drker

Well I had to see what this bike was all about on E-Bay so I bought it. What I did know was:
It was only made in 1962
15 Speed huret shifters and derailer
Great paint and decals for a 62
Here are some raw pictures https://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/...20Continental/

What I didn't know was the rear derailer was changed to a Shimano.
The front and rear wheels were changed to QR Alloy
Not sure about the handlebars though. I would have expected to see a symbol on them
The front and rear brakes I was told are hard to find (Weinmann Vainqueur 999)
Not entirely sure about the pedals . Looks like they have a large screw head at the end of them
One last thing I am not sure about the chrome forks.
I did get a receipt dated 1962 for the original sale

How difficult will it be to get this bike close to original?

Any input will be of help.

dck

Nice bike indeed. My high school buddy had one in Coppertone. The attached link has specs for the original build.

https://www.schwinnbikeforum.com/SLDB...dtail_6064.htm

SteveSGP

Should clean up great, Nice find. I'd never heard of that model.

Mos6502

Your bike sounds like it is already close to original. Finding Huret Alvit derailleurs should be no problem, they're quite common.

The slotted end in the pedals is to allow access to the bearings for adjustment/rebuilding.

Scooper

Here's the '62 dealer catalog page.

Metacortex

Looks like you got a great deal, especially if you were able to pick it up without shipping: https://www.ebay.com/itm/280921534956

The handlebars look to be original, as does the fork. They came with alloy bars, chrome forks, quick-release hubs, and I believe alloy rims as well. Finding an original Huret rear derailleur should be fairly easy. This bike will clean up very well!

As a tip, be careful not to polish off the spear and 15-speed lettering on the top tube. From what I've heard it is very fragile such that just waxing the frame can take it off.

pastorbobnlnh 

I have a '62 "regular" 10 speed Continental, made in May IIRC. It has the all chrome fork as well. The original RD is not quite the same as the '66 and later Alvits. Here is the best picture of mine. As you can see it did not survive all that well. Dang early '60s French chrome!



I don't remember my bars having any brand marks on them. Interestingly mine came with sidepull Weinmann calipers. Also, the chrome Rigida steel rims were shot, so I replaced mine with aluminum ones. I did reuse the original 'Normandy' hubs which I have always liked. I felt they looked better with wingnuts.

drker

Thanks for all the reply's. I don't know how any of you will be able to notice if I repost pictures in a couple weeks but that is my plan. Also has original leather saddle. Need some reconditioning, I don't know how well it will come back. I will post pics on PB tomorrow

BTW that was the e-bay bike! Thanks again Dan

drker

The crank turned out better than expected. Here are more pics

https://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/...20Continental/

Velognome 

Here's a '61 Alivit, held up well on a Hercules Sport, shifts well too! I think with a patience and searching most of the parts can be found in good condition.

drker

Nice to see a resemblance of what I am looking for . One more thing the front QR hub is Normandy on Weinmann 27X1 1/4. Thanks

drker

Still unsure about all the parts. The Handlebars are extremely clean and the safety brakes are Made In Japan. Did they do that in '62?

https://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/...20Continental/
Is this from a '62? Thanks Dan

rhenning

You have a bit of a frankenbike. Safety levers started in 1968 I believe. The bike from your description resembles my 1964 Sierra. 15 speed, aluminum rims (first bike to have them except SSs and Paramounts), down tube shifters, aluminum bars, leather seat etc. Here are a couple of pictures. The first Japanese things Schwinn used were in the early 1970s. I wouldn't sweat the odd parts. Most were probably replacements as the originals wore out. Roger

dddd

It's common for mid-year production Schwinns from this Era to have subsequent-year spec'd parts on them.
Nice find, BTW! The correct rims on these are Rigida ChroLux steel, I believe (MUCH lighter than Schwinn-built 27" rims).
Your handlebars look stock, just like mine.

