Unknown Columbia bike and 1968 Schwinn Stingray I.D. and valuation help needed.

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

Maybe it's Goldie Hawn's childhood bike? haha price just went up!

 

[Wayne]

The only piece I want to keep from this bike is the handlebar stem, as that might come in handy for another project later.

I thought the Stingray was the long frame, just with the smaller chainring. I've seen a few others like it. I don't think any of the shorty frames had the brake mounts like the long ones did, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Reading this thread I see there are some knowable Stingray members. I too have been reading and learning about the Stik Shifts used through the 1966 to 1973 years.

About the 1968 Stingray frames, yes 3 different that year. The first year for the Stik Shifter, 1966, 3 speed only. So 2 frame types, coaster brake and caliper brakes. 1967 you could get 5 speed, but only on the Fastback frame. Schwinn had the 3 frames for the cantilever frames in 1968. As already mentioned, in 1969 and on, back to just 2 frame types.

Keep that stem for yourself, not original to that frame.

Bike wheels look like that when the kid leaves their bike behind the vehicle in the driveway. Parents back up, CRACK and they stop and are relieved there isn't a kid back there too.

 

[Bike from the Dead]

Reading this thread I see there are some knowable Stingray members. I too have been reading and learning about the Stik Shifts used through the 1966 to 1973 years.

About the 1968 Stingray frames, yes 3 different that year. The first year for the Stik Shifter, 1966, 3 speed only. So 2 frame types, coaster brake and caliper brakes. 1967 you could get 5 speed, but only on the Fastback frame. Schwinn had the 3 frames for the cantilever frames in 1968. As already mentioned, in 1969 and on, back to just 2 frame types.

Keep that stem for yourself, not original to that frame.

Bike wheels look like that when the kid leaves their bike behind the vehicle in the driveway. Parents back up, CRACK and they stop and are relieved there isn't a kid back there too

Yeah, I'm not well versed on Stingrays, so I'm surprised to learn that there were 3 versions instead of 2 like I thought.

Yeah, it looks like it could've been run over, but I'm not sure. I would imagine that the frame would be damaged too, and not just the wheels.

 

[Bike from the Dead]

Welp, looks like I'll be holding on to old Goldie after all! Took the time to mock up some parts on Goldie while I was looking for stuff to take to Haysville, Kansas, and I got to say, this little bike's winning me over!

I had this old banana seat that looked like, for lack of a better term "glitter rust," that I felt would look just right on Goldie. Turns out, I was right!

I also set aside 2 rusty wheels I got out of the same lot as Goldie (but I think they originally came off the Stingray, as the front has an S-7 tire.)

I decided to mock things up right there in the storage building this time around, as I don't need anymore bikes in the garage right now. Amazingly, I didn't have to use PB Blaster to loosen any nuts and bolts as I took apart Goldie! I did have to use my hammer with the wrench on an axle nut, but that was it. A quick assessment of the frame confirmed what I thought: the frame is nice and straight, at least enough for me to justify building it.

If there's one thing that could derail Goldie's revival though, it's the stuck seat post. It was cut off at the top, and I don't know how to remove this thing. I haven't had the best of luck removing stuck seat posts, so I need to really research the best way to remove this one without damaging the frame.

I should have taken some "before" photos, but I took the time to straighten out the fenders as best as I could with the tools I had on hand. Got to say, I'm quite happy with the results.

I did get a "before and after" of the basket though. First time I ever tried fixing one of these, and it turned out alright!

After tweaking a few more things, I bolted on all the parts I wanted to see on Goldie, and I have to say, I really like where it's heading! I'm sure Goldie might look better without the basket up front, but I think the basket ought to stay with the bike. Besides, I may want to stick some fake flowers inside it to really make this bike look like another typical "garden bike." That way, it's even more dramatic when I hop on this bike and pop a wheelie like the kid in the opening of On Any Sunday!

So yeah, Goldie's getting a revival. I'll save the build for the Muscle Bike Build Off later this year, but I'll try and work on disassembling it in the months leading up to that. If I can get the seat post out, then Goldie's going to be brought back from the dead!

 

[Da Gas Man]

I'm gonna cry. I'm so happy right now. And that banana seat? Glitter Rust?
It's like they were waiting for each other all these years. Sniff. Beautiful.
And I mean that. Goldie's back in action! Alright!

 

[Bike from the Dead]

I'm gonna cry. I'm so happy right now. And that banana seat? Glitter Rust?
It's like they were waiting for each other all these years. Sniff. Beautiful.
And I mean that. Goldie's back in action! Alright!

Haha, thanks dude! I appreciate it.