randyjawa 

Sometimes, i get really lucky and my guess is that some of you do too, With that in mind what is the closest to mint vintage bicycle to ever come your way? Not restored. Not painted. Just the way it was issued.

For me, it had to be this Gary Fisher, which I picked up at the dump one day. Two issues...


A single scratch on the painted stem and a flat tire...

bikemig 

I bought the MB 1 off Craigslist 2 or 3 years ago. The bike looked showroom when I bought it. When I opened it up to overhaul the bike, the grease was fresh (or as fresh as 25 plus year old grease can be). The bike had never been ridden.

The 1969 Robin Hood was also pretty much showroom. The saddle was missing but the bike still had the original Dunlop tires with the nubbies on it.

cb400bill

I have had two mint condition bikes that I acquired. The most recent was my 1986 Voyageur. All original down to the tires, bar tape, and brake pads. I overhauled it, but the grease was fine. But those tires and pads had to go.

1986 Schwinn Voyageur by cb400bill, on Flickr

The other bike was this 1972 Super Course.

1972 Raleigh Super Course by cb400bill, on Flickr

steelbikeguy

When I bought my 1974 International, it had been out of the box, but just barely... and this was in the year 2000.

The fellow who sold me the bike had gotten a number of bikes still in the box from a shop that was going out of business. When he sold me the bike, he was unemployed and needed to raise some money. The bike came with all of the original literature and bits. The tubulars were in pretty good shape for being 26 years old, but I've never had the nerve to try to use them. The AVA tubular rims were pretty basic too, so I just laced some MA-2 rims onto the hubs and have been riding it that way.

I'm still riding the bike with the original chain and handlebar tape, and have really enjoyed the bike!

Steve in Peoria

orcas island 

Mine were a pair of Centurions picked up from the same seller. Both from 1981; one a Pro Tour, the other a Semi Pro.
These were being sold by the son in law of a man who was described as buying “nice things, using them once or twice, then putting them away”. That was certainly the case here; if either one had logged more than 25 miles I would have been surprised. Here they are:

merziac

Most have seen this one and it was just posted again yesterday in the Top 3.

Its going in here too, not actually mint but VGC at least, very original and complete.

79pmooney

I picked up an early '80s Schwinn Le Tour Lux probably 15 years ago at a garage sale for $50. Been stored in a dusty garage since new. Barely rideable. Cranks barely turned. Cleaned it up, opened the bearings and the problem! Petrified grease! Scraped it out, replaced with Phil and it was a brand new bike! Nowhere near 100 miles on it. Probably not 10.

crank_addict

Beautiful and cool bike but I'm more.... or less dumbfounded that someone left it for the dump.

robertj298 

1986 Miyata 912 I found hanging in a garage. Still had the original Miyata tires on it.

crank_addict

Acquired this '1985' brand new old stock, Ochsner, full Campy in 2018 from a bike shop. That shop acquired it from another closed down shop. In 2019, the shop I acquired this from also shuttered.

I did change the fairly dried old tires but replaced with an excellent pair of the same era.


1985 Swiss made Ochsner

randyjawa 

How about a mint Gardin 400...

Bought this one at a yard sale for $40.00 CND, as I recall


Stupid me turned it into this...

seedsbelize 

The rear spokes were trashed, from an overshift, and then the dork disk replaced to cover the damage. Including that, it would be the 1980 Trek 414

Chombi1 

My 1986 ALAN Record Carbonio.
Bought It from a fellow BF C&Ver as a frameset.
Definitely used, but got it in very close to mint condition.
Best handling bike in my stable.

jdawginsc 

Just the frame bought...but paid a Redonkulously cheap $155 for the frame...shipping was a bit harsh. $80. It surpassed my widest imagination with it's finish under a bit of dirt. Only touch-up was at seat stay clamp bolt area.

ramzilla

I bought this early 80's something Raleigh & converted it to an upright handlebar city bike. After cleaning, it appeared never used. Except for one thing. The rear axle was bent so badly the rear wheel wouldn't rotate in the frame. So, I replaced the rear axle. And, it rides like a dream now.

alo

I rescued this one from the trash. It appears to have not been ridden much, and never left out in the rain. I have not cleaned it. It has dust on it. If I cleaned it, it would look like new.

Ottomotion

Both are 100% original (except for Trek pedals). Tires, bar tape, hoods, etc....Ridden a couple times and then stored.

schwinnderella

Paramounts no longer mine, the blue one is a 1965, I think the opaque blue was 73 or 74.




,

verktyg 

Back in 2009 I bought two Bilatto built 1991 Lemond Team Z bikes from an LA collector. One had no more than 200 miles on it, the other was a wall hanger that had never been on the ground! Cant get much more mint than that!



At the end of last year, I found one of my last bucket list bikes, a Masi Gran Criterium. I was looking for a mid 70's bike but then I found this 1981 model with all of the older features plus the look of a Faema bike. It's like new!







verktyg

Classtime 

This is the closest one I found. Two blocks from my house. I think the owner won it at a Triathlon and he left it with his friend when he moved. Then he had his friend sell it. This thread has made me regret selling it.


1987 Miami Vice Ironman Expert

r0ckh0und 

Currently have 3 but have had a few others.

Austro Daimler Olympian
Miyata Street Runner
Club Fuji

Kabuki12

I bought this off the original owner. It sat in his garage and never got ridden . He bought it for his wife and she hated it after one ride down the street . The only thing I changed was the RD , the original Grand Sport failed so I put a NR derailleur to replace it. I repaired the original RD but have chosen not to put it back on. I love this bike and have put many miles on it.It still looks new, Joe
1977 Raleigh Competition GS


1982 Medici Pro Strada

Pompiere

I found this Trek 400T at the Memory Lane swap in Grand Rapids, OH. The seat was a cheap replacement and the bar tape is a little tattered, but the paint is really nice.


1988 Trek 400T

easyupbug 

From my posting a few years back on Appraisals:
The lady said it was a 56cm so I went to look and saw this dust covered 51cm and almost left, then I saw the Ti crankset & stems, Heliums with no brake track, Record group, Chris King, custom paint that shines like it was clear coated yesterday, nipples still on the tires, etc. Not a single mark anywhere. She said her husband bought it and had it sprayed the red and yellow which were his Ferrari colors, yes he had incredible taste including in women. Said he never once road it. What do I do with this thing? What can it be worth? It would be horrible to part out but the only Monari crankset I ever saw was slightly used and more than I have ever paid for a Frame! I have lots of pictures if you need more detail. It's under 17# with the speed plays on it!

randyjawa 

I am impressed with many of the finds. Isn't it the rush of the week, or month, or whatever, when something like this shows up and you drag it home. I wish that I had kept this one even though it had that Tractor Like feel to the ride quality. Practically unr-idden until I got it...