1964 Hollywood compared to 1964 American
 

Does anyone have the catalog pages? I think the ones at geocities are only for lightweights? What is the difference between these 2 bikes (both are women's bikes)? Thank you!

Here's the catalog page for the 1964 Hollywood and Fiesta:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...s/1965pg16.jpg

...and here's the catalog page for the 1964 American, Starlet, and Deluxe American:

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7...s/1965pg17.jpg

As far as I can tell, the Hollywood was pretty basic and had painted fenders. The American had chrome fenders, and the Deluxe American had chrome fenders, chrome rims, a chrome trimmed tank with horn, chrome front and rear racks (rear rack extra cost option), and chrome trimmed chainguard.

My understanding is that the differentiation between Schwinn middleweights were typically based on the components. The framesand forks are pretty much the same (with minor deviations to accomodate brakes etc)

Some of the differences are:

Fenders (none/painted/chrome/stainless)
Whether or not the bike had a tank.
3 speed versus single speed.
Racks (front/rear/type).
The chain guards may have also varied, but these seem to have varied more by year than model.
And other variations?

Based on a couple of quick pictures I just pulled up, the differences between a Hollywood and American are that the Hollywood has painted fenders, and no tank, while the American has stainless or Chrome fenders, and a tank. Whether there are other differences or not, I don't know.

Some of the differences may have varied by year.

EDIT: Apparently the one picture I found of an American with a tank didn't match the spec that Scooper found in the catalog... So either some years had it, or someone added one. ;)

wow, thanks for posting the scans!

I have a Hollywood myself.

This is GREAT! Exactly the information I was looking for - thank you so much all for your replies!

One of the selling points of the "American" models was that every single bit of them was "Made in America". They were beach cruisers that looked and performed like other Schwinn beach cruisers, but American hubs, brakes, bolts, and bearings were substituted for imported parts. They may be the ONLY bikes sold in America after 1950 with ZERO imported parts or components.