Austro-Daimler Project
08-20-20 | 10:24 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23
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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.
“72” in the head tube.
Paint is rough, to say the least
Ugly adjuster, but very cool mechanism.
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.
“72” in the head tube.
Paint is rough, to say the least
Ugly adjuster, but very cool mechanism.
08-20-20 | 10:51 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,486
Likes: 1,552
From: Oakland, CA
Bikes: '82 Univega Competizione, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '83 Mercian KOM Touring, '85 Univega Alpina Uno, '76 Eisentraut Limited
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...
Cool bike! See how that paint looks after a good wipe down and wax...
08-21-20 | 12:41 AM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,900
Likes: 1,125
Yup, head tube angle......
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72 Line Seeker
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72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
08-21-20 | 07:15 AM
#5
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 23
Likes: 5
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?
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?
08-21-20 | 07:58 AM
#6
Cyclotouriste
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,784
Likes: 6,994
From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
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). 
08-21-20 | 11:37 AM
#7
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Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 331
Likes: 73
Bikes: '68 Masi Special road, Grail bike
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
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