My '62 Continental, in the similarly largest size as yours, has the chrome fork from the '63 model, as well as the CP Weinmann calipers, wing-nuts, but has the older Atom (vs. Union steel) pedals and even the older-style 1962 crankshaft that your '62 lacks (mine has a build date of 8-62).
Anything goes, within a year of production that is.
I added the lever hoods, SPD pedals, Shimano chain and freewheel, longer AVA stem, bottle cage and stem-mounted VDO clock.

If your frame seems to be on the big/tall side, the bike should ride really well (these frames have a very short effective top tube reach due to the 69.5-degree seat tube angle), so ideally you are shorter than my 5'10" for what Schwinn described as their 24" frame.
Schwinn used an extremely high bottom bracket height, for better cornering clearance on these bikes that were sold with very wide, two-sided pedals.

drker

I guess I have been lucky on most of my Schwinn purchases. Most have been complete and have parts original to that bike. Only the feedback makes me feel better about the purchase.
The bike is a 23" which is 1" smaller than what I prefer. We will see in a week or so how this bike rides.

Sexy_Lugs

Awesome find brother, it will clean up real nice. It is hard when they only made one year of the bike as if you are a perfectionist you will be pulling your hair out to find the exact pieces that where replaces.

Sierra

I bought the same bike in the 21" frame size at a bike swap quite a few years ago. Mine came with the same wheel set with the Weinmann alloy rims and quick release hubs as are found on the '64 Sierra. I can't say absolutely that they are original, but everything else on the bike was, other than the bar tape.

Some pics here: https://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q...20Continental/

Yours is in much better condition than mine.

I wouldn't expect too much out of the ride. It is after all just an electroforged gaspipe Schwinn frame.

drker

That is good to know because you are the second who said the wheels were ally QR.
Your bike will take a lot of extra work. I used a bit of Murphy's oil soap on the seat. Mine had some very deep cracks but it is very soft.
Still cleaning up the front (orig) wheel and bearings. I will change the rear 5-speed Suntour gear cluster. just to get this bike ready too ride. Thanks for the interest. Dan

John E

If you are going to ride this bike, keep the aluminum rims for safe braking and greatly improved performance. KoolStop salmon brake pads would also be a plus.

Years ago on eBay I saw a 15-speed Continental w/ the old Simplex Competition suicide shifter, which was obviously correct for that particular (1960?) frame. The triple chainring may have been an aftermarket upgrade.

pastorbobnlnh 

If you need a 5 speed Atom freewheel of the appropriate vintage, let me know. I have one that has been serviced and is ready to go.

dddd

I was wrong about the frame sizes, as 23" was actually the largest size back then and I just measured mine, also 23".

OP's bike appears to be in a little better condition than mine was, but mine was almost entirely original when I found it at Goodwill for 90 or 100 dollars four years ago.

Your S.C. became the Sierra model the following year in '63, with basically no changes.

drker

I am just interested in a new freewheel on the bike to get it ready to ride.
If I stay at it I may have this rideable this weekend. I have also had to post that the headset can't be entirely correct. The fork race and the top fork tube race are actually black not chrome. I can't see that this bike will be a keeper. There are too many parts to pickup. I will do my clean up and see what the value is

drker

Got it up on 2 wheels and more pictures. The wheels are the pain. buffing the aluminum and spokes , then the bearings,then the truing, . Front wheel I have about 4Hrs into. Rear wheel wasn't so bad. I was considering some red dot Schwinn approve brake handles on the front W/O the safety bars. It just seems right for the bike. Also the stand over height is like 32 1/2 to the top of the top bar and it still seems like a shorter frame than the 23".

https://s1103.photobucket.com/albums/...20Continental/

harpon

Safety levers are later than '68, and by a few years I think. My 68 Varsity didn't have them- and I wasn't really much aware of them then until I worked in a bike shop in '73. Never liked them- hard to adjust, too much flex and mushy feel.



Maybe you should turn the bars up, put on rubber pedals and ride barefoot.





just kidding!

Metacortex

Safety levers first appeared on Schwinn bikes in 1969
.