1964 Flamboyant Lime J38 Stingray find

[60sstuff]

What a great Bicycle site is the CABE and its members.
Earlier this month I received a message from Wolfmac about my wanted ad looking for Original Stingrays.
Sean took the time to enlighten me and send photos of his buddy Rob that had this early Stingray for sale.
I’m very Happy with this purchase of a well used, but not abused 60 year old B4 Lime.

This February 1964 represents less than a year of the Stingray production.
All the dates on this bike match very tight and the Original paint is decent showing use and some spider rust.
The screens on the guard and fork held up nicely over the decades which is rare.
The early style top tube decal and Quality decal are also strong and not rubbed off.

This Lime still has a deep color so it wasn’t faded over the years from sitting outside. Here is an inside pic under LED lights and an overcast outside photo.

Enjoy a look of a new find of an early Ray and it’s components.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

Nice Bike! Is the fork bent, or is just distortion of the photo?

John

 

[sworley]

Very nice find!

 

[Bryan Akens]

That has to be one of the best ones of those in existence.......

 

[60sstuff]

This B4 (Feb.1964) J38 still uses the same components found on all the 1963 Stingrays.

1) Non crimp seat strut with the extra long Q bolts.
2) 36 spoke center stamp S-2 rear wheel.
3) Small head tube bearing set #2576.
4) Top tube thick decal with the unique separate stars a separate S, unlike the one piece decal used later in 1964.
5) Center stamp S-7 front wheel.
6) Handlebar stem is smooth, no MAX HT.
7) Handlebar with the wide knurling only. This knurling always protrudes on both sides of the stem on ‘63 and early ‘64 Stingrays.
8) Spin block pedals.

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

I immediately imagined myself as a young dude peddling around the "hood" on that sweet ride and being the envy of every kid around , that thing is Cherry!....

Congrats,
Rafael ~

 

[Wolfmac]

Chris, the bike came out great and I'm happy you are excited about it. I saw the post and walked across the office to show Rob the final product and truth be told, I could see a bit of sellers remorse in his face. It was just a project, I think, he didn't have time to get across the finish line as you have. He was keen on all the tiny details you were sure to get just right, pointing out the correct lock nuts under the seat and such. Well done Chris!

 

[60sstuff]

Chris, the bike came out great and I'm happy you are excited about it. I saw the post and walked across the office to show Rob the final product and truth be told, I could see a bit of sellers remorse in his face. It was just a project, I think, he didn't have time to get across the finish line as you have. He was keen on all the tiny details you were sure to get just right, pointing out the correct lock nuts under the seat and such. Well done Chris!

Hi Sean,

Thank you for this wonderful post!
Plus a Big Thanks for turning me onto this 1964 J38 Lime Survivor.

Fortunately I had the few items needed to get this old Stingray where it deserves to be.
I love these early Polo seat bikes.

Regards, Chris.

 

[60sstuff]

I immediately imagined myself as a young dude peddling around the "hood" on that sweet ride and being the envy of every kid around , that thing is Cherry!....

Congrats,
Rafael ~

Rafael,

Tell those kids in the “hood” to send 10 cents for a new Schwinn Bicycle Book to see the colors offered on the New Stingray.

10 cents ….. what does that buy today .

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Rafael,

Tell those kids in the “hood” to send 10 cents for a new Schwinn Bicycle Book to see the colors offered on the New Stingray.

10 cents ….. what does that buy today .

View attachment 2033155

That's cool, back in those days all you had to do was take your empty pop bottles back to the store and get a dime for each one ! O boy we would load up on penny candies, sure miss those days.
Rafael ~