ZEUS hiding under the rust
 

Took a long trip to pick up this 10 speed Zeus. It looks very bad but I have rebuilt a lot worse. The rust is the type that rubs off on your hand. It is not pitted. It is all Zeus except the Ambrose stem and the Belgium Etrto rims. Criterium dérailleur's and seat post seat post. Slanted fork crown. Fork is painted chrome. Super Alda 71 breaks.Zeus Grand Sport peddles. I can see the remains of the Reynolds sticker,531? Bike feels like 23 pounds? I cannot read serial number on bottom bracket.
Sorry for the poor picture but I am running late and will not be back home till Sunday afternoon. I will take lots of pictures then and post them.
Anyone want to guess year and model? I think 1972-82 It has a sticker that says imported from Spain
Ed

I'd say 70s. I have 3 Zeus bikes...

Those are some really weird rust formations, hope you got a good deal on it, even if its not super bad, interesting zeus anyway.

I sold a vintage Macario from Spain also to one of my best friends. He claims that it is a better ride than his Rossin frame Greg LeMond! Your bike is lovely, and since you indicated that you have restored others, I can just imagine how nice it will look once you're done with it! Congratulations.

Flash

I applaud you for taking on such a challenge. Since shear astetics great looks where the strong point of Zeus no company made better looking parts than Zeus at there peak. This bike was likely one of the nicest looking ever made in its prime.To chose such a cosmetically challenged one to rebuild is just challenge most here would not undertake.

I have been lucky enough to pick up two Zeus bicycles, over the years. The first one, I call it a Zeus Alpha, was purchased from a fellow employee about ten years ago...
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...aFullRight.jpg


...and the second one, found as a basket case, was picked up at a yard sale for twenty bucks...
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...2_FullSide.jpg

Both bikes came fitted with the Super Alpha component groups fitted...
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...entCollage.jpg

Nice bicycles but one would have to wonder how one Zeus, let alone two, managed to find their way to Thunder Bay.

Boy, that looks terrible, Ed.

I am with the others though. lauding you for taking on what we all believe is a worthy project.
Looking forward to more pics when you get back, and also to your plan of attack!

I would say salt air. or an occasional dip in the ocean.

Looking forward to seeing the progress pictures of this one. Oxalic acid heaven.

-Kurt

Thats an easy restoration...

Sandblast all the paint and rust, doesnt look the chroming has oxidation, thats good... so clean that with OA. Then primer and paint white again. Decals available so even that is not an issue.

Those Macarion ride super nice, Zeus aswell.

This one hung in a leaky shed for who knows how long and was worse with rust, hence the loss of chrome in the repaint.

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Spa...us_bike_TW.htm

yes, there's no reason why it can't end of looking like new, as long as the frame's not dented, pitted, bent or compromised by rust. looking forward to the rebuild. please show a lot of before/after shots if you can.

.
I live east of Charlotte NC and once in a while I check CL Columbia SC. I saw this Zeus for $40 and the add was two days old. I figured it was long gone but I emailed the bike co-op that was listing the bike. A week went by and the add was still there so I sent another email. Another week goes buy and it is renewed. I sent a third email saying I see it is relisted and I want to buy it. I got a email back saying they had not checked there email and I could have it. 125 miles one way but it is all interstate highway. Beautiful day,70+ degrees so my wife and I take the Mustang convertible and some bike tools and go and pick up the bike. My wife looks at it and say "that is not bad, you have rebuilt much worse".
It doesn't look so bad with the wheels on it. I found the Reynolds sticker and it is somewhat unique. It is square and black with 531 in green in the background. I found one online just like it. Reynolds, Butted, Frame Tubes. 1960's to mid 70's. There is only one black one that the D in Reynolds and the D inButted line up as mine does.Wheels are odd set of 700C. Front is a Alesa Belgium and the rear is a Ukai-japan. Some one said 1960 and I am thinking they are correct. Nothing is bent or dented and the rust is surface only. No deep rust,it is easy to sand right through it to shinny metal. The color is faded light Green or Grey. Maybe the original color will be inside the BB