1973 Schwinn Speedster in Campus Green
I bought this bike a few months ago in my largest CL mass-bike purchase to date. It isn’t the sort of thing that I usually do, but the guy’s CL ad had the usual requirements that pique my curiousity: poor photos, poor descriptions, good price and (for once, Lord, thank you) close proximity to me. Like, Casa View close, maybe two miles. Frankly, I’m tired of rediscovering why I don’t live in Watauga, North Richland Hills, Mesquite, Balch Springs, etc. If you live in one of these burbs, forgive me: I’m biased. I was born in E. Dallas and have lived here for most of my life.
So here was the haul:
For once, I wasn’t in pursuit of a Schwinn, but it’s the one bike that I ended up keeping, the best bike of the lot. A 1973 Schwinn Speedster w/ the Sturmey-Archer 3-speed in Campus Green. Here it is the day that I got it off the truck in March of this year:
And here is the bike that actually got me over to the guys house to see what else that he had. It’s a Huffy Camaro. An interesting bike, but I ultimately thought that, well, I’m just a little too old to be riding around on this thing. I do like the orange color, though. And you’ll see the handlebar horn later in another photo::
Here are the photos that I took today. I’m getting close to finishing the rebuild of my Fuji road bike, and this Schwin is next in the restoration queue. I thought that I should roll it out and get some feed-back.
I haven’t done anything to it yet. It’s in remarkably good shape for a bike that is 37 years old:
It has an original “Mike Hall’s Bike Mart” sticker. That shop was the predecessor of today’s “Richardson Bike Mart”.
One of the nicer Schwinn “S-seats” that I’ve seen. I’m actually afraid to ride on it in case I ruin the color.
Et cetera:
The only part that I have replaced was this very hard to find rear reflector. It has the chrome bezel that wraps around the fender. I found it on www.schwinn.com for $13.00. I have actually seen one sell on ebay for a shocking $54.00!
Here is the other side:
The spiffy Schwinn generator:
The amazingly flawless light:
This bike is basically in perfect shape. The chrome fenders don’t have a single scratch or dent. I’m thinking about turning it into my Flagship Schwinn Dork Bike by finding every Schwinn accessory available in 1973 and, well, dorking it out. I’m talking AM radio, racks in front and back, turn signals, everything. And just so it doesn’t get lonely………
I have the 1970 Campus Green Schwinn Town and Country Tri-Wheeler to keep it company. The trike even has the same ‘Mike Hall Bike Mart” sticker on it. They were actually purchased within three years of each other at the same shop here in the Metroplex.
Oh, yea……see the horn on the trikes’ handlebars? What goes around comes around.
Beep! Beep!
-Hubbard
I have a Schwinn Approved rack I can sell you – I also have a set of Schwinn turn signals I’ll sell, but those are a pricey buy. Neat bike. What happened to the Huffy? My neighbor would love that bike.
I am interested in that huffy camaro bike, just bought the same model in purple and white and would love to have a set. Please email me and let me know if you are interested in selling it. Thanks
Mike,
My 1st non-POS bike was a brand new 1968 Schwinn Speedster coaster brake model in Black. What I noticed is that your Speedster looks like the Racer of that time – straight top tube. In case you guys didn’t know, the Speedster was essentially a Schwinn Racer with a curved top tube. It looks like they “upgraded” the Speedster to Racer design. Perhaps they made the Racer multi-speed in the 70′s?
Also, my Speedster had a plain black saddle of about 1/2 the width of yours. Yours looks like the saddles from the Typhoons of the ’60s. With the general condition of your bike ( like oh-wow! ), I doubt they replaced the saddle.
Thanks,
Julie
Thanks for all of the comments. I ended up selling both the Speedster and Camaro. I have to keep this stuff moving or I’ll get overwhelmed! I still have a 1976 Schwinn Speedster single-speed in their lovely Flamboyant Red color.
Sometimes, you have to thin out the herd!
-H
I have a 1973 K24-4 Schwinn Speedster exactly like this one. I bought it new and it has been hanging in my garage for the last 20 years. It has the original tires which would have to be replaced. It would have to be cleaned up and serviced to be ridden again. Any idea what it would be worth as is or restored?
Mike, you might drop by the Classic and vintage bike forums – what’s it worth appraisals and inquiries forum That’s where the value experts have been known to congregate.
I recently found that exact Schwinn Campus Green Speedster bike at a resale shop and paid a whopping $15 for it. I have aquired and restored many different Schwinn bikes over the years, never I have I found one in this great of shape. Everything is complete and functioning, even the lights and generator. No rust, not even a ding in the fenders. What a find!! I haven’t even put a rag to it and it looks amazing. I flipped the others for a significant profit, but I have a feeling this one is here to stay.
Sell the beaters, keep the cream puffs
You have so many bicycle and you know what i like? I like the colors. :)
Are you collecting a bicycle? Well anyway, I like the color of your bike. Thanks for sharing.
Well, the bikes were really nice. Thanks for sharing this to us.