NOS Barn find Panasonic
02-29-12 | 10:05 PM
#1
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From: Chicagoland
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NOS Barn find Panasonic
Hey all,
I got this today. NOS. never saw parts before. I need to learn more about it. I think its early eighties. Dont know much about Panasonic other than this is the top of the line bike I believe for that year. Here are some pics..share what you know.
Im so excited and my wife is looking at me like..whoop De doo..lol
I got this today. NOS. never saw parts before. I need to learn more about it. I think its early eighties. Dont know much about Panasonic other than this is the top of the line bike I believe for that year. Here are some pics..share what you know.
Im so excited and my wife is looking at me like..whoop De doo..lol
02-29-12 | 11:25 PM
#4
truly nice! I wonder if it's a product of their custom paint program where a buyer could order the frame from a Panasonic shop/dealer and spec any paint he/she wanted to be factory applied. What flavor Tange tubing is it: Champion No.1 or No.2, or Prestige?
Last edited by unworthy1; 02-29-12 at 11:29 PM.
03-01-12 | 12:06 AM
#6
Thanks to Velobase, you can check out a ton of catalog scans from this "Panasonic Virtual Museum"...which seems to be the work of one guy. Seems the PICS custom program was launched in the US in '88 and only went on here until Panasonic left the US market in '90. You may have a "Team America" model with a custom paint job from that program.
Unfortunately, the scans are too small for me to read the specs on my monitor:
https://panasonicbikemuseum.info/arch...8-pics-catalog
Unfortunately, the scans are too small for me to read the specs on my monitor:
https://panasonicbikemuseum.info/arch...8-pics-catalog
03-01-12 | 05:17 AM
#7
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Very nice frame !
If it is the Team America model than it should have Tange Prestige tubing
https://picasaweb.google.com/1021080...98582101022034
If it is the Team America model than it should have Tange Prestige tubing
https://picasaweb.google.com/1021080...98582101022034
03-01-12 | 07:06 AM
#9
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Looks like a Mangalloy decal on that fork, but could also say just Tange.
I think the Team American and Team Europe were different horses.
If it's Tange Prestige, it sure looks like a DX6000 with a custom paint job, and it's gorgeous.
If it's Tange 1, it sure looks like a DX5000 with a custom paint job, and it's gorgeous.
If it's Tange 2, it sure looks like a DX4000.....and you get my drift.
Very likely made in the National plant, nearly identical to the Centurions made there, too.
I'd get my ass back to that barn and look in every nook and cranny.
I think the Team American and Team Europe were different horses.
If it's Tange Prestige, it sure looks like a DX6000 with a custom paint job, and it's gorgeous.
If it's Tange 1, it sure looks like a DX5000 with a custom paint job, and it's gorgeous.
If it's Tange 2, it sure looks like a DX4000.....and you get my drift.
Very likely made in the National plant, nearly identical to the Centurions made there, too.
I'd get my ass back to that barn and look in every nook and cranny.
03-01-12 | 07:47 AM
#14
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This guy owned a bicycle shop. Shut it down in the 80s and put everything in the barn. Im sifting through it again to help the widow next Wednesday.
the model name on the top tube is Team Custom
It does have prestige tubes. And it says PICS individual custom program.
I never knew much about panasonic..
the model name on the top tube is Team Custom
It does have prestige tubes. And it says PICS individual custom program.
I never knew much about panasonic..
03-01-12 | 08:34 AM
#15
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Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Bikes: '74 Schwinn Le Tour (x2), '83 Bianchi, '96 Trek 820, '96 Trek 470, '99 Xmart Squishy Bike, '03 Giant Cypress
I've ridden a few different Panasonics, and they were consistently great bikes. Wonderful riders. They sparked my love for old lugged steel.
03-01-12 | 10:16 AM
#18
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From: Spokane, WA
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia Elite/Motobecane Fantom Cross Team Ti/'85 Trek 520
That frame is beautiful. i love the colors. Don't know much about Panasonic but if I came across that frame, I would love to build it. Too bad i could not afford any of the high end parts that frame deserves.
03-01-12 | 10:30 AM
#19
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From: Toronto, Ontario
Bikes: 1984 Nishiki Landau, 1991 Merlin Titanium, 199? Lotto MBK Team
03-01-12 | 06:20 PM
#23
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Mesa, Arizona
Bikes: 90 Bridgestone MB2/3, 97 Lemond Zurich, 97 Waterford 2200, 95 Mondonico Futura Leggero
I had a very similar frame. Mine was a PICS frame, meaning it could be ordered semi-custom. Yours looks very similar. So it might be a PICS frame as well. I am pretty sure those are late 80's, and not early 80s. The virtual bike museum has PICs catalogs from 88 and 89. Lots of great colors were available.
Here is a thread on my frame
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Tri-quot-Build
And here are some pictures:
And here is the PICS order form I found (Team America is one of the models):
Here is a thread on my frame
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Tri-quot-Build
And here are some pictures:
And here is the PICS order form I found (Team America is one of the models):
Last edited by sjpitts; 03-01-12 at 06:27 PM.
03-05-12 | 09:11 AM
#25
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 605
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From: Plymouth, MN
Bikes: 2000 Pinarello Paris | Panasonics: '88 DX-5000 / '88 DX-4000 / '88 MC-5500 (sold) / '86 Team America / '86 Team Japan (2) / '85 Team / '84 DX-4000 (sold) / '91 PR-6000 / '89 PICS Team Custom / '83 AR-6000 Aero / '89 DX-1000 / '89 Team MC Custom (sold
That is an epic find. It is an 88 or 89 PICS program frame. Want to sell it? haha ;-)