Early Super Deluxe Survivors

[60sstuff]

The insane bit is these add to your collection. The Sky Blue is a collection unto itself.

Radiant Sky Blue has a nice deep glow if it hasn’t been faded over time.

Here is a vintage 1965 photo of two boys on Sky Blue Stingrays.
A Deluxe and Super Deluxe with black wall tires.

I have those examples also, both M4.

Another vintage photo of the Smothers Brothers on Super Deluxes.

 

[LEA17]

The Smothers Brothers - That's a blast from the past for sure.
The bikes,,, well I can't add any comment's greater than what has already been said.
Beautiful!
Regards,
Jack

 

[60sstuff]

There has been past questions about when the first “Super Deluxe” Stingray was available.
The advertisement in the July ‘64 Schwinn Reporter clarifies this 64 1/2 was defiantly out at the dealers by August of ‘64 and was Not a 1965 Stingray yet.

Several New features were now being offered on this New Stingray bicycle.
1) Chrome Spring Fork.
2) New styled streamlined Saddle with the famous “High Loop” seat strut.
3) New style chain guard on the S/D that was half chrome and half painted.

My featured M4 Sky Blue S/D obviously is a late year build intended for the upcoming ‘65 year but it has 1964 components throughout.
M4 - Rear fork (dropout).
64 - Crank.
Z-64 - Front axle.
11 4 (Nov. 64) - Westwind front tire.
UB**** (4th quarter of 64) - Yellow Oval Slik.
The rear Schwinn tube also has an M4 inked on it.
Late ‘64 and into 1965 the handlebar had Schwinn stamped twice in the center of the knurling.
This Springer has the cone washer/keeper on RH side.

I love the aged/patina of the 58 year old water slide decals on this bike.

 

[indycycling]

Awesome additional info Chris, thanks so much. I keep hearing people say some of the early SD's and J-33's came with solo polo seats and squareback struts, but this reporter info sure says otherwise. I suspect those parts must have been added by someone along the line. Thanks for the documentation!

 

[60sstuff]

A discovery was made when I was removing the rear wheel. This late ‘64 S/D had a coaster brake hub (single red band) in it.
When I was removing the RH axle nut it was under considerable pressure from the rear fork until I got out to 4-5/8’’ spread.
This wide spread is what’s needed for the 2 speed Overdrive Blue Band hub to properly fit.
Seems maybe this bike at one time had the New Optional 1965 kick back hub in it. Maybe it came that way New, or dealer installed, who knows?

There is a correct process to widening the rear fork ends as spelled out in the Feb. ‘65 Schwinn Reporter. You just don’t open the rear frame by hand.
I took photos showing the big difference in the rear forks between the Single Red Band and Three Blue Band.
I just happen to have a very nice Original Overdrive wheel in stock. Took it apart, cleaned, re-greased and installed with no issue.

 

[LEA17]

Hello,
It appears that the full reporter page isn't visible. But I'm thinking in addition to spreading the rear forks. The drop out plates need to be realigned to be parallel??
At any rate, very cool to see this original information. Many thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Jack

 

[indycycling]

Hello,
It appears that the full reporter page isn't visible. But I'm thinking in addition to spreading the rear forks. The drop out plates need to be realigned to be parallel??
At any rate, very cool to see this original information. Many thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Jack

Jack, agree and looks like the Reporter is indicating the use of a threaded axle and those nuts to cold set the stays wider, but it does say if you just stretch the stays open wider and jamb the wheel in the drop outs won't be aligned properly, causing problems.

Funny, I just experienced this as I temporarily installed a blue band S2 on my Opal 64 Fairlady while I was rebuilding the original rear S7. It was a very tight fit and I didn't cold set it knowing I'd go back to a single speed. I've since laced up and installed a red band S2 instead with the original spacing.

Chris, what great info once again, thanks for sharing it!

 

[60sstuff]

Hello,
It appears that the full reporter page isn't visible. But I'm thinking in addition to spreading the rear forks. The drop out plates need to be realigned to be parallel??
At any rate, very cool to see this original information. Many thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Jack

Here ya go.

 

[Tom Carroll]

That color is just amazing….people have overlooked the blue bikes for a while…that’s an absolute beauty

 

[60sstuff]

That color is just amazing….people have overlooked the blue bikes for a while…that’s an absolute beauty

Hi Tom,

For years I would pay more attention to Lime, Coppertone and Opal Violet, but the Radiant Sky Blue when it’s not faded is right at the top of the early Stingray colors in my opinion.

A few pics of the head badge area on my M4 S/D shows no fade in the color on this bike.