I've started restoration on my (new to me) 1962 Continental. As always, advice and guidance is sought from the C&V experts. I bought it from the original owner and it was all original except the pedals and saddle.

I picked up an Ideale #80 for $45 and have mounted it. It looks good, but there is a very nice NOS #43 (original equipment) on ebay which ends tomorrow (https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=005). Should I go for it? I'm certain it will sell high because the first bidder is a Japanese collector with deep pockets. Should I bid for it or will a new looking saddle look bad considering the condition of the paint?

Take a look at the Huret derailleurs. Huret certainly did not know how to apply chrome in the early 60s. Should I replace them? With newer Huret Allvits or something else?

Any thoughts or guidance on further restoration of the paint? What do you think of the chrome fork, decals, and headbadge? The Weinmann brake calipers, levers, stem and bars cleaned up nicely. Still need to clean the crankset. I'm tempted to convert to a three piece to save some weight, but the original is a really different one piece with Huret chainrings (I'll post a picture later this week). Thanks for the help.

Nice looking bike in remarkably good condition. Expecially the decals. Should clean up nice.

Nice bike. Restoring bikes is waay beyond my limited shop skills. But, it sounds as if your goal is to keep the bike as "original" as possible, which is the way to go. It is amazing to think about how many millions of these bikes that Schwinn sold, yet it is rare to see one in nice, original condition.

Are those alloy rims original, Bob?

Neal

No. They're a dump find that I installed for the pictures. The originals are steel and in terrible shape. The spokes are shot and rims are rusted and very un-true. I'm not certain they are salvagable. The rims are laced to interesting looking extra high flange alloy hubs. I think I'm going to build wheels out of a set of new alloy rims I bought from Nashbar this fall for about $25.

Well, as long as you're not going for a retro-rebuild, I'd replace those derailleurs and the crankset. You'll probably take 10 pounds off of the original that way (with the new alloy wheels). Then again, a lightweight Continental might be just too much of an oxymoron.

Neal

I have a Nuovo Record RD. It would be an improvement in looks over the Huret junk.

Bob, what is the serial number of this bike? That fork is the one used on the '63 and later(for a few years) Continentals, Sierras, and Super Sports(and the '62 Superior). Is this a late year bike? It looks identical to what a '63 model would look like.

Thanks for posting the photos.

Nice Continental!

And thanks for the good shot of the Panaracer tires. I may order some for my bikes. I like the color of the gumwall.

And on general principle, try to beat that Japanese collector. Even if you don't win it, he will have to pay more. There was one Japanese bidder I beat several times. I like keeping the classics here!

Eric, the serial number is F213383, so June 1962. According to the SLDB there was a "Super Continental" that year which had a chrome fork--- BUT--- it had a triple crankset. There's no evidence for mine being a triple. I wonder if the original fork was replaced. I'll ask the original owners the next time I go for a visit. What do think of the Ideale saddle I found? Should I bid on the #43, or will it look too new?

Polish the paint with Meguiars Scratch X with a semi-rough cotton cloth, then wipe off with a smooth cotton cloth. Do NOT attempt to use Scratch X on the decals or you may rub them straight off as if they were chalk.

This is not always the case, but it is most certainly not infrequent that the decaling may be in such as state. You can't particularly tell whether the decal is in that sort of state or not by simply looking at it either.

Follow the Scratch X with the carnuba wax of your choice.


As for build suggestions, by all means leave the original steel Schwinn crankset on, if it is salvagable.

Read my lips: "No more Alvits..."

If you can get your hands on a Campagnolo Gran Sport RD, I dare say it would be a nice touch. Either that or the Campagnolo Sportsman - a very nice little economy derailer that dates from '63. A Huret Challenger would be an interesting '70s piece for it.

Any decent parallelogram derailer from the era would be fine - '70s Campag Nuovo Gran Sport, perhaps?

Didn't see the auction for the newer Ideale saddle, but frankly, I see nothing wrong with the one you have on the bike right now - it looks excellent.

