So I pulled this old Columbia "500" out of a scrap metal bin at the county transfer station the other day (don't tell anyone!):

And I went looking up the serial number;

I found it on oldroads.com:
1964 N-26184 through N-370693

Is this true? Do I finally have a bike that's older than I am? That would be pretty sweet. I love the rocket-fin fender:

Here's the requisite drivetrain shot:

It seems to be intact and original, only needing the usual TLC and tube/pad/cable replacements. After I get my wife's Breeze back together, this one's next.

That's one of the coolest fenders I've ever seen!

Is that a grill or Sputnik? Either way it is awesome.

all of my bikes are older than I am

You may break that streak when you open the big box you'll be getting...

That is a grill, I think it's the Louisville World's Fair Grill-O-Dome edition I have to clean that up too.

Lol first time i've seen reflectors that mount to the frame like that.

Do what it takes to save all bikes from their death!
I've saved many hopeless really beat up bikes from becoming scrap.

Agreed. Bikes are for riding; I can't stand to see them neglected. Maybe that's why there are 16 bikes/frames around the place right now

lol, thats true, but I doubt its much older than I am

You'll have to let us know when you get it and run the serial no. I never bothered to look it up.

I'm not sure there was ever a consensus as to the brand, was there?

That hasn't been nailed down yet, no. I think Miyata 210 was a leading suspect.

there were a few suggestions, but no perfect matches. I'll try and figure it out. Perhaps I'll try and email some pics to Backcountry and see if anyone remembers. It could even be a custom job they had spec'ed or something