hunt4treasures

I just purchased this bike this morning for $108.00 from a local pawn shop. they had it mixed in with a bunch of other bikes. Found a diamond in the rubble!!!! Ive been buying vintage bicycles and reselling them for about 3 years. i didn't know too much about this bike before i bought it, i just remembered a bike repair guy telling me one day that these bikes are rare so I've been keeping my eyes open. i couldn't believe it when i saw it , it was listed for 150.00 but talked them down to 100.00 plus tax. I was jumping inside cause i researched the bike a bit before i went in to purchase it. I did a burnout out of there! the worker said" i think this bike is old and its original so the best i can do is 100.00".

cb400bill

Moved from Introductions to Classic & Vintage.

RobbieTunes

Since all you do is re-sell, I congratulate you on your find.
Since all you do is re-sell, it's worth $3.50 in the context you set forth.
Since all you do is re-sell, this is a good market for it, besides eBay and CL

This is more of a forum for enthusiasts about the bikes, etc,
NOT about bikes being able to make you money, flipping prowess, etc, but good luck with it.

I hope the bike ends up with someone who appreciates it, and you are part of that process, so I appreciate that.

Seems this thread should be on Classic and Vintage Value Inquiries.

seedsbelize 

Seems he(?) is only asking for info. My first thought was "stolen", but that's also beside the point. I have no further info to offer, but others will be along soon.

pastorbobnlnh 

The chrome head badge below the Schwinn Paramount headbadge is not correct. No Paramount was ever made in Italy. They are strictly a USA made frame.

Therefore, this might not be a Paramount, but from the other picture, it looks like a chrome model from the '60s or '70s. Could you look for a serial number on the left rear dropout. Should be a letter followed by several numbers. Also pictures of any remaining decals would be helpful.

Great find for $108 no matter what!

Bianchigirll 

He already did the research before he bought it. All he wants to know how, and cares about is much he can get for it.

thinktubes 

Interesting find - worth what you paid at the very least.

More pics and a series number would be helpful.

repechage

Botticelli custom frame Milano... One of those two badges is incorrect to the bike.
By the glint coming from the fork crown, I think the fork at least is not a Schwinn product.
Much better and more numerous images would be needed to assess.
Note it was at a pawn shop, maybe the guy who pawned it made it into something it was not in hopes of obtaining more cash.

Fahrenheit531 

Stem shifters are certainly not original Paramount equipment.

thinktubes 

They were available as an option, so they could be original (along with the turkey levers).

Fahrenheit531 

Can't help wondering who would actually opt. Bar ends make sense, but stem?

seedsbelize 

If you ride the tops a lot, they're handy. Stem shifters get a bad rap for no good reason, just like dork discs.

zazenzach

i've heard of bottechia, but not botticelli (other than the renaissance painter). not a paramount, likely not even schwinn.

since it says italy and not italia, id guess this was a subcontracted frame for the NA market. this could be from a lesser known brand importer from the 60s 70s.

post a picture of the serial number too, that should help narrow things down.

hunt4treasures

Thank you all that had positive and knowledgeable feedback. I am new to biking but I enjoy it I got more into the sport when I started working as an EMT at the Velodrome in Carson California so I am not just in it for the money. I enjoy finding vintage bikes fixing them up and selling them, who doesn't like making money for their hard work.nothing is free. The most important part is finding these bikes and bringing them back to life so people can enjoy them. Here are a couple of more pics. I was concerned about the Botticelli plate too, I haven't seen it on any other bicycle. It also has a P1 stamp underneath the crank.

pastorbobnlnh 

It is definitely a Paramount and looks to be a P13 despite the stem shifters and brake lever extensions. The serial number D7231 reveals that it was the 31st frame made in April 1972. The saddle is incorrect. Can you provide a picture of the rear derailleur?

Metacortex

Well congratulations, that sure looks like a real Paramount P13! The serial number decodes to April '72, and that was the last year they were available in full chrome. It is unfortunate that somebody drilled holes to install a bogus "Botticelli" badge, the saddle isn't original and the rear derailleur doesn't look to be correct (post a pic) but still it has to be easily worth over a grand. I'd love to know how long it sat in that pawn shop!

repechage

The frame is Schwinn, I still would like to see an image of the fork crown.
Chrome looks pretty nice too.

72Paramount

Ready to double your money

72Paramount

P1 stamp underneath the crank indicates that it was not a Chicago schwinn, but a Wisconsin schwinn that came subcontracted out of don mainlands place. Pioneer manufacturing co.

hunt4treasures

Thanks for all the great info, here are a couple of more pictures you wanted to see.

Metacortex

Those were still chromed/painted and assembled in Chicago and as such would be considered Chicago built bikes. Pioneer didn't just do Paramount frames, for example I have several Sports Tourers with '72//73 "Px" stamped frames as well.

pastorbobnlnh 

Paramount fork. If you remove it from the frame you should find the same serial number stamped in the steering tube. The rear derailleur was added when the freewheel was changed.

Here's a guess: The original owner didn't like the down tube shifters, and that it was too hard to climb hills. Took it to a Schwinn dealer and asked them to do something about this. Off came the Campagnolo shifters and RD! On went the Varsity/Continental/Super Sport shifters and new freewheel (my bet is on it's a Suntour Perfect). They did use a decent RD as a replacement. Maybe the shrewd LBS also asked at the time, "I can install 'better' brake levers that let you brake from any position on the bars." Who knows, it might have also had originally Campagnolo levers and calipers.

What's surprising is that it looks to be still wearing tubular tires and rims. Maybe the LBS didn't think that 27" wheels and tires would fit? Or the original owner decided enough money had been spent. Who knows?

Anyway @hunt4treasures you have stumbled upon a find many of us Schwinn fans would spend a lifetime never finding. If you do plan to sell it, remember us first since we helped out with nailing down a firm ID and letting you know, that even as it sits, you could easily increase the price by 10-20 times.

If you don't decide to sell, with a bit of work and effort you can transform your Paramount into a very nice bike that can be ridden and enjoyed for another 40+ years. It also makes a great conversation starter and would be a wonderful heirloom to pass along to future lover of bicycling.

thinktubes 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Shifters are likely stock.

Schwinn "twin sticks" were an option on the order form ("at no extra charge" )

shelbyfv

What an amazing find!

modelmartin

Those rusty screws holding the badges on are a little gross.