Identify Vintage Schwinn?
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Identify Vintage Schwinn?
Saw this ad but don't know too much about it, help???The seller said he found this under the handlebar, "Schwinn Chicago 4063" and that it's a 1970's Schwinn 10 speed.
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It is a mid-level model from the 1980s. The stem shifters and the general give away. Could be a LeTour or Traveler. I think the seller misread the "4063." There should be a very lightly stamped four digit number running vertically on the headbadge. The first three digits would reveal the day of the year and the final digit the year in the decade. Since there are not "406" days in the year, this would be wrong. But a 1984 model would make sense if the number were actually "0634."
Start looking here in the Tom Findley Schwinn Catalogs.
My money is on a 1983 or 1984 (my hat's off to Hundson308 below)
Le Tour Luxe and the seller misprinted the four digit date code.
Start looking here in the Tom Findley Schwinn Catalogs.
My money is on a 1983 or 1984 (my hat's off to Hundson308 below)

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Last edited by pastorbobnlnh; 10-15-13 at 05:38 AM.
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I bet you're close, Pastor Bob. My guess would be an '84 LeTour. The silver on the '83s was lighter (like my Avatar), and didn't come with bottle braze-ons. The '84s came in this color, with bottle bolts. My '84 LeTour Luxe also came with 18 speeds, Suntour Mountech derailleurs and (Suntour Power?) shifters bolted to a square braze-on on the top of the downtube. Close but no cookie. Don't know if the stem shifters were an option that year.
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Last edited by Hudson308; 10-15-13 at 06:20 AM.
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It looks like a LeTour to me. Late 70's. Lugged, not fillet-brazed. Made in Japan.
edit: while writing my response, several others have beat me to it.
edit: while writing my response, several others have beat me to it.

#7
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According to what you previously posted about your size that bike is WAY too big for you!
That number is part of the zip code in Chicago (60639) where the Schwinn headquarters were located. A more important number would be the 4-digit number stamped into the badge, which marks the ordinal day (first three digits) and year (last digit) the bike was assembled. For example the bike wearing the badge pictured below has a 1141 stamp indicating that it was built on Friday April 24th 1981.
The seller said he found this under the handlebar, "Schwinn Chicago 4063" and that it's a 1970's Schwinn 10 speed.

Last edited by Metacortex; 10-15-13 at 12:35 PM.
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According to what you previously posted about your size that bike is WAY too big for you!
That number is part of the zip code in Chicago (60639) where the Schwinn headquarters were located. A more important number would be the 4-digit number stamped into the badge, which marks the ordinal day (first three digits) and year (last digit) the bike was assembled. For example the bike wearing the badge pictured below has a 1141 stamp indicating that it was built on Friday April 24th 1981.

That number is part of the zip code in Chicago (60639) where the Schwinn headquarters were located. A more important number would be the 4-digit number stamped into the badge, which marks the ordinal day (first three digits) and year (last digit) the bike was assembled. For example the bike wearing the badge pictured below has a 1141 stamp indicating that it was built on Friday April 24th 1981.

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The size looks to be 25" or approximately 63cm. It's a large frame which means you need to have about 34" or larger inseam and probably need to be at least 6' 2" tall. Hope this is helpful.
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You think so Pastorbob? If you're right then this bike is TOO BIG for me as well, I'm only 5'9 and more torso than legs.
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#13
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The "SB3xxxxx" serial means the frame was built in Feb. '83 in the Greenville Mississippi Schwinn plant, making it almost certainly an '83 Le Tour Luxe. As mentioned earlier, the headbadge number will tell you the day the bike itself was built. But all of this is moot since a 25" frame is *way* too big for you.
Last edited by Metacortex; 10-17-13 at 09:21 AM.
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Great information guys! I've been looking for 54-56cm and again this bike is way too big, maybe that's why the seller has been forthcoming on the frame measurements. Good thing I didn't drive over there and waste my time. Thanks again guys.
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The "SB3xxxxx" serial means the frame was built in Feb. '83 in the Greenville Missouri Schwinn plant, making it almost certainly an '83 Le Tour Luxe. As mentioned earlier, the headbadge number will tell you the day the bike itself was built. But all of this is moot since a 25" frame is *way* too big for you.



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