1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange - FINISHED

[GTCOMA]

The guy that installed the AC unit in my house last year sent me a text out of the blue. He said he had his dad's old bike that he wanted to sell and he wanted to give me the first shot at it since he saw the old bikes in my garage when he put in the AC. It is a 1971 Manta Ray. It needs some work, but should clean up nice. I ordered a vinyl seat recover kit from Pete last night.

 

[wheelymarko]

Re: 1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

Sweet!

 

[heyslugger]

Re: 1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

Great looking Mo'chine. Also it makes me feel really old to read that a repairman's dad owned a bike I coulda owned!

 

[the historian]

Re: 1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

love to find a manta ray! great looking bike!

the historian

 

[GTCOMA]

1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

Finally making some progress on this one. Completely tore it down and cleaning and repairing every thing I can. Trying to use as many of the original parts as possible

The frame cleaned up nice for a hard ridden 41year old bike. Plenty of character scratches

Crusty chrome front fender

Slightly shiny chrome front fender

Seat post and clamp shined up

Handlebars and stem

MAG chainring and crank

 

[Jpromo]

Re: 1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

Ha, you're not kidding, we're about at the same point, too. All cleaned up and near ready to assemble. They've even got the same seat rip! Though, mine looks like the brother that thought he'd move out of mom and dad's prematurely and ended up in the gutter for a while.

I'll be keeping an eye on your project! Good luck and enjoy 8) Did you get your seat repair kit from hyperformance?

 

[GTCOMA]

Re: 1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

i did get the seat kit from Pete at hyperformance. I plan on tackling that later this week. I hope i don't screw it up... :shock:

 

[Jpromo]

Re: 1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

Ha, yeah, that'd be my one worry. I'll probably hold off on doing anything with the seat for now. There's actually a colored duct tape at Home Depot that I feel would be a very near match.. I may do a ghetto temp patch

How does the color look compared to the original?

 

[GTCOMA]

Re: 1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

it is very close, it is a very nice kit

 

[Xcruiser]

Re: 1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

Im jealous of all these Manta Rays popping up!!!Hope to find one someday.Cant wait to see the final product.

 

[Pappy]

Re: 1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

Very Kool!!! you gotta love those seats...great job on the "clean-up" as well...can't wait to see it finished...P 8)

 

[GTCOMA]

1971 Schwinn Manta Ray - Kool Orange

Finished!

 

[Xcruiser]

Oh yeah! Looks good man!!

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

It looks great! I want one of those seats SOOOO bad!

Enjoy cruising it around.

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[Jpromo]

Very nice! I like the '5' photo, it's subtle and slick.

I've got every part for mine as of today at the Memory Lane meet. So I just have to put on my big boy pants and try my hand at relacing my new S-5 hoop onto the freewheel and it can be reassembled!

 

[Jpromo]

Psst, mine has been finished too :wink:
http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=55351&p=538169#p538169