Stingray
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Interesting... one of those "on the web inflation calculators" says that 1962, $49.99 is equivalent to $478 today. Today, around here, a lot would say "almost $500 for a kid's bike? WHAAA?" And that bike was a screaming success back then...
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Schwinn's were never cheap and "fair-traded" too.
the dealer profit margin was meager. the price west of the Mississippi was more also, to accounting for the added shipping. Schwinn could do that as they were top of the heap. they sponsored Captain Kangaroo also. "boy, I like my Schwinn bike, Schwinn is the Finest Bike!" |
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...22ba67c49.jpeg
there were 5 or 6 Stingrays just on my relatively short dead-end street back in the day gave mine to a younger cousin when I was in my mid-teens found one at a flea market around 20 years ago - and still ride it now and then (driveway / private road) |
I built mine of a bike the neighbor found at the dump with a seat and handlebars I saved for. Dad helped me paint it lime green like my uncle had painted his Harley.
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$50 back then was unobtainable.
Only rich kids had Schwinn Sting Rays and there weren't many of those around.. |
Originally Posted by Bad Lag
(Post 22531023)
$50 back then was unobtainable.
Only rich kids had Schwinn Sting Rays and there weren't many of those around.. Mark |
I really believe that if it wasn’t for late 60s muscle bikes, the 1970s bike boom wouldn’t have happened either.
And yeah probably a five speed stingray would be something like 700 bucks today. Or maybe that was last year, ha ha. But grown-ups are still paying that kind of money for kids bikes. They just have to go around the bike store to do it. Around here you will see a lot of Woom and Cleary bikes, The 24 in front suspension mountain bike models are that kind of money. By the time I was old enough to ride a bike, it was all BMX all the time and anything with a banana seat was a girl bike. And then I was exactly the right age to get a mountain bike when they were the new thing. |
$125 for a retro Sting Ray from Wal-Mart :eek:
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The 2020 version is not too bad.
could be much worse! |
Originally Posted by Bad Lag
(Post 22531023)
$50 back then was unobtainable.
Only rich kids had Schwinn Sting Rays and there weren't many of those around.. was really hard chasing inflation, took me at least another 6 Months from my original plan because of that. and sales tax went from 4.5% to 6%... what an interesting education in macroeconomics for a kid in grade school. |
Stingrays are neat but the cult following is insane. I recently liquidated a bunch of vintage Schwinn stuff and it was like people were throwing their money at me if it was stingray related. Stuff like a sissy bar covered in rust for $250 just because it's a tall one or tires that are completely shot for significantly more than a new re-pop of the tire.
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Originally Posted by degan
(Post 22531218)
Stingrays are neat but the cult following is insane. I recently liquidated a bunch of vintage Schwinn stuff and it was like people were throwing their money at me if it was stingray related. Stuff like a sissy bar covered in rust for $250 just because it's a tall one or tires that are completely shot for significantly more than a new re-pop of the tire.
later used P brackets to attach to the dropout eyes. |
Originally Posted by repechage
(Post 22531216)
The 2020 version is not too bad.
could be much worse! Same YouTuber - Rat Rod Bikes with a renovation of a '66 five speed Stingray Fastback |
Growing up in the 1960s, in my neighborhood my friends and I all had cheap Stingray knockoffs of some sort. I can’t remember what brand—maybe Murray or Columbia? Our parents probably bought them at the local Grants department store.
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Originally Posted by Deal4Fuji
(Post 22531308)
For the price I agree. I'd like to see them make one in a larger size for the adult boomers like myself that never had one growing up. I found a '75 Continental in copper ( chestnut ) that's one of my favorite bikes. I've kept it all original just as it rolled off the showroom floor from Severson Schwinn in Chicago.
Same YouTuber - Rat Rod Bikes with a renovation of a '66 five speed Stingray Fastback https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpu8APzpiBI I bought one to update my Sting-Ray also needed a longer chain and slightly larger cog to keep the gear ratio useable. Was like $8.50 - found a used one that could use replating and polishing $100. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...77fffd6be.jpeg |
Originally Posted by nlerner
(Post 22531317)
Growing up in the 1960s, in my neighborhood my friends and I all had cheap Stingray knockoffs of some sort. I can’t remember what brand—maybe Murray or Columbia? Our parents probably bought them at the local Grants department store.
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Seems like the market for old Stingrays way outshines that for vintage race bikes. You have to be an old bike nut to have an interest in race bikes, but the Stingray is a cultural touchstone for that era. I suppose that's the difference.
As close as I ever came to one was a Western Auto grasshopper green knockoff with a 3-speed top tube stick shifter. I thought I was pretty cool. |
Mint 5-speed recently went for $2000 at a swap meet I attended.
Cheapest I saw was $750. Handgrips were selling $30 Centaur 3x10 Battaglin got nary a look at $900 |
I remember seeing my first Stingray. I can see the bike, the street and half built development like it was a photograph. It was fully kitted out with the auto style shifter and Mattel Vroomm engine noise attachment.
Memories that strong make for high prices. |
Originally Posted by nlerner
(Post 22531317)
Growing up in the 1960s, in my neighborhood my friends and I all had cheap Stingray knockoffs of some sort. I can’t remember what brand—maybe Murray or Columbia? Our parents probably bought them at the local Grants department store.
I just about destroyed the bike in a year - and the next year got a Stingray for my birthday The Stingrays were tanks and took a beating |
My parents couldn't afford the StingRay either, so I ended up getting a Huffy StingRay knock off. Single speed with the tall handlebars and banana seat. It was a candy type green, with a race slick back tire. My father was in the Army at the time, and I'm sure they got the bicycle on base at the PX. It replaced one that my grandfather had made me out of an early 60's bicycle. He got a tall sissy bar and a banana seat and tall handle bar too. But left the full rear fender, so it seemed odd to my 7 year old eyes. But what memories. One of the kids in my grandfathers neighborhood Schwinn bicycles, thou not the StingRay. All Schwinns where top of the line in my eyes.
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Originally Posted by repechage
(Post 22531345)
too bad does not have the original Mag sprocket- the original was stamped with a form that really associated it with a "mag" automotive wheel.
I bought one to update my Sting-Ray also needed a longer chain and slightly larger cog to keep the gear ratio useable. Was like $8.50 - found a used one that could use replating and polishing $100. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...77fffd6be.jpeg . |
Originally Posted by kingsting
(Post 22536312)
Sprint chainring was correct for most 66 Fastbacks. The MAG didn't come along until late 66 for the 67 model year...
. the mag sprocket which I think was part of the Krate models, did show and set the styling standard for a short while. Then... the krates and fastbacks both fell out of favor fast as it was "proto-bmx" that took hold. Slick Chicks with welded in reinforcement tubes, tractor tread tires, ( the advantage of the 1 3/4" rims - lighter than the smaller, wider 2.125" rear version ) other mods - ditch the kickstand, chain guard, cut off the rear strut bar hoop, struts to the inside and fender washers on both sides. The local Schwinn shop took a picture to send to Chicago, they knew something was up but did not know how to comprehend it. "rat trap" pedals and absolutely no reflectors. |
Today’s Stingray
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...74686c2dc.jpeg
Sad but these give me hope. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08a62097e.jpeg |
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