70's VISTA BMX CONVERSION

[Rat Rod]

This one was found in a shed via a garage sale. A friend of mine visited the sale and asked if they had any old bikes. The older owner said that he had his son's old bike out in the shed. It appears that the kid used a Vista muscle bike frame and build a cool BMX bike around it...mostly likely in the mid 70's from the parts that were used. Gotta love all of the vintage MX decals.

 

[rfeagleye]

Now THAT is cool. Nice collection of parts and a neat vintage build. Man you find some cool ones!

 

[Rat Rod]

Now THAT is cool. Nice collection of parts and a neat vintage build. Man you find some cool ones!

Any idea what frame this really is?

It was obviously spray bombed and they put those water slide decals on, but it may not even be a Vista.

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Columbia built frame , love the astabuela fork.

 

[Rat Rod]

This may or may not have been a conversion after all. Looks like there were BMX bikes with the Vista brand being marketed in the mid 70's after all.

 

[Rat Rod]

Makes me wonder if it originally had a seat like the bike in the ad.

 

[ADVHOG]

That OG Vista is sweet! I love the loaf seat!

 

[emfife]

Makes me wonder if it originally had a seat like the bike in the ad.

Maybe the dad could put you in touch with the son ?

Just a thought

 

[deorman]

Pretty sure yours is an older home built, based on the standard Westfield rear triangle, stand hanger, no gussets.

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Yup , Columbia .

 

[Scribble]

Super cool peice of old school BMX history.

 

[Rat Rod]

Yup , Columbia .

What model frame?

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

What model frame?

Not sure what model , I my initial thought was I see a Columbia chain ring then noticed the back bone , that's what brought me to the conclusion of Columbia, probably late 60's early 70's.

 

[RustyGold]

Since this is almost a dead ringer aside from the straight downtube:

I'd say it was '74 +1-3yrs
http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/columbia/35939

Jason

 

[rrtbike]

That's neat. I can't wait to see the magic water hit it!

 

[rrtbike]

The front tire looks nice and fat!

 

[Wildcat]

From the Mr. Columbia webpage:
"Vista was a brand started by a group of bicycle dealers in the 1960's. The early bikes were made by Columbia. Later, Vista's were made in Japan."
If that's a USA made Columbia frame, the serial number may be on the left dropout. If made before 73, may give the year. I don't see any evidence of a 1971 BMA sticker, unless they scraped it off, so it may be earlier than that.
The bike in the Vista ad doesn't have Columbia dropouts, and your frame doesn't show any marks from where the sissy bar would have contacted the dropouts.
I looked at all the Columbia muscle bike frames, the deluxe special is the only one similar, but none had a straight down tube like yours.

I'm still looking for more Vista info.

 

[Indyjps]

Found the thread, been checking it at BMX.. cant wait to see more.

 

[vthuffyguy]

I have that same frame on a MTD badged, Columbia built muscle bike. It has a BMA/6 sticker. Would post a picture but I have never been able to figure out how.

 

[Rat Rod]

I have that same frame on a MTD badged, Columbia built muscle bike. It has a BMA/6 sticker. Would post a picture but I have never been able to figure out how.

Follow these instructions...

http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-post-photos.80241/