1967 Schwinn
#1
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1967 Schwinn
Hey, i am trying to figure out what this bike is. I bought it advertised as a Schwinn sprint. the guy knew nothing about it. it was obviously spray painted, but i plan to restore and wonder if anybody knows what it really is. From the serial number, i figured out that its a 67 bike and i am assuming its a varsity. It has all sprint, made in France, components. I have it pulled apart and the original color is campus green. does anybody have any ideas on what the bike really is?
Last edited by Z3027R; 11-18-20 at 11:28 PM.
#2
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I'm going to guess "Varsity" due to the fork.
#3
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I think the Sprint had a curved seat tube, but that could have come later than '67.
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I'm not expert, however, based on the Ashtabula fork and the side pull brake calipers, my vote goes to it being a Varsity. If your date is correct, I don't see a Sprint in 1967.
So, it is looking like a Varsity.
So, it is looking like a Varsity.
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Aside from being painted over, it looks like it is in good condition. Does it have a headbadge. I can't tell in the picture. Nice job on the handlebar tape.
I am curious about the stem. Perhaps someone else here may know better. Usually Varsities have forged steel stems, this one clearly looks to be aluminum. Did Varsities come with aluminum stems in 1967?
I am curious about the stem. Perhaps someone else here may know better. Usually Varsities have forged steel stems, this one clearly looks to be aluminum. Did Varsities come with aluminum stems in 1967?
#6
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thanks, i did have to get the head badge, as well as a front derailleur. it was missing that stuff when i bought it. I will try to get some pictures of it right now uploaded. I painted the frame a color that was close to campus green, but not a perfect match by any means. I still haven't put it all back together.
#8
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Also, the serial is on the rear drop which i think might confirm its a 60s bike. I believe on the 70s bikes it was on the front under the head badge.
#9
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Nice looking bike ! IMO the stem and the seat are not original. The Sprint had the curved seat tube and shorter wheelbase, but the same components.
#10
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Its not a sprint. I was looking and a lot of the 6os bike have sprint components. These are made from a french company. The Schwinn sprint bike was a chicago schwinn made from 74 to somewhere in the 80s.
#11
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1960's Varsities did use aluminum French quill stems and with 22.2mm steerer ID.
By 1969 or so the stem became forged steel with 21.1mm (.833") quill.
Your bike has the rare, 1-year combination of Sprint chainring with a chainguard. I believe the chainrings are 50-39t.
By 1969 or so the stem became forged steel with 21.1mm (.833") quill.
Your bike has the rare, 1-year combination of Sprint chainring with a chainguard. I believe the chainrings are 50-39t.
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Dangerous height for stem, especially a cast French stem! Push that sucker down (after extracting and inspecting) or better yet, replace if you plan to ride.
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Great paint job. Thanks for the detailed pictures. I didn't remember that aluminum stem, thanks dddd .
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Looks like you've got an oxymoron there: A reasonably rare Schwinn Varsity.
If it has the original parts, I'd suggest stripping it down, get it bead blasted and then painted/powder coated in the original colors, and then reinstall the proper decals.
If it has the original parts, I'd suggest stripping it down, get it bead blasted and then painted/powder coated in the original colors, and then reinstall the proper decals.
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“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.”
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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)
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dddd mentioned the Change that SCHWINN made in the frame's HEADTUBE DIAMETER.
1966 year model is when the stem size became 21.1 (.833) instead of the industry common 22.2
In the sixties, there are both sizes of Aluminum stems that look very much like that sometimes came on COLLEGIATES and VARSITY models. The Collegiate (mar '68) had that Aluminum stem which did not have the word Sprint stamped on it. Many Schwinn folks refer to these old aluminum stems as "death stems".
The later (S) stem that was a standard feature of the CONTINENTAL in the early seventies is a much better alloy stem.
Hey, another unique descriptive visual clue when you see the common forged chromed steel Schwinn stem of 1966 and later (21.1 size) is that around the 1976 model year you'll see LESS MATERIAL when looking at the sides of the exposed chromed stem. It is significantly scooped or scallopped out.
As you all know, SCHWINN engineering made the choice to go with THICKER WALLED headtube for the 1966 model year for what they believed would provide increased Strength, Stability, and Overall Safety. That is why 1966 and later Chicago SCHWINNS have the 21.1 sized stem. 1965-earlier and 1966-later WILL NOT INTERCHANGE , whenever the exact day, the production line exhausted the '65 narrower headtube(22.2) for the '66, 21.1 stem requirement.
1966 year model is when the stem size became 21.1 (.833) instead of the industry common 22.2
In the sixties, there are both sizes of Aluminum stems that look very much like that sometimes came on COLLEGIATES and VARSITY models. The Collegiate (mar '68) had that Aluminum stem which did not have the word Sprint stamped on it. Many Schwinn folks refer to these old aluminum stems as "death stems".
The later (S) stem that was a standard feature of the CONTINENTAL in the early seventies is a much better alloy stem.
Hey, another unique descriptive visual clue when you see the common forged chromed steel Schwinn stem of 1966 and later (21.1 size) is that around the 1976 model year you'll see LESS MATERIAL when looking at the sides of the exposed chromed stem. It is significantly scooped or scallopped out.
As you all know, SCHWINN engineering made the choice to go with THICKER WALLED headtube for the 1966 model year for what they believed would provide increased Strength, Stability, and Overall Safety. That is why 1966 and later Chicago SCHWINNS have the 21.1 sized stem. 1965-earlier and 1966-later WILL NOT INTERCHANGE , whenever the exact day, the production line exhausted the '65 narrower headtube(22.2) for the '66, 21.1 stem requirement.
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Very nice!
#23
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Nice restoration. Just seeing the pics brought back fond memories of my mid-teen years living in St Paul, MN. My two best buds and I all had Schwinn bikes of a vintage similar to that Varsity. One had a Varsity (same color as the OP’s) the other had a Super Sport (Blue IIRC) and I had a Coppertone Continental. We thought that we were totally cool . I do recall the Varsity being beastly heavy! Way more than the other two. Nevertheless, during those years, anybody that was anybody rode a Schwinn bike. Part of that (in our neighborhood at least) was due to a major Schwinn dealership less than a half mile from my house. The neighborhood was known as Hazel Park and the bike shop was simply the Hazel Park Bike Shop. It was our favorite hang out. Interestingly, and I just may have mentioned this in other posts , the Hazel Park bike shop morphed into a “cyclery” and finally became Park Tool! I’ve always thought it was pretty cool that a renowned business grew out my neighborhood!
BTW, I agree that stem IS barely holding on to the steerer tube!!!
BTW, I agree that stem IS barely holding on to the steerer tube!!!