kev254

I recently bought this bike at a garage sale and I'm trying to figure out what it may be worth. I know the bike is a Schwinn Typhoon, and after checking the serial number, think it was manufactured in August, 1979. That's about all the info I have. I will say that I think the bike is all original, and in fairly good condition. It has been sitting in a dry garage for the last 15-20 years. If it will help, here's the serial # I found located on the front tube of the bike: HQ570965. If anyone can tell me more about this bike, and maybe a ballpark estimate of what it might be worth, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

repechage

Front tire is not original, Typhoon's had Schwinn Westwind model tires. This bike would evolve into the Schwinn Cruiser in a few years, sans fenders, and a few other details. Earlier models of this model name had painted rims, another version with thicker spokes was called the Heavy-Duty.

This bike was made in Chicago, and has the components Chicago schwinn's were known for, double wall rims, cast fork, electroforged frame in the classic style. To some the 70's style chainring is less interesting. Value is really variable by locale. $100 to $250.

kev254

Thank you for your response... I now know a little more about the bike. Thinking of having it restored..... And also glad to know I paid a good price for it at $20 bucks....... Thanks again....KP

FastJake

Around here, $100 max. That's if it's in perfect shape with great pictures.

randyjawa 

What the previous two members are saying is that many things impact the value of a vintage bicycle. Things like the size of the bicycle, its model, vintage and what condition it is in. The selling location is also very important. Big cities seem to command higher final value prices. You can learn more about this if you take the time to have a look through Vintage Bicycle Value, an article intending to help people, just like you, understand the dynamics of selling old bicycles.

Good luck with the bicycle and my guess is that it will not be hard to restore. Of course, you do need to understand the best way to restore and what to restore, both pieces of information contained elsewhere in the MY "TEN SPEEDS" website.

Hope this is a help and good luck with that nice old Schwinn.

wrk101

Note there are big cities with big prices, and big cities with low prices. Here in the SE, I routinely pick up bikes in Charlotte and Atlanta, two big cities, but prices are low. Then you have red hot markets like NYC, San Fran, Portland, OR, etc. There prices could be 3X my area. Around here, in that condition, that is a $25 to $50 bike max. Depending how the paint looks, once rehabbed, with the right tires, etc., maybe $100. As you can see, at least here, difficult to profitably rehab that bike.

"Having it restored" sounds like "paying someone to restore it". If that is the case, then it will be cheaper to buy one in pristine, ready to ride condition.

vintagebicycle

In this area those are pretty hot sellers, or anything Schwinn lately.
I've owned several of those bikes myself and have never had any trouble selling one.
I just let go of a rather rough 1972 model for $200. I have a few guys that will buy anything Schwinn, even if it's rough.
The Typhoon had its origins in the earlier American model and other various middleweights that began in the late 1950's and early 60's with the Corvette, Jaguar, Hornet, Spitfire, Speedster, and Tiger models. There was a heavier version with heavy duty wheels called the Heavy Duti sold basically for newpaper delivery in the late 60's and through the 70's. These bikes used the common Schwinn cantilever frame and were rock solid bikes. Probably as good as it gets when it comes to a single speed middleweight bike.