dynne

I recently got lucky on craigslist and scored an old Schwinn. I was way luckier than anticipated, and got a 1972 Schwinn Super Sport. I'm happy because it must have been a special model or was upgraded dramatically. No heinous paint job, no ashtabala, looks nothing like the catalog photos. Info and pics follow.

Schwinn Super Sport serial # FG001813

-All chrome frame with a bit of gold lugging on the fork. 4130 top and down tubes.
-Shimano 105 rear derailleur
-Shimano 600 Arabesque front derailleur and crankset (odd multicolored spider)
-Campy seat post with racing saddle
-Beautiful seat tube decals
-Very large BB I've never seen before, can't ID
-Bogus no name risers with crummy grips and shimano friction thumb shifters
-Deep horizontal drop-outs with neat wheel stops
-27" mavic rims laced to shimano sealed hubs

It's gorgeous, and I can't find it in any catalogs or mentioned elsewhere or in any image searches. Does anyone know anything about it? As always, I am grateful for any input you can share.

https://www.angelfire.com/rant/allday...innCodes4.html <-- how I dated the frame

These are some lo-fi camera phone pictures. I can take better ones tomorrow if someone needs better details.

Grand Bois

It originally had a one piece Ashtabula crank. Someone has added an adapter to convert it to a three piece crank.

pastorbobnlnh 

This is a very unusual Super Sport. I've never seen this sort of seat post clamp. I'm guessing it was added and then the frame was costumed chromed. I've never seen that seat tube decal and the badge was custom painted.

mkeller234

Yeah, it seems that everything on this bike has been highly modified. The 4130 sticker looks like the one's used on Schwinn frames during the 80's. I could be full of it as I am just grasping at straws. If it turns out to be one man's creation, it's still a winner.

noglider 

I like it. What does it weigh?

Tom

Bianchigirll 

interesting bike but, I beleive the reason it seems like a "Special Model" is because almost nothing is original. this bike has been drastically rebuilt. I doubt alot of these parts were even around the day it rolled of the assembly line. that Campagnolo seatpillar is mid '80ish, the105 derailleur s late '80s. I would also guess i did not come from the shop with the mountain/hybrid bars.

sailorbenjamin

I'm gonna say it's a total custom, but it's a real eye popper. the fillets look great in chrome. The decal is way cool, too.

sailorbenjamin

In '71 they changed from the forged Huret rear dropout to a stamped steel dropout. Is there a serial number left anywhere?

dynne

fg001813

dynne

I really want to thank everyone for their contributions so far.

I'm really into this bike, but it's 52/53cm and that's a bit too small.

How did the prior owner chrome the frame like this? Also, do you guys think the cranks were hand-painted?

cb400bill

Without a doubt.

stien

Too small you say? How much you want for it?

cs1

Somebody sunk a TON of money into that bike. I like it. Great find.

pastorbobnlnh 

The FG= July 1971, which is also the first year for the Sports Tourer, but the BB shell says you have a SS. No Super Sports came from Chicago looking like this one. Have you talked to the previous owner about how he/she acquired it?

Here's another modification that's interesting that I didn't notice before. Someone removed the kickstand mount which doubled as a chainstay bridge, and replaced it with a traditional chainstay bridge.





Most of us who have modified a SS and have removed the steel kickstand, just live with the big tube jutting out at an angle behind the BB shell. The kickstand mount shouldn't be removed unless a new bridge is installed. Very well done.

noglider 

Right. There appears to be nothing original on it at all. I see that as an improvement. Someone really loved this bike. As cs1 said, he/she sunk a ton of money into it. What kind of shifters are those? If you change to drop bars, I'd love to buy those shifters and bars.

skinny matt

Neatest bike I've seen in awhile. Nice catch!

dynne

I have no idea what I would want for it. I suppose trade is as good as cash. What is something like a customized mid-range vintage lightweight worth? The shifters and handlebars must hurt the resale value. Unless someone is just buying it for the frame to Campy out.

dynne

Thanks, Skinny Matt! It's going to be hard to part with. If only I figure out a way to justify holding onto it.

dynne

They seem to be generic Shimano friction shifters, and the bars are no-name. What is of particular interest to you? Just curious.

Mr IGH

You sure serial number isn't FCxxxxx? My guess is it's a pre-1971 frame that was modified and chromed. There's always a chance it's been chromed at the factory, but the kickstand removal and seatpost clamp make me think it wasn't done by Schwinn.

dynne

I triple-checked, and the serial number clearly shows FC. Someone must have taken it on as a serious modification project.

I have to ask - what is something somewhat unique like this worth? It's not a Paramount, but are there people who love other Schwinns? Any clue as to where the seat tube decal came from?

Thumpic

way outa' my league, price and knowledge......but I'd sure like to see a hi-res photo spread..................

noglider 

Because it's so odd, the price you could command could be very high or very low. And as always, the longer you wait, the more you can get for it.

dynne

Hi-res pics to come. I'd like to clean it up a bit first. I'm mid-move right now so my shop isn't set up, but I can do a bit of a shining remotely. Good fun.

Sierra

The C indicates that it's a '67 model and that fits with the photo that shows the rear dropout which appears to be a forged Huret.

I'm surprised that there are that many characters in the s/n though. All the Super Sports from this period that I have seen had a much shorter number.

The seat tube decal was used on the early sixties Traveler model.