Let’s see some late 70’s/early 80’s Cruisers and Spitfires

[Bradies Bicycle Shop]

I picked up a couple beater Spitfires today. The ad said they were 78s but after running the serial numbers, they are 79s. The blue one is from March 79 and has a sticker from Frank's Bike & Key. The red one is from May 79 and has a Circle Cycle sticker. Neither was my local bike shop back in the day, but they were both in Torrance, CA and I remember them from when I was a kid in the South Bay.

The lightly-restored 79 I picked up a couple years ago is already rusting so the way I look at it, these two just have a head start. I seriously considered the super clean 79 @Xlobsterman recently sold on eBay, but decided against it knowing that in a few years, the salt air would have its way with it.

I'll clean these up the best I can, pick up a set of blackwalls for the red one, maybe some gum walls for the blue, and let mother nature take its course.

Speaking of tires, where are you all sourcing your knobbies from these days? I found some CSTs at Cambria, some Wanda gum walls on eBay, and some Cruiser 80s on Amazon. Any other preferred shops I should check out, either online or in-store (I'm in North OC).

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They're both in pretty rough shape. I didn't find any S2 stampings on the rims, though the rims have quite a bit of rust that looks like it was sanded at one time then rusted again. You can kinda make out the grooves around the rim and the arrow points to what kinda looks like a "2" stamping. Maybe I'll hit them with some rust remover and see how well they clean up.
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Both have this logo on the front hub.
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Both have Bendix 76 coasters.
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I have a new set of Duro gum wall knobbies I'm not using I'll sell you. I'm in Huntington Beach

 

[Dannuus]

I picked up a couple beater Spitfires today. The ad said they were 78s but after running the serial numbers, they are 79s. The blue one is from March 79 and has a sticker from Frank's Bike & Key. The red one is from May 79 and has a Circle Cycle sticker. Neither was my local bike shop back in the day, but they were both in Torrance, CA and I remember them from when I was a kid in the South Bay.

The lightly-restored 79 I picked up a couple years ago is already rusting so the way I look at it, these two just have a head start. I seriously considered the super clean 79 @Xlobsterman recently sold on eBay, but decided against it knowing that in a few years, the salt air would have its way with it.

I'll clean these up the best I can, pick up a set of blackwalls for the red one, maybe some gum walls for the blue, and let mother nature take its course.

Speaking of tires, where are you all sourcing your knobbies from these days? I found some CSTs at Cambria, some Wanda gum walls on eBay, and some Cruiser 80s on Amazon. Any other preferred shops I should check out, either online or in-store (I'm in North OC).

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They're both in pretty rough shape. I didn't find any S2 stampings on the rims, though the rims have quite a bit of rust that looks like it was sanded at one time then rusted again. You can kinda make out the grooves around the rim and the arrow points to what kinda looks like a "2" stamping. Maybe I'll hit them with some rust remover and see how well they clean up.
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Both have this logo on the front hub.
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Both have Bendix 76 coasters.
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That's a union logo on the front hub. Keep it! They're bomb proof!

 

[4nthony]

Here's my two favorite kids... Blue one is stamped October of 1976 like my birth certificate and the Black one is a '79. They are always in the rotation

Is your black 79 the one that is for sale on Craigslist?

If so, I almost contacted you to buy it. It took the guy with the beaters a couple days to reply to my message which had me thinking it was an abandoned ad. If I hadn't heard back from him this morning, I would've been posting about your 79 this evening.

It looks to be in great condition and I'm sure it'll be sold in no time.

I have a new set of Duro gum wall knobbies I'm not using I'll sell you. I'm in Huntington Beach

I'll shoot you a message, thanks!

 

[Dannuus]

This? If so, I never noticed it.

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I've got a good hub shell in my stash. 81 date I think. Yours for the postage if you want it. PM me. Correction, it's an 80 hub shell. I'll wash it up tomorrow.

 

[GTs58]

Schwinn changed from the smaller Union hub to the high flange ACS hub mid year in 1979 on the Spitfire.

I’ll have to check mine out. I know it was mid year sometime when it was built.

 

[Bradies Bicycle Shop]

Is your black 79 the one that is for sale on Craigslist?

If so, I almost contacted you to buy it. It took the guy with the beaters a couple days to reply to my message which had me thinking it was an abandoned ad. If I hadn't heard back from him this morning, I would've been posting about your 79 this evening.

It looks to be in great condition and I'm sure it'll be sold in no time.



I'll shoot you a message, thanks!

Yeah I have it for sale... It's in great condition. Original paint and logos. That's why I have it priced kinda high. Haha, it's the I guess if I have to sell it price

 

[4nthony]

@Dannuus @Bradies Bicycle Shop

It looks like I'm not able to send PMs. I can't find a "start conversation" link for anyone.

Isn't the button usually found here:

 

[GTs58]

@Dannuus @Bradies Bicycle Shop

It looks like I'm not able to send PMs. I can't find a "start conversation" link for anyone.

Isn't the button usually found here:

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Yes, that's where it is. That's strange that you can't send a PM!

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

@Dannuus @Bradies Bicycle Shop

It looks like I'm not able to send PMs. I can't find a "start conversation" link for anyone.

Isn't the button usually found here:

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Maybe you do not have enough posts contact the mod.

 

[Dannuus]

@Dannuus @Bradies Bicycle Shop

It looks like I'm not able to send PMs. I can't find a "start conversation" link for anyone.

Isn't the button usually found here:

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The hub shell isn't going anywhere. Figure 8 bucks to ship to the left coast. Give me an email and I'll invoice you on paypal.