I am going out on a limb here, trying to magically calm troubled waters.
The pics were pulled by the OP due to a disagreement over the existence of Disc Brake Grey Ghosts since they were 1971 only.
Disc Brake Krates did not start until the 1972 model year .
Could both sides of the aisle be right here?
In High School I had a GG Disc Brake Orange Krate. "But Rob, that is easier to believe since Orange Krates continued on thru 1972 in Kool Orange and 1973 in Sunset Orange". My bike could've just as easily been left in the Grey base and been a Grey Ghost. The grey was NOT a special color.
True, but the real conflict isn't the color, it is prevailing theory here on whether or not a December 1971 bike was meant to sell as a 1971 or a 1972 model by Schwinn.
In the 1950s /early 1960s the answer wouldve been the next model year because frames sometimes did not become bikes for 2-3 months.
Things changed in the 1960s-1970s with the improved manufacturing processes and massive sales especially of Stingrays and Krates.
for instance the 1,000,000th Schwinn in 1968 was built on December 10th and obviously was sold as a 1968 even though Krates around it had 1969^ seats and accessories.
The manufacturing date precedent was set by Schwinn then.
Forward to December 1971. The next point made was did the bike sell at the 1971 or 1972 price point? I believe if it had 1972 options that would put it at the 1972 price point. I am sure some, like GTs58 would disagree but I do not care. The point would be that it was built and shipped out in 1971 so it was a 1971 bicycle. A side note is that Schwinn had calipers and discs coming in mid year, I personally owned 2 disc hubs dated 6-71. Also, a customer could've ordered a Grey Ghost and by the time that order hit the line they were producing Disc Krates so it went out as one.
So, NOT involving myself in the question of whether or not
@indycycling has an original paint 1971 Grey Ghost Disc Brake bike or a repainted one, I will say that
@indycycling could have a real 1971 Disc Ghost that by the time it sold went out the door at the 1972 price point so both
@indycycling and Grey Ghost could be correct in their beliefs.
Remember everyone, I am trying to be mediator here not antagonist so don't hate on the messenger.
I can go on, if anyone has a point I made that needs clarifying. I end this post here so it doesn't offend a certan person/persons by being 5 pages long, off topic and all about me. You know who you are.
Rob