nice looking bike. I'm always a little shocked when I go back and look at the catalogs and see how Schwinn considered these bikes. Mostly see people just riding around. And they definitely came with stem shifters, I think a lot of Schwinn dealers expected to see those and that's how they ordered them if the bike was going on the floor, or if it was for themselves.

Moderator note: I don't see where the OP has asked for appraisals, so we aren't moving it to appraisals.

True, but it feels to me, and IMO, that since these were options that were generally made to a P15/10 model and not to the P13 "Professional Racing Bike" with tubular tires. We'd like to think that the LBS would have steered the original buyer to the P15 instead of letting him/her "downgrade" this P13 the way it has been. Just my 2 cents.

Part of the reason for me guessing this way has to do with the Shimano Crane GS (same as Schwinn Approved LeTour) RD. It was introduced in 1976. Maybe there are date codes to be found on the shifters, brake levers and calipers which could help pin down when they were added.

Dying to know the story behind the Botticelli badge.

Original buyer's name....

Pastorbob Crane GSs were around before 1976 as both my World Voyagers had one of them and they are 1973 models. I think that 1976 was near the last year for the Crane name as in 1977 or 1978 they became known as Dura Ace GSs. Roger

those photos made my jaw drop. obviously is a paramount. excellent find!

as others mentioned, paramounts could come with turkey levers and stem histers. i have seen more than a few out in the wild like that.

could be, but the "custom frame milan italy" still doesnt make much sense.

you're right. the crane first debuted in '71 according to disraeligears

I thought the p15 went to the crane rd in 72/3 in place of the campagnolo gran turismo??? Can anyone that remembers chime in?

I think I understand what you are saying, but what would a volare or traveller be? Japan or Chicago? If the frame was made by pioneer, it's a subcontracted Wisconsin schwinn. Where it was chromed, painted or put together doesn't change the frames origin. This reminds me of the cadillac allante'. Body by pininfarina Italy, built in Detroit. Is it italian is it american? Is it both? Yes yes and yes.

Schwinn installed the GT-300 (rebadged Crane GS) on the Paramount P15, World Voyageur and Sports Tourer starting in 1973. The Paramount P15 used the Campagnolo Gran Turismo from '70 through '72 and the Sports Tourer used it in '71 and '72. In '72 the World Voyageur came with the Crane GS.

The Volare and Traveler had the frames built, painted, and the complete bikes assembled in Japan, they were imported bikes. The Paramount (and Sports Tourer) was chromed/painted and built in Chicago, even if some of the frames were outsourced to Pioneer.

I guess I misread the origin date of the Crane RD. I now see there were two versions and I spotted the 2nd release. Sorry about the confusion I caused. :(

Thank-you for all the clarification.

The Crane was part of the 1973 Dura Ace group.

Shimano 1973 Dura-Ace Catalogue

HE SHOOTS !!! HE SCORES !!!!!!! (And the crowd goes wild )

:speedy::speedy::speedy::speedy::speedy: Great find OP !!