It is easy to get financially upside down on a collectible bicycle

[locomotion]

The Beetle is named "Olive" (of course) and she is the last year of the ovals 1957. She is the most fun to drive of any car I have had. She is light, agile and responsive to head winds and side winds.

Side note: It took me almost a week after buying the Jeep to realize it was a Fiat. Nine gears and right side gas fill should have clued me in...View attachment 911877

Olive is beautiful Jim.

 

[catfish]

The only way to make a little money in the bicycle hobby, is to start out with a lot of money.

Catfish

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

some times people forget that hobbies are for fun, not profit. you never hear a fisherman complaining that he can't get 5 bucks for the fish he just caught using $2,000 worth of gear to catch it.

 

[Jim Barnard]

Nice, thank you. I miss all the banana bikes. That museum was a labor of love. I sold all (except for 10? or so) and built a retirement home on the Sound. Some how the plans contained a big space for a bicycle collection. I am trying to be more reasonable with the new collection.

Look for another series of swap meets between New London and Stonington, CT in early September.

I do love this hobby...

 

[WES PINCHOT]

THAT IS ONE SWEET OLIVE BEETLE!

 

[jimbo53]

MUST.NOT.BUY.ANY.MORE.BIKE.PARTS

“Ooh! Is that NOS?”

 

[HARPO]

@Jim Barnard I figured you might like to see this one. 1969 Lemon Peeler. My brother-in-law was the original owner. The bike is 100% from the factory, right down to the tubes.

 

[Jim Barnard]

@Jim Barnard I figured you might like to see this one. 1969 Lemon Peeler. My brother-in-law was the original owner. The bike is 100% from the factory, right down to the tubes.

View attachment 912330

That one takes my breath away!

 

[HARPO]

@Jim Barnard a few more pics for you...

 

[5782341b77vl]

I prefer going to auctions, where I can SEE the bike beforehand and decide if it'll be a money pit to fix up. Most of the bikes I have just needed tubes and some bike oil, but that's was it. The worst bike - bearings needing to be repacked.

My NEWEST member of the collection (just got the electric horn working yesterday) just needs a bulb in the headlight, rear reflector, and new tubes. Still has all original paint -