1956 continental ??

[eddy45]

1956 continental custom racer ??

hi I got this with 2 other bikes and I am stumped ser # U66517 I thought these came out in 1960 and its not in the 56 Schwinn book also there is a C M stamped by the serial # any body got any thoughts?

 

[rhenning]

You have what is mostly a Franken Bike. The frame I would guess is post WW2. 1946 to 1950 era. BB stamped serial numbers stopped in about 1952. It would have been a 3 speed hub bike originally. Almost all the other parts are from much newer bikes. The derailleur for example is Sun Tour from the late 1970s. The cranks are also 1970s. I would guess in the late 1970s someone had an old Schwinn frame and decided to build it into a newer bike. People are doing the same thing today finding a 1980s Schwinn road bike like a Peloton or Tempo or Premis or Voyager and adding brifters etc. to make it into a new bike. The bike would be a good one to own and ride but it would cost a fortune to restore it and because of that most of its value is gone. To much is missing for a collector and it isn't a modern bike. Roger

 

[eddy45]

definitely a Franken bike I just went to recycle.com it looks like one of the first experimental continental bikes (just the frame) I know they made the continental in the late 40s early 50s but like you said those were 3 speeds if it is a 56 according to the sight it was a 8 speed remember this type of bike was the first to use a derailer so that cancels out the 3 speed idea I think I answered my own ? but I still have no clue why its stamped C M thanks for your help.

 

[SirMike1983]

From the fork, looks like a late 1940s Continental which Schwinn dropped in between the Superior and Paramount after WWII. The 1940s-early 50s bikes used the "torpedo blade" fork, whereas the later Continentals from the late 50s and early 60s used a more modern lugged crown type European fork. I agree with Roger about this one.

 

[eddy45]

Well said

Thanks fore your interest I love to learn and I love the CABE

 

[GTs58]

That is a perfect frame to refranken into a nice 10+ speed. As far as the other stampings, I would say the C M is one of the owners initials.

 

[eddy45]

What if??

If your right about the forks maybe they are older than the frame that's crazy I know but is the serial # on the frame just wrong Schwinn kept good records I hope another thing here nor there it was originally painted silver OR ITS A BASE COAT(thanks gts58) roger was dead on about the 70s its got shimono cables mafac brakes suntour one of the peddle arms says B.S.A FRANCE Its FRANKENCRAZY

 

[detroitbike]

Another ODD continental

Here's another ODD duck:

 

[eddy45]

Nice

Cut from the same cloth? whats the serial# say? Rear dropouts are the reverse of mine forks look identical

 

[GTs58]

The odd duck has rear facing dropouts so I would think it's a tad bit older. 1960's paint and decals were added to make her look younger.