Quickie build

[brentville]

I picked up this True Value Westpoint made by Murray on craigslist for $20. He also threw in a 3 speed wheelset, the shifter and cable, and crankset so it made for a pretty good deal. The bike was a little rough but not in terrible shape. The frame looks nice with the double cantilever bars. Just lots of brown and a cracked and split seat.

I polished up the rims, replaced a few spokes and swapped the seat from a ladies Free Spirit that a friend gave me a day after I got this one. I didn't want to do a repaint but I did want to get rid of some of that brown. I got rid of the chainguard. I swapped the brown fenders for some nice chrome ones. The front was a little tight but it fit. The rear fender was just wrong. I swapped the fender braces from the original fender and mounted the end of the fender on the cross bar between the rear seat stays. Then I had to trim the end of the fender so it didn't hit the tire. It's the same fender job as on the sweet fleet. I think it turned out alright.

 

[roadmaster]

having a few murrays of my own, i can appreciate them. i also have a westport and a monterey. so true value sold them too, go figure. i like what you did with the bike, and it was interesting to see what you did with the rear fender, seeing as my westport has the same type. having 3speed gearing has gotta be nice too, but the brown has gotta go. maybe royal blue on white primer?

 

[Quanah]

Looks good. That original rear fender would also have looked good bobbed, a couple inches back from the brace. Man, I live near Peoria, Illinois and craigslist never has anything I'm interested in, and never anything reasonable. I would have bought that Westpoint in a heartbeat too, AND a 3-speed wheelset, shifter, cable, & crankset thrown in! Good find! Going to look at craigslist now, hope it proves me wrong!

 

[brentville]

The fenders were me being a little lazy and the temperatures being in the thirties for weeks on end. I didn't want to paint the whole bike and I figured the chrome fenders were a good looking compromise. That was the main reason for not wanting to keep the chainguard, though I like the look with it gone a bit better. I might add some scallops to the bike just to set it off a bit. Probably a quick flip back on craigslist. Here is a better picture.