-Kurt

Kurt, thanks for the advise on the paint restoration and the derailleur suggestions. Can you believe the condition of ones I have? I told you they were bad. I do think the Ideale I already have will look better than the new one.

Bad? They look quite good. Some bronze wool should make them acceptable, at least. Give me a few days and I'll send you a photo of a badly rusted Schwinn-badged Huret RD.

-Kurt

Remarkable condtion for one of those from that year! Is that a 6-speed freewheel on there?

https://www.geocities.com/sldbconsumer/1962/62cc1.html

...they still look this way after HOURS with the bronze wool. The dark spots are down to bare metal and the patina textured areas are places where the chrome is krinkled. While the mechanicals still work on these derailleurs, old age and the elements have gotten the best of the chrome. When I diassembled them for cleaning the protected areas still had some nice shine!

The condition is not bad, considering I found it in an unheated barn where it had recided for the last 15 years. Prior to that the owners lived in southern CA and it probably spent most of its life in a backyard shed or under a carport. I had thought the paint was in better condition, but that was before I began removing layers of dirt to reveal the nicks and scratches. Amazing that the hand painted pinstripe and the decals are in such good shape.

See the above posts and questions about the wheels which are temps for the picture. The original spokes are shot and the rims don't look all that good as well. The hubs are slighlty oversized high flange alloy ones made in France. The front hub has wingnuts. The freewheel looks original and is the one spec in the SLDN, 15-25 and is matched with the Huret chainrings (50-47). I'll try to remove the FW this week. If I get it off I believe it can still be used along with the hubs.

Thanks for all the advice. I've decided to pass on the NOS Ideale #43 saddle. It will be a challenge to make this bike 100% original so there's no need to bother. Besides, the Ideale I already have, shows nice age appropriate patina for this ride. It's a better match.

Bob, it's definitely not a Super Continental. I have one. There is a block on the downtube name decal between the Schwinn, and Continental which says SUPER. I have a photo of it that I can send you if you wish, but I will have to look for it. It's not the computer I am using right now. I'm not convinced that the fork is a replacement. I know Schwinn had been tinkering around with the configuration of the Continental making mid year changes since it's 1960 inception. They changed the rear derailleur from the Simplex Tour de France to the Huret Allvit during the year. They changed the decals sometime during the '61 model year. I believe the front derailleur changed also changed from the Simplex Competition rod operated, to the Huret cable driven during the year. I have more details on these changes in a document of notes I gleaned from the Schwinn Reporters of the time if you are interested. I think it is highly likely that this bike came from the factory with that fork. Of course it could also have been replaced. I have a couple Sierras that have forks that are obviously replacements because they are non Schwinn. Your fork is a Schwinn fork though.

Eric,

Thanks for this information. Ignore part of my PM. I hadn't seen this yet. The notes would be great! Thanks.

I thought that ebay Ideale 43 looked a little strange, so I dug out one that I have. Apparently there were different versions of the 43. Note the side stampings in the two saddles. I have no idea which one is correct on the Schwinns.

Here are some notes that I gleaned from the Schwinn Reporters concerning the Varsinentals;

5/60 Varsity 8 speed debuts.

6/60 Varsity 8 speed is equipped with an Ideale saddle.

8/60 Continental & Varsity parts list. Conti saddle is Ideale #43

6/61 Varsity becomes a 10 speed but still has Simplex derailleurs.
Continental gets Huret Allvit front & rear derailleurs both cable operated with downtube shifters and the newer paint & decal scheme.

2/62 Varsity now has Huret derailleurs and gets price lowered to $66.95(zone 1).


7/62 21” and 23” Continental will get centerpull brakes for the Christmas Dating Program beginning late August.

12/62 All derailleur equipped lightweights for the the ’63 model year will get a new shorter upright frame geometry. The Sierra will replace the Super Continental. Varsity now has 27" wheels.

Thanks for the Varsinental history, Sierra. It answers several of my questions.

If I had an early Continental, I would definitely switch to aluminum rims and KoolStop brake pads for safety, and I would strongly consider switching to a nice period-correct aluminum crank, probably a TA, a Stronglight, or a Nervar, given the preponderance of French components.