Paramount value
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ashland, VA
Posts: 4,420
Bikes: The keepers: 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix, 1968 Ranger, 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Tourist, 3 - 1986 Rossins, and a '77 PX-10 frame in process.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 221 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
129 Posts
Paramount value
OK, this isn't going to be a usual "what's this bike worth?" post. I'm asking for the group mind to bring me up to speed on a particular market. To wit:
The wife asked me to run to the nearby FoodLion to pick her up a box of wine. I take the Raleigh Sprite, but am wearing a Triumph motorcycle t-shirt. Realizing I've forgotten my key to the bike lock, I take the bike inside with me, park it by the shopping carts, grab the wine, run thru the register and I'm on my way back out the doors. A guy walking in comments, "That t-shirt should say Raleigh."
Immediate stop, he's barely looked at my bike and recognizes it? Of course we start talking. He's got (claimed) a '71 Paramount and a Waterford, plus another bike he'd like to sell. I give him my card.
Now, having realized long, long ago that I'd never own a Paramount (no, my PDG Paramount I built about five years ago doesn't count), I've never followed the market. Yes, I can already hear the objections, "You haven't seen the bike." Correct. What I'm asking is, what is the current market value of an early 70's Paramount? For the sake of argument, assume it's complete, hanging in the garage unused for years, but hasn't deteriorated badly. Something that a teardown, rubbing out the finish, and reassembly and tune would make rideable/sellable (it's a 25" frame, too tall for me).
If this guy gets back to me, I'd like to have an idea of what kind of ballpark I'm playing in. I know British 3-speeds and Rossins, not Paramounts.
The wife asked me to run to the nearby FoodLion to pick her up a box of wine. I take the Raleigh Sprite, but am wearing a Triumph motorcycle t-shirt. Realizing I've forgotten my key to the bike lock, I take the bike inside with me, park it by the shopping carts, grab the wine, run thru the register and I'm on my way back out the doors. A guy walking in comments, "That t-shirt should say Raleigh."
Immediate stop, he's barely looked at my bike and recognizes it? Of course we start talking. He's got (claimed) a '71 Paramount and a Waterford, plus another bike he'd like to sell. I give him my card.
Now, having realized long, long ago that I'd never own a Paramount (no, my PDG Paramount I built about five years ago doesn't count), I've never followed the market. Yes, I can already hear the objections, "You haven't seen the bike." Correct. What I'm asking is, what is the current market value of an early 70's Paramount? For the sake of argument, assume it's complete, hanging in the garage unused for years, but hasn't deteriorated badly. Something that a teardown, rubbing out the finish, and reassembly and tune would make rideable/sellable (it's a 25" frame, too tall for me).
If this guy gets back to me, I'd like to have an idea of what kind of ballpark I'm playing in. I know British 3-speeds and Rossins, not Paramounts.
__________________
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
Syke
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 580
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 254 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 182 Times
in
141 Posts
There have been a few Paramounts in the craigslist finds thread and the comments on those might help give you some ideas and tips what to look for: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...e-part-ii.html
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: City of Angels
Posts: 4,870
Bikes: A few too many
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1364 Post(s)
Liked 2,181 Times
in
1,183 Posts
OP,
Hard to say without photos, Is it a P13, P-15 or? All original Campy...is it chrome?
Condition is also key to the bike's value...I have seen beat up non-original P's go for as little as 300, some nice ones languish at 700, chrome more.
As others have said it depends on your area and the market you are in, I would ask what seller is looking for and go from there...you can always shoot some pics and come back to the forum for evaluation.
Good Luck, Ben
Hard to say without photos, Is it a P13, P-15 or? All original Campy...is it chrome?
Condition is also key to the bike's value...I have seen beat up non-original P's go for as little as 300, some nice ones languish at 700, chrome more.
As others have said it depends on your area and the market you are in, I would ask what seller is looking for and go from there...you can always shoot some pics and come back to the forum for evaluation.
Good Luck, Ben
__________________
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
"EVERY PERSON IS GUILTY OF ALL THE GOOD THEY DID NOT DO"
Voltaire
Voice recognition may sometimes create odd spelling and grammatical errors
#5
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26419 Post(s)
Liked 10,380 Times
in
7,208 Posts
...here in NorCal, the painted ones from the 70's, in excellent cosmetic condition, went for about $1000 pretty quickly on the CL 6-8 years back. NOw, they are considerably cheaper when i see them listed (which is infrequently). IIRC the last one I saw here was listed at $500. I don't know if it sold for that, or if it sold at all...I didn't follow it.
I would think that in your location that things would be a little cheaper. But I'm only guessing. And yes, the chrome ones seem to go for more.
I forget exactly the year that production switched from the Paramount cage at Schwinn to Waterford, but someone here probably knows, or you can Google it. I don't think the Waterford bikes are any better or worse than the older ones, but they do have a different feel to them when you ride them, Part of that is just the way bikes evolved from the 70's through the 80's.
I would think that in your location that things would be a little cheaper. But I'm only guessing. And yes, the chrome ones seem to go for more.
I forget exactly the year that production switched from the Paramount cage at Schwinn to Waterford, but someone here probably knows, or you can Google it. I don't think the Waterford bikes are any better or worse than the older ones, but they do have a different feel to them when you ride them, Part of that is just the way bikes evolved from the 70's through the 80's.
Likes For 3alarmer:
#6
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,525
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
Well, if the paint is great and the parts are predominantly Campy, you should be able to either sell complete, or part it out on fleece bay for around $1000. Of course you have the fees, packing and shipping to take care off. Collectors tend to want the Chicago ones, original paint and decals, in excellent rust free condition helps!
The trend is not your friend! Holding onto bikes to sell sometime later is a way to lose $$. Ask me how I know....
The trend is not your friend! Holding onto bikes to sell sometime later is a way to lose $$. Ask me how I know....
Likes For wrk101:
#7
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26419 Post(s)
Liked 10,380 Times
in
7,208 Posts
...just informational, but a 70's paramount just got listed here in the Bay area for $2000 on CL. I don't think it'll sell for anywhere near that, but what do I know ?
#8
Senior Member
Well, if the paint is great and the parts are predominantly Campy, you should be able to either sell complete, or part it out on fleece bay for around $1000. Of course you have the fees, packing and shipping to take care off. Collectors tend to want the Chicago ones, original paint and decals, in excellent rust free condition helps!
The trend is not your friend! Holding onto bikes to sell sometime later is a way to lose $$. Ask me how I know....
The trend is not your friend! Holding onto bikes to sell sometime later is a way to lose $$. Ask me how I know....
#9
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,525
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
Yes the 1971s were but the other one you mentioned was not.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Porschefan
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
5
05-21-17 07:35 AM
HoustonHemi
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
6
08-09-12 03:38 PM
Prop Man
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
3
10-13-10 12:55 PM
cpsqlrwn
Classic & Vintage
1
08-19-10 03:13 PM
VicaDylaN
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
10
12-29-09 03:04 PM