakes (with an ugly, but very cool adjusting knob). I don’t recognize the mark on the hub, a sort of U inside a shield.
There is a 72 stamped into the head tube, I’m guessing that’s the year?
It’s an interesting bike that cost next to nothing. My plan is to strip it down and have the frame repainted. I’ve read about AD’s legendary paint, but they must not have used it on this bike...it’s not pretty, or even interesting. I have a sign painter friend who can hand letter the frame and maybe add some pin stripes, too.
And I’ll probably swap the Huret components out for Suntour or Shimano.
It’ll be one of a couple fall/winter projects.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...663d5fb07.jpeg
“72” in the head tube.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...abcb39eec.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be2cda81b.jpeg
Paint is rough, to say the least
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e51e7150.jpeg
Ugly adjuster, but very cool mechanism.

I'm guessing it's a couple of years younger than that, and that the 72 refers to the head tube angle. I'm no expert by any means, but I know that kind of marking is common.

Cool bike! See how that paint looks after a good wipe down and wax...

Yup, head tube angle......

The hub was made by Union, a German brand, best known for its pedals. It's on Velobase: Union hub.

Nice find, BTW. Looking forward to seeing more of that bike.

Thanks for the info and education. I’m relatively new to this, too. I’ve got a few old Schwinn lightweights and an English 3-speed. The head tube stamp was something i hadn’t seen before. Love learning new things.

I’ll try to polish it up and see how it looks clean, but if I decide to repaint, am I crossing a line I might want to reconsider?

The AD-S is not a collector's item, so feel free to do anything that makes you like it better (and ride it more often). :)

that 72 is not stamped into the the head tube but rather the lug. it is an angle stamping and should have been
sanded/ground/removed b4 painting. the Union hub is German made and very low end. the wholesale price when I
had my shop in the early 70s was about a dollar. the Weinmann ratcheting barrel adjuster came out right after
Suntour ratcheting shifters which were very popular so companys without any real new ideas were adding ratchets
to everything