- Joined
- Dec 26, 2011
- Messages
- 59
- Reaction score
- 40
Okay, I'm gonna try my hand at this and see what happens. This is 1968 Huffy Slingshot w/5-speed center console shifting. I already know most of the battle-tested vets on this site know what this is probably just looking at the frame, but those of us who are still in our larval stage, here's what I know about this bike:
24" frame
banana seat
"ten speed" style brakes
redline walled tires with a "drag" slick out back and a slightly thinner and taller, front wheel/tire combo
Since 1968 is my birth year, this bike is going to be special. The late sixties to late seventies represented a simpler time in toy making. For instance, during the sixties everyone had or wanted a "muscle" car of some sort. These bicycles allowed kids to imagine themselves driving that GTO, Chevelle or my personal Hot Wheels fave, the "Super Bird" that was so prevelent. One of my favorite bikes on Earth as a kid was Huffy's 20" "Bandit" bike. My guess is that Huffy wanted to cash in on the success of the "Smokey and the Bandit" franchise with a bike that was overtly similar the to 1978 Trans Am that made the movie so popular. I can't tell you how many times I'd go to sleep with my mother's J.C. Penney catalog dreaming about that bike. Well, after a lot of begging, hint dropping and some very positive parent conferences, Santa (mom) came through. I was truly the first kid on my block to have one!!!
Well, enough of memory lane, let's get to buildin'!!!! Cheers!!!!
24" frame
banana seat
"ten speed" style brakes
redline walled tires with a "drag" slick out back and a slightly thinner and taller, front wheel/tire combo
Since 1968 is my birth year, this bike is going to be special. The late sixties to late seventies represented a simpler time in toy making. For instance, during the sixties everyone had or wanted a "muscle" car of some sort. These bicycles allowed kids to imagine themselves driving that GTO, Chevelle or my personal Hot Wheels fave, the "Super Bird" that was so prevelent. One of my favorite bikes on Earth as a kid was Huffy's 20" "Bandit" bike. My guess is that Huffy wanted to cash in on the success of the "Smokey and the Bandit" franchise with a bike that was overtly similar the to 1978 Trans Am that made the movie so popular. I can't tell you how many times I'd go to sleep with my mother's J.C. Penney catalog dreaming about that bike. Well, after a lot of begging, hint dropping and some very positive parent conferences, Santa (mom) came through. I was truly the first kid on my block to have one!!!
Well, enough of memory lane, let's get to buildin'!!!! Cheers!!!!
