Klunker V huh??

[Schwinn Sales West]

That's the story as it has been told. Maybe someday we will see an old Schwinn reporter article that actually mentions it to confirm it?

I doubt you would find anything in a Reporter.

The place to look would be in a Schwinn Newsflash document.

Actually it's they just grabbed a serial stamped head tube out of the barrel and then built the frame with it. Then it's a free-for-all when that frame was prepped and painted and then when it was finally built up. I would just use the head badge dates only since the serial dates don't mean Jack. From what I've seen over the years the average between the serial date and build date is around 45 to 60 days.

IMO, your correct, there was not the room to store a thousands of frames waiting to be painted and assembled. The barrel of stamped serial numbered head tubes or fork ends makes sense. The frames would have been rusting as they sat around very long. You have to remember the Parts Department warehouse's purpose was to accept vendor parts shipments to be used to build bicycles. Things like hubs, spokes, tires, seats, pedals, caliper brakes, derailers, steel rolls, paint, etc. They also had to produce service parts including the packaging, and boxing for shipment to the sales companies for dealer sales. There was no room to store thousands of frames.

John

 

[schwinnbikebobb]

So Spitfire and Klunker we sold side by side during the same time frame?

 

[Xlobsterman]

So Spitfire and Klunker we sold side by side during the same time frame?

YES, the Spitfire was a single speed, and the KLUNKER 5 was the new 5 speed version released late in 78! There was no single speed KLUNKER!

 

[koolbikes]

Did not see this posted here ...
Published information on the California Cruiser and Klunker 5, historical content ... Leon Dixon ... 2009

Good read ...

National Bicycle History Archive of America

www.nbhaa.com

1978 Schwinn Klunker 5 information ... earliest dated Klunker 5 to date "here" is ... HPxxxxxx ...August '78 ... Bdg. #2918 ... Oct., 18, 1978

Information about 1978 Schwinn Klunker 5 | Vintage Mountain Bikes

Who knows the facts about the production numbers of the Schwinn Klunker 5. The first month produced in 1978 and what the six number serial number represents following the two letters. How many were produced in the color schemes? Please reply if you have the information other than the information...

thecabe.com

1978 Klunker 5 examples: Red, Blue & Black

 

[koolbikes]

1978 Schwinn Bicycle Specifications Catalog only has "SPITFIRE", no 5 speed version, due to late release in 1978.
KLUNKER 5 ... renamed ... ?

Here is a 1979 Schwinn "SPITFIRE 5" ... CC5-5 SPITFIRE ... Bicycle Specifications Sheet ...

 

[Xlobsterman]

 

[Xlobsterman]

So I stumbled upon these pics of a womens KLUNKER on FB yesterday. These are the first pics I have ever seen of a womens bike with the KLUNKER name on it.............LOL

 

[WillWork4Parts]

View attachment 1992771

Well, you got the capital letters right this time at least...
You know it's seeds like this that start the false claims you complain about right? Lol

 

[Xlobsterman]

Well, you got the capital letters right this time at least...
You know it's seeds like this that start the false claims you complain about right? Lol

I am just providing the proof for the false info everyone wants to believe...................LOL

 

[Xlobsterman]

Here is an interesting discussion on FB with that so-called RARE single speed KLUNKER that was posted here awhile ago now. It has a new owner, and he keeps on perpetuating more false info about the bike.........................LOL

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