Hot Rod Sears Roebuck

[BLASTER]

Here's a project me and my son did together
about five summers ago, when he was 12.
I think it came out pretty kool looking.
We got a free, rusty frame with rear fender and chain guard...bent fork and bent front wheel.
All one rust color.
I pulled it down from it's hook and washed it today, so I could show you guys.

My son had an ergonomically goofy BMX bike that we cannibalized pretty heavily.
Wheels, 5spd, brakes.
Then we ordered about a $100 worth of new stuff from our favorite local bike shop.
Big and little tires of the same make.

The front fork is from a '76, 27" Sears Free Spirit 10-spd...my old bike...was my sister's when new (men's bike).
Keeping it in the Sears family.
It fit perfectly.

Sharpie!
The chrome fender and chain guard were brought back to life with a tube of chrome polish and my finger-nails...and an old credit card used as a scraper.
I could not believe the chrome was still under the crud.

Rattle can Pontiac engine blue.

NOS, old school quick release I got from my bro-in-law, the leg shaving, road racer.

I fabricated the front and rear brake mounts.
The front one doubles as a fender mounting point.
The front fender came from a bike I rode as a kid.

Gratuitous Clay Smith sticker.

This thing is really solid and a great ride.
My son is now 17 and almost as tall as me (6.0').
I need to try an angled seat post or a banana seat so we can keep riding it.

Not really ratty, I guess.
More of a hot rod kustom, maybe.
My son took a before photo with film.
I'll run across it one of these days.

 

[Juggler]

The fact you and your son built it, the fact it has some parts (front fender) from the bike you rode as a kid... makes it MEGA kewl in my book! :mrgreen:

 

[Gold Street Customs]

IIIIIII!!!!.....like....it..... 8) 8)

 

[GodHatesCleveland]

That's a great looking bike! It reminds me of the old Schwinn Runabout, except for the chain guard and custom touches.

A banana seat or curved seat post might not help much. I threw one on a bike with a 20" wheel set I was going to make into a lowrider and it still didn't feel right, I was still too close to the crank for it to be a comfortable ride. I'd say keep this one as an heirloom and just build another one with your son.

 

[BLASTER]

Thanks guys!
Wasn't sure I had posted this in a proper forum.
I wish I would have taken a pic when it was a functioning mock-up.
It was the days just prior to digital though.
Now I take pics everyday!

Maybe we will leave 'er alone.
Maybe I'll throw my hat into this next buid-off ring.
My boy needs a clunker!