1968 Ross Convertible

[ParkRNDL]

Buddy of mine has a pool cleaning business. He saw this in a customer's yard and picked it up for me for the cost of a case of Old Milwaukee.

Well, what do we have here? A Bluetooth front axle!

The headset has me perplexed. It's like a prehistoric kiddie version of a threadless headset, but with plastic bushings instead of ball bearings.

I mean I get that convertibles were essentially sidewalk bikes intended for really little kids, but I've only ever seen bushing setups like this on little Roadmaster 16 inch bikes with solid rubber wheels. I figure it'll be easy enough to switch over to ball bearings; I have a couple of extra forks in the hobby dungeon.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Cleaned up pretty good. I won't be taking it on any long distance rides, but it'll make a fun little cruiser for car shows or flea markets.

 

[twojs.bike]

There is something really cool about that one! Really unique. Good save!

 

[Da Gas Man]

ROCK-ROCK, ROCKAWAY BEACH! Awesome Ross head badge.
Definitely a cool kids bike.
And this kid? No doubt loved his Whacky Packages.

Couldn't figure this one out.

 

[ParkRNDL]

ROCK-ROCK, ROCKAWAY BEACH! Awesome Ross head badge.
Definitely a cool kids bike.
And this kid? No doubt loved his Whacky Packages.
View attachment 281314 View attachment 281315
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View attachment 281328 Couldn't figure this one out.

I'm originally from Long Island, and I'm now in Pennsylvania, so that's part of why Ross bikes are special to me.

And I gotta say I'm impressed with your ability to identify those stickers

edit: I thought I saw what looked like Certs breath mints in that last one so I Googled "wacky packages certs" and this came up.

 

[Da Gas Man]

I used to buy them and try to collect the puzzle pieces. I remember making the Gadzooka Gum puzzle.
Good fun back then. No such thing as instant gratification when I could only afford a couple packs a
week or so. One of my first bikes was a Ross. Got it at the Patchogue Bicycle Shop. Stingray lookalike,
light blue with a blue flame seat. Got stolen the first day I rode it to elementary school. Shame that.