I had been looking locally for a 36h Bendix coaster hub for my current build, and having no luck. First choice was a Red Band, but would have been perfectly happy with a 70 or 76. Nothing from my friends with parts stashes, nothing old nearby for cheap on CL or FB. I was getting ready to give in and buy something off Fleabay (probably around $50 with shipping) when this turned up at a yard sale down the road. Guy wanted $22 and wouldn't come down to $20, I figured it was worth coughing up a couple singles.
He was telling me how these old bikes are worth lots of money; I didn't have the heart to point out to him that this "Europa 3" was missing all the parts that made it a "3," or that the seat was a nasty brittle plastic number off an old department store bike even cheaper than this one originally was, or that the wheels didn't match. (Rear tire is 26 x 1.75, kind of an interesting little knobby that I've never seen before. Front is a 26 x 1 3/8, but NOT the Schwinn size. My Collegiate tires say ISO 597, this one says 590.)
Bonus: the head badge is exactly what I need for my '73 Apollo.
He was telling me how these old bikes are worth lots of money; I didn't have the heart to point out to him that this "Europa 3" was missing all the parts that made it a "3," or that the seat was a nasty brittle plastic number off an old department store bike even cheaper than this one originally was, or that the wheels didn't match. (Rear tire is 26 x 1.75, kind of an interesting little knobby that I've never seen before. Front is a 26 x 1 3/8, but NOT the Schwinn size. My Collegiate tires say ISO 597, this one says 590.)
Bonus: the head badge is exactly what I need for my '73 Apollo.
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