1970 Atala Super Professional
#26
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For an actual strip, repaint, and rebuild, I have at least a couple of weeks into a bike. Then there's the cost of paint, stickers, tyres, rebuilding the wheels, cables, bar tape, etc. Even if I bought it for $300, selling it to make money is out of the question, because the local CL usually tops out at around a thousand dollars here. If I was trying to do this to make money, I'd be very disappointed. I honestly think most of the local guys you meet who do restorations are in the same boat. Buying your project cheaper by a couple of hundred bucks only means you'll lose less if you finally decide to sell it, after riding it a while.
I find there's a lot of confusion about "restored" versus "original unrestored", and what a bicycle commands in the marketplace. I think it goes back to what was said about most local buyers not knowing all that much about what goes into it, and what's a really top end bike from the '70's or '80's, and those that might be a little bit lower in the hierarchy. It was a long time ago.
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+10 to the above. While someone who restores bikes may recognize the value, they may also put a HIGHER value on the bike than others. You may actually get MORE from that restorer, than anyone else.
A lot of the bikes I buy have been for sale for weeks or even a month or more. Had I not come along, the bike may well have been donated.
Over the years, I have sold probably close to 100 bikes to just one single collector, lots of high end stuff. They get a great deal, and they appreciate the good stuff. Finding other local buyers can be difficult. I have no problem selling to someone who wants to restore, collect, ride, resell, or whatever. I do not consider one buyer to be more virtuous than another. And when selling a top of the line vintage bicycle, more than likely, it WILL go to a knowledgeable collector, who may know more than me. There is no way joe average rider is going to pay $500 for what they consider to be an old, obsolete, down tube shifter bike.
As far as making a lot of $$$ flipping stuff, as someone who resells a lot of stuff, and has been doing it for over 22 years now, I can only say my LOWEST margins are on bicycles. Books enjoy the BEST margins. Can take a while, but one book bought for $1 can sell for $50, $100, or even more. 50X to 100X is typical for vintage books. Meanwhile, doubling my money on a bicycle can be a lot more work, there are often surprises that reduce or eliminate the profit entirely. Then add the costs of bicycles: storage, tools, and supplies, and it's closer to break even. At least now, all the tools have been paid for.
If someone asked for my advice on what items to resell for a profit, I would discourage bikes and encourage books. In the bicycle arena, I have done better on vintage JERSEYS than I have done on vintage BICYCLES.
A lot of the bikes I buy have been for sale for weeks or even a month or more. Had I not come along, the bike may well have been donated.
Over the years, I have sold probably close to 100 bikes to just one single collector, lots of high end stuff. They get a great deal, and they appreciate the good stuff. Finding other local buyers can be difficult. I have no problem selling to someone who wants to restore, collect, ride, resell, or whatever. I do not consider one buyer to be more virtuous than another. And when selling a top of the line vintage bicycle, more than likely, it WILL go to a knowledgeable collector, who may know more than me. There is no way joe average rider is going to pay $500 for what they consider to be an old, obsolete, down tube shifter bike.
As far as making a lot of $$$ flipping stuff, as someone who resells a lot of stuff, and has been doing it for over 22 years now, I can only say my LOWEST margins are on bicycles. Books enjoy the BEST margins. Can take a while, but one book bought for $1 can sell for $50, $100, or even more. 50X to 100X is typical for vintage books. Meanwhile, doubling my money on a bicycle can be a lot more work, there are often surprises that reduce or eliminate the profit entirely. Then add the costs of bicycles: storage, tools, and supplies, and it's closer to break even. At least now, all the tools have been paid for.
If someone asked for my advice on what items to resell for a profit, I would discourage bikes and encourage books. In the bicycle arena, I have done better on vintage JERSEYS than I have done on vintage BICYCLES.
Last edited by wrk101; 05-22-22 at 08:35 AM.
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#28
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Sorry roadvulcan I don't mean to hijack your thread, but what is the seatpost size on your bike? I'm about to restore a almost identical Atala (red), and the 27.2 campy seatpost seems a bit tight in there. A few prts have been changed on my bike so it might not be original.
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Sorry roadvulcan I don't mean to hijack your thread, but what is the seatpost size on your bike? I'm about to restore a almost identical Atala (red), and the 27.2 campy seatpost seems a bit tight in there. A few prts have been changed on my bike so it might not be original.
If a 27.2 post fits in there now, but seems a little snug to you, there's a good chance that it's the correct post. If the snugness bothers you, try cleaning up the interior of the seat tube with some abrasive paper wrapped around a dowel, and the exterior of the post with a fine abrasive paper as well. The grease or anti-seize applied lightly to both surfaces, reinsert, and clean up the mess at the seat post insertion point.
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Randyjawa, that is a beauty!
Last edited by roadvulcan; 05-29-22 at 10:33 AM. Reason: incorrect
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#32
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sorry roadvulcan i don't mean to hijack your thread, but what is the seatpost size on your bike? I'm about to restore a almost identical atala (red), and the 27.2 campy seatpost seems a bit tight in there. A few prts have been changed on my bike so it might not be original.