AMF Firestone Speed Chief year?

[Oilit]

Honestly I don’t know who made it. In the beginning of this post he says it’s an AMF. ‍

His bike is an AMF, but I think yours was built by Monark. Firestone was a tire company and they sold bikes through their tire stores but the bikes were built by other companies for Firestone. Goodrich did the same thing and I think Goodyear as well. The AMF is 1957 and is a middleweight (26 x 1.75 tires), yours may be older. It looks like there's enough clearance in the front fender that yours may have been a balloon tire bike (26 x 2.125) as well, but I'm not sure.

 

[Oilit]

Too weird. I also have one, Monark built

View attachment 1323140

View attachment 1323142

View attachment 1323143

What year is yours? Did it originally have middleweight tires or balloon tires?

 

[BradCon]

I’m going to post a request for info in the middleweight forum. Please join me in that post. I’m curious to know more about this bike. I suspected Monark, but I don’t know them yet.
I would love to see more pictures of these bikes to help me get mine back in shape.

 

[falconer]

I have not researched the year, but has middleweight tires. I cant find numbers on it!. no plate on bottom. Look more tomorrow

 

[oldfart36]

The Monark versions are earlier then the AMF. They are not M/W!

 

[falconer]

Hey oldfart, sorry, had to say it. No offense, Im old too. Anyway just measured Across frame just under rim, below seat. My speed chief was 3 inches. Measured my Monark Rocket balloon with exact same frame, was 3 1/4 inches. I want to stuff balloon tires on Speed Chief, but still think its MW

 

[Superman1984]

Hey oldfart, sorry, had to say it. No offense, Im old too. Anyway just measured Across frame just under rim, below seat. My speed chief was 3 inches. Measured my Monark Rocket balloon with exact same frame, was 3 1/4 inches. I want to stuff balloon tires on Speed Chief, but still think its MW

You can get clearance but it means cold setting the frame. It's not the axle area that needs it; it's the rear stays by the seat tube & the upper stays by the seat post. The M/W fenders aren't as flared / wide usually. The middle weight I am soon getting; a '64 Fire Bolt with the built in rack .... I intend to correct this Verrry carefully to run 2.125" Columbia Superb white walls on. I will be joining you guys but with the balloon tires I love. Worse case I have to bastardise it with 24" wheels & not use the tires I have & want initially. I do know I won't stress the welds & if that seems like the case will cut another frame to extend it as needed. Front fork will be a non Higgins beehive springer temporary for now 'cause I have an idea I am thinkin' hard on to remedy balloon tires in middle weights. Will test junk forks & post if it works out

 

[falconer]

Since last time i posted here, i took my Speed Chief apart and went through it. I did manage to stuff balloon tires under the fenders but it was tough. The frame is ok but MW fenders real tight. I got them to fit but with little clearance. Did a little cleaning, straightening, servicing Will ride soon!!

 

[Superman1984]

Since last time i posted here, i took my Speed Chief apart and went through it. I did manage to stuff balloon tires under the fenders but it was tough. The frame is ok but MW fenders real tight. I got them to fit but with little clearance. Did a little cleaning, straightening, servicing Will ride soon!!

View attachment 1380799

View attachment 1380800

View attachment 1380802

Hell Yeahs! I intend to see how the ballooner fenders fit when I purchase my next MW. It's not an original build so I may try original fenders for Columbia, some Schwinn "duck tails" and maybe even my Monark Super Deeps. It has box store / walds on it but I think I can make it a little less close with some work. I don't think the frames are much different between the ballooner & middle weight by much more than 1/4" usually

 

[Oilit]

Since last time i posted here, i took my Speed Chief apart and went through it. I did manage to stuff balloon tires under the fenders but it was tough. The frame is ok but MW fenders real tight. I got them to fit but with little clearance. Did a little cleaning, straightening, servicing Will ride soon!!

View attachment 1380799

View attachment 1380800

View attachment 1380802

Did you ever find the year? I think Huffy bought Monark at the end of 1957 (Thanks, @Adamtinkerer!) and this looks like it was before Huffy, so maybe 1955-57?