Columbia Thunderbolt: Real, or Reproduction?

[soddruntlestuntle]

First off, yes these pictures suck, I did not take them. Anyway I’m considering this Columbia that i found online, but I can find no other similar bikes, which makes me wonder if this isn’t one of those knock-offs they reproduced back in thd nineties… now I know even less about Columbias than I do about Schwinns, anyone have an idea while I wait for the seller to respond to my queries?

 

[GTs58]

I don't think they reproduced that, to new. Looks like a middleweight. Here's a serial list if the seller mentioned the number in the listing.

What year is my Columbia 5 Star? | General Discussion About Old Bicycles

I have a Columbia 5 star and wondering if anyone can date it by serial number. The number is 144747. There's no letter that I can see. Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.

thecabe.com

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

I don't think they reproduced that, to new. Looks like a middleweight. Here's a serial list if the seller mentioned the number in the listing.

What year is my Columbia 5 Star? | General Discussion About Old Bicycles

I have a Columbia 5 star and wondering if anyone can date it by serial number. The number is 144747. There's no letter that I can see. Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.

thecabe.com

He didn’t list the number and apparently doesn’t know where to find it— I get the impression that he’s not a Bike Guy.

 

[bikemonkey]

Not a repop...that bike looks all original plus it has great lines. Its a ladies bike which lessens it desirability and value but that may not be a factor in your buying decision but should be reflected in the price. Bikes like this too often become cash cow organ donors which is a shame after having survived so many years.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

In case anyone is curious what happened with this, dude never got back to me with better pix or more info, and wasn't flexible on his listed price, which I thought was too high, so I passed on it. Onward.

 

[Freqman1]

Not a particulalry desirable bike so you were wise to pass.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

Not a particulalry desirable bike so you were wise to pass.

Well, I was looking for a bike for my wife, and I'm a sucker for original condition bikes from the fifties, which are hard to find in my neck of the woods.

 

[Adamtinkerer]

Fyi, the tall finned chain guard is '58/9ish, like on my Skyhawk.
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