Vintage finds

[dimrub]

I thought I'll start a thread for finds that I am considering, but haven't actually bought yet (those will go into the 'projects' section). I'll try to figure out the condition of the finds, their historic value and whether the price reflects the above.

 

[dimrub]

Exhibit 1: a Peugeot Paris Express, I think they were making these from 1988 till 1990 or so. It's positioned as an ATB, a precursor for gravel I guess. As befits the era it's a 10-speed (2x5), it has a cool rear derailleur guard and cantilever brakes. The frame seems to be in a reasonable state, the rear wheel too, the front rim seems to be done for. The cable routing is problematic, one can do better. I think it could make a cool city retro bike, with new city tires.

The seller wants 850 shekels (206 euros) for it, which is outrageously overpriced, but seems to be willing to correct the price.

 

[dimrub]

Exhibit 2: a bike claiming to be a Saxon. Judging by the 2x5, it was probably made in 80s, 70s earliest, and from what I read on the nets, Saxon bikes was sold during WWII to Claud Butler, who made bikes under this name for a while, then the trace goes cold, so the fact that this brand surfaced back in the 70s-80s is somewhat surprising to me. This is a mixte 10-speed. Saxon did make twin-tube bikes, both twin headtube and mixte frames, so maybe there is a connection after all.

From what I can see on the photos, the bike seems in reasonable condition, no expensive repairs/replacements needed - expect maybe the tires, which are hard to figure out from the photos. The asking price is 110 euros, which I think is a bit too much for what is after all a rather rusty bike with unclear pedigree - I hope the seller agrees, because I'm truly intrigued by this one.

 

[Spiderweb]

WOW, bikes are expensive where you are!
The Peugeot in that condition wouldn’t fetch £25 in the UK.

 

[dimrub]

Exhibit 3: a ladies Favorit. Favorit is a czech company founded in the 1870s I believe. This bike is currently a single speed, but I could find no evidence that Favorit made any single speed bikes around the 80s, but they did make a few very similarly looking models with either 5 or 10 gears. I'm thinking maybe this bike can be converted into a 3-speed with internal hub, or a 5-speed.

The seller is asking 60 euros, which is somewhat overpriced.

 

[dimrub]

WOW, bikes are expensive where you are!
The Peugeot in that condition wouldn’t fetch £25 in the UK.

Yes, unfortunately, they are - and so is practically everything else.

 

[dimrub]

Exhibit 4: the seller wrote "requires fixing", and asked 22 euros. I wanted to scream at him "buddy, not fixing - a complete overhaul, but for this price that's fine", but I asked instead only whether the item is still available. I have a good hunch about this one.

 

[dimrub]

Exhibit 5 is part of a bunch of 4 bikes advertised in a single post, accompanied only "for those who understand things", no prices, no details. A ladies Raleigh, basically just the frame, but maybe the seller has the wheels separately - it's not clear.

I asked for the price, haven't heard back yet.

 

[dimrub]

Exhibit 6 is also from that bunch. Some kind of "mustang 12-speed" road bike, seems to me from about the same category as my Alpina - a steel road bike from the 80s.

 

[dimrub]

Heard back from the guy selling 4 bikes. To put it gently, his connection to this reality seems tenuous. He wants 125 euros for the ladies Raleigh (claims to have "all the parts", says "it's just putting the parts on and then they are ready to go") and 250 euros for the road bike. Insane.

 

[biggs682]

WOW, bikes are expensive where you are!
The Peugeot in that condition wouldn’t fetch £25 in the UK.

And that's if the seller is lucky.

Yes, unfortunately, they are - and so is practically everything else.

I could almost fill a container full of similar bikes for the price of those, if only international shipping was cheaper, I could export them to you

 

[dimrub]

I could almost fill a container full of similar bikes for the price of those, if only international shipping was cheaper, I could export them to you

Sounds like a plan, once I leave my current job, and devote my full attention to production-scale rusty old bike restoration!

 

[dimrub]

Exhibit 3 now graduates from a "find" to a "project". I got him down to 50 euros - still rather expensive, but so be it. I'll start a separate thread for that one.

 

[Spiderweb]

I see these kinds of bikes every time I go to our local household waste and they are usually in better condition!

 

[dimrub]

I see these kinds of bikes every time I go to our local household waste and they are usually in better condition!

Alas, here it's a veritable thousand nights and one night - a person finds an old junk and thinks he's discovered a magic lamp and will now become rich. And it's not as if they lower the price once nobody goes for it - they'd rather let it rot in their garden than give it away for a fair price. This one stood there in his garden for 2-3 years - he wasn't even sure. But who am I to complain, I go along with them by paying these atrocious prices.