'59 Schwinn Panther II*

[Pells_157]

*Not enough coffee, yet. Updated the title. Thanks, A.S.

I picked this bike up the other day off Craigslist. It's all original except for the seat. It's currently broken down about 90%.

There's a lot of surface rust on the inside of the tank and fenders, but not much on the exposed surfaces, which will most likely come off with elbow grease and time. My current plan is to get rid of the rust as much as possible, polish up any chrome areas, and then prime and paint the rest in flat black (anything that is currently green). I'll throw new grips, pedals and saddle (all Electra) on it as well as a new chain and I'll find a rear rack to put on it for grocery-style bags. It needs new tubes, but I'll probably throw new tires on it, as well. Then a few nicely placed pinup stickers on the tank should finish the job.

I'm still debating whether I should repaint the rims gloss black or leave 'em as is after running steel wool over them. Any suggestions?

Hope this turns out half as nice as some of the bikes I've seen around here...

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Re: '59 Schwinn Phantom II

oh yah nice find for sure sounds like you got your work cut out for you but you said phantom the chainguard says panther ., just a observation!

 

[skoda]

Schwinn chrome will almost always clean up. If you have a Dremmel, get a carbon brush for it, put down some kind of chrome cleaner and take it off with the brush. Sometimes just a toothbrush and some Bar Keepers Friend will work too. It will all come back very nice I'd bet.

 

[deorman]

My choice would be to clean everything with PB Blaster and 0000wool after wire brush inside fenders. Then add your new bits, toss in an oversize seat post, put your fenders and tank in the closet and go for a ride!

 

[muddywater04]

I saw that on the Cl and was so tempted but according to my wife i have too many but according to myself I dont have enough

 

[roadmaster]

sweet find for sure and i bet it will clean up nice.

 

[ratina]

I would leave the original paint it looks nice, plus those peanut tank bikes rare

 

[FOUND OBJECTS]

Great find!
I too would just leave as is and clean it up.
Maybe just a new white seat and some whitewalls and that thing is mint!

 

[ish]

Leave the patina, it looks better and is worth more.

Use a brass brush ($1 at a hardware store) and something like Nevr-Dull on the chrome. Steel wool can scratch the chrome and cause future rust.