My First Barn Find Sorta

[Road Master]

I didn't exactly find this in a barn, but the guy I got it from took it from a barn. He listed it on CL as a 1930s Shelby Supreme. Me, I don't know didilly about Shelbys, I just liked the look & the fact that it's a prewar. I was surprised that it had 1/2" pitch gearing, I just assumed it would be skip tooth. The good news is he tried to ride it one day & the chain was frozen & snapped but the 1/2" is a lot easier (I mean cheap!) to replace. It's got a New Departure front hub & Model D rear both black outs. Both pedals were frozen - I got one broke loose so far. The front saddle spring is gone - completely rusted out. The wheels & crank turn freely (my first dog leg). Rubber is shot - 1.75 Carlisles. When I went exploring for the serial number I found 3 layers of paint - last coat was all black including the rims. Then came green & then the original red & some of the white pin stripeing is still visible on the red rims under black paint chips. Here it is -

The serial number is very lightly hand stamped but I believe it reads 029 803. Anybody know anything about these Shelbys? Silly question, huh? Like what year it is, what's missing, what type of light was on the front fender. Any suggestions on what to do with it? I'm actually leaning towards the last color - all black. What do you guys think?

 

[nhlkidds]

Try to contact memory lane classics on Monday. 419-832-3040.

 

[Slick Rick]

If the hubs are original to the bike, that would make it a bout 10 years newer than the date guessed. Black-out hubs were used during WWII. :wink: Later & PEACE!!!!

 

[JoeyMac]

I've got the same one with the blackout hubs!

someone else just found one like that too:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17633

 

[necessaryevil]

I have a similar Shelby also. My hub is a '46.

 

[Road Master]

Yea but, mine has the cool reflector on the chain guard. Hey JoeyMac, I've seen the pics of your Luxury Liner before w/ the cool rack lights - how did you do that? Anybody know what kind of seat is supposed to be on this Shelby or maybe where I can get a replacement front spring for it? I see a lot of red, white & blue on these Shelbys. I was thinkin along the same line but kindof offset - being a war time bike I liked the all black that in came in to me. I figure that's patriot too & on Independence Day no less. Although a 2 tone flat black & army green would work for me too.

 

[necessaryevil]

That chainguard is cool, but if your bike is a wartime bike, that guard is definitely not original. It would have probably had the same painted guard as JoeyMac's. A guy over at The Cabe said that these Shelbys had a "biscuit" headlight??? Not sure what it looks like, but I need one myself also. Before you do anything drastic to the paint, buy some pvc cleaner and try to strip off the house paint to reveal the original paint. It's worth a shot, there might be a cool paint scheme under it all.

 

[Road Master]

Thanks necessaryevil for the tips. Biscuit headlight? This should be interesting. And I like the PVC cleaner idea - someone else told me you can use oven cleaner - never tried it, sounds real messy. Too bad the chain guard's not original, but I'll use it anyways - too cool.

 

[JoeyMac]

The guy who I bought my Shelby from also had this one.
This my friends, is an example of a "biscuit light"

 

[roadmaster]

wow, great find, road master. my guess was mid to late 40's, as well, with the blackout hubs and truss rods. whatever year it is, that bike looks like it doesn't need much to be ready to go. like that chainring, too.