VERY Unique Schwinn Speedster, 1960

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IL (St. Louis metro)
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Thought I'd post this over here too...

Just finished the refresh on this 1960 Speedster for an acquaintance of mine. The bike really belongs to his father and he commissioned me to bring it back to life as a present for his dad. His father ordered the bike from the local dealer in Staunton Illinois (about 15mi up the road from here) when he was 12 years old. He purchased the bike with his own money and he was a very discerning kid. He wanted the Speedster because he liked the radiant blue and it was an uncluttered, simple model bike, BUT, he was adamant about it having a springer fork and NO white walls. He paid an up-charge and the dealer was able to get the bike delivered with a springer fork painted in radiant blue (a color that was not available on the Hornet, the only model with a springer in '60).
The paint looks good in the photos, but it's got some bad patches. Layers of caked-on, rock-hard grease was (thankfully) covering pristine chrome. All in all not bad for a bike that hung upside down in a barn for the last 46 years until it was pulled down in October and delivered to me.

I'm really pleased to have gotten to work on this unique bike.

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This catalog print was originally shown in red but I re-colored it to match the radiant blue option
 
That is so nice! The springer with painted legs looks so good after seeing all those chrome repops. Got a newer American in that blue (64 I think) out in the garage chrome is very good on that one too.
 
It's a good thing to keep in mind- Schwinn dealers would get you a bicycle set up however you wanted it if you were willing to pay for it, and perhaps wait for parts. I knew a kid back in the day who had his ten speed Varsity delivered with ape hangers, and a banana seat from a deluxe Stingray. Back then we laughed at the guy (kids can be rotten that way :oops: ) Now, I'd love to have that bike.

JWM
 
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