Early Schwinn Corvette

[Oilit]

@Tim s, as nice as the bike looks now, what kind of shape was it in to start with? Did the previous owner take any "before" pictures? I'm guessing he must have started with a pretty complete example.

 

[Tim s]

I first saw the bike about 2 years ago when my wife and I were looking at his bike collection. The bike was complete/unrestored then and I remember the paint being faded as well as the decals but everything was there. At the time I remember him pointing out the early serial number and that the seat and seat tube decal were different from other early middleweight Schwinns. The next time I saw the bike was last summer when I was picking up the Corvette 5 speed that I bought from him. At that time the bike had been painted and he was waiting to get the seat back from the guy restoring the seat. I would think that he has before pics but i really don’t know. I do know he has been into middleweight Schwinns for a long time and knows his stuff. He has been gradually selling off his middleweight collection and most of his parts are gone. Here is a pic of the 5 speed corvette that I bought from him last summer. Tim

 

[Nostalgic Dave]

That's the early version of the pinstripe decal on the downtube, I didn't realize that was ever used on the middleweights! I'll have to keep an eye out for that detail from now on! Beautiful bike!

That's what I was thinking... isn't this the same decal used on the Balloon tire Jaguar? Is this decal available reproduced?

 

[Nostalgic Dave]

I first saw this bike when I was picking up my Schwinn 5 speed Corvette. The bike was in the process of being restored and not for sale at the time. The owner/ restorer is a good friend and later indicated that he would sell me the bike. We both were going to Memory Lane and arranged to make the handoff there. His restoration skills and attention to detail are second to none. The bike might possibly be the earliest Schwinn Corvette out there with an October 1953 date. Enjoy the pics. Tim

Absolutely beautiful! Your friend does excellent work. Congrats!

 

[Oilit]

I first saw the bike about 2 years ago when my wife and I were looking at his bike collection. The bike was complete/unrestored then and I remember the paint being faded as well as the decals but everything was there. At the time I remember him pointing out the early serial number and that the seat and seat tube decal were different from other early middleweight Schwinns. The next time I saw the bike was last summer when I was picking up the Corvette 5 speed that I bought from him. At that time the bike had been painted and he was waiting to get the seat back from the guy restoring the seat. I would think that he has before pics but i really don’t know. I do know he has been into middleweight Schwinns for a long time and knows his stuff. He has been gradually selling off his middleweight collection and most of his parts are gone. Here is a pic of the 5 speed corvette that I bought from him last summer. Tim

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Another beautiful bike! Congratulations!

 

[Tim s]

Hi Dave, I don’t know if they are reproducing that decal or if he had it made so I will ask him that and if he has any before pics Of the bike. Tim

 

[geosbike]

wow that's nice

 

[noverguy]

That is a beautiful restoration and a super cool Corvette! Thanks for posting your great photos! Every part on that bike is stunning. Love those Schwinn tires. What a beautiful pair. Love those nice fat red grips! Thanks again for posting your photos! Enjoy peddl'n! USA-1

 

[60sstuff]

That's the early version of the pinstripe decal on the downtube.

Curious,
Are you talking about the “seat tube” ?
I don’t see a decal on the down tube.

Thanks.

 

[Oilit]

Curious,
Are you talking about the “seat tube” ?
I don’t see a decal on the down tube.

Thanks.

You are correct sir, "seat tube" is the proper name, I was careless. Since Tim posted this Corvette a couple of Tigers have turned up with this decal and serial numbers dating to late 1953, but the earliest Sturmey-Archer hub on a middleweight is April 1954, at least so far. Unfortunately the Tigers were both pretty rough, original but lots of rust and neglect. I bought one of them and posted it here:

1954 Blue Schwinn Tiger | Middleweight Bicycles

When @Tim s posted his early Corvette, I was struck by the seat post decal, the early version of the "Art Deco" type which I had never seen on any middleweight before that. So I've been keeping an eye out and this Tiger popped up on EBay a few weeks ago. The serial number was used in 1957, and...

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