Help with Value Re:1979 Schwinn Spitfire 5

[silentda213gangster]

There is no doubt that frame has been stripped and repainted. Are you planning on building it up?

Honestly, I think its original paint, but i dont know everything. You guys have been doing this alot longer than I have. Also, im smart enough to listen when someone older and wiser is telling me something. What about the paint on the frame makes u think repaint?

 

[GTs58]

Honestly, I think its original paint, but i dont know everything. You guys have been doing this alot longer than I have. Also, im smart enough to listen when someone older and wiser is telling me something. What about the paint on the frame makes u think repaint?

Lot's of details indicate a repaint. Paint is falling off since there is no primer and the paint is brittle. On that head tube shot the paint thickness looks like the bike was painted 4 different times with house paint. Never seen a seat tube were the seat post clamp completely stripped the tubing of paint.
Now the technical details. That serial number was stamped in May of 1979. None of the 79 cruiser bikes were factory painted White, and those specific decals were first used on the 1980 models. Plus it doesn't have the Schwinn quality decal on the seat tube. Looks like a good frame for a complete proper repaint and rebuild.

 

[silentda213gangster]

Your a pretty smart guy, so if u say its a repaint your probably right! I just wanted to ask how you came to that conclusion so i can pick up some knowledge. Thanks man! For reals. Now let me ask you this, the guy i got the frame from said these forks came with it. Are these ones that were used by schwinn in the early 80s

 

[GTs58]

Those tube forks were really popular starting around that time, 1980. Schwinn had some listed for the 26" models on the parts accessory page in the 1981 catalog.

 

[silentda213gangster]

So are these the ones schwinn sold as an accessory? Any idea as to value?

 

[phantom]

So are these the ones schwinn sold as an accessory? Any idea as to value?

IMO the fork in your original post is original to the bike.

 

[GTs58]

So are these the ones schwinn sold as an accessory? Any idea as to value?

Your fork does look like the one Schwinn sold, at least to my eyes. Schwinn started selling just frames in 1981 and they came painted with cups, decals and undated head badges. The vast majority of them had MR serial numbers. Some of the colors were not used on the regular production Cruisers. Hundreds were sold and most people used those BMX forks. I have no idea what the value is.

Birdzgarage's cool build.

 

[Xlobsterman]

Your a pretty smart guy, so if u say its a repaint your probably right! I just wanted to ask how you came to that conclusion so i can pick up some knowledge. Thanks man! For reals. Now let me ask you this, the guy i got the frame from said these forks came with it. Are these ones that were used by schwinn in the early 80s

View attachment 1758198

View attachment 1758199

From what I can see, the frame you have looks to be a repaint? Schwinn did offer the Cruiser frames in White starting in 1980, but they were sold as frames ONLY, and not as complete bikes from the factory. So the forks you have were not original from a factory built bike, they were an accessory item sold by the dealer. IMO, they look like they are Akisu forks sold during that era. They were a lower quality fork available during that time period. Can you post a pic showing the bottom caps on the tube ends?

 

[silentda213gangster]

Here it is

 

[Xlobsterman]

Here it is

View attachment 1758331

Pretty poor quality pic, but they do not look the same. One thing I can tell you for certain, is that they are not Schwinn Tube Forks.