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

[rollfaster]

I think only the Deluxe bikes with the springer got the Persons seat(and the 20" model). The rest of the models ran the rubber cover Mesinger seat....Listed here on ebay also found on the Exercise bikes. This is going by the examples I've had in the past and is one of the cases where I think even the Schwinn catalog pictures and specs are off.

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This gives me a chance to dig into my new Specs Catalog.
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The 1980 specs call out color match grips and Persons seats on coaster and Deluxe models. That's not the grips I remember on the bikes I've had, but neither version should decrease the value of the bike. I remember having 80 model cruisers with the black cushion grips, but I don't currently have a 1980 model to confirm. The different part number seats must indicate the difference between brown and black.
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I don't think your bike is a 1980 model though!!! Schwinn stamped god knows how many MR serial numbers on headtube material during the 1980 strike and used them until they were depleted. That makes me think about how few S(81) year stamps I've seen.... The actual build date is a 4 digit code on the Schwinn badge, next to the letter I. What tips me off to the bike being later production is the fork pin striping(actually a silk screened pattern). As I understand it, that ornate fork pinstripe was introduced in 1981...where the 1980 catalog barely shows the classic dart pinstripe, it's too dithered to show up in the picture I took of my catalog. The 81 catalog clearly shows the ornate pinstripe on the forks and I've had many of these 81 models recently with the black rubber Mesinger seats, black cushion grips, and ornate fork pinstripe.

View attachment 2287092I don't have an 81 Specs Catalog, but I do have an 82 Parts Catalog that shows the seat I'm talking about, #7. For whatever reason, this isn't called out as the Cruiser seat in the description. The Persons seat isn't here in the seat section and isn't even in the Accessories section in 82.

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The 79 specs catalog does call out the CC7-6(Spitfire, soon to become the Cruiser) model as having the same 7003BK seat, the same as on the Exerciser model that year too.

I would definitely take a look at your headbadge and confirm the year... hopefully the previous owners didn't change that out. The Mesinger seat is a lot cheaper, more comfortable, and more abundant than the Persons seat.

Thanks for the info!

 

[rollfaster]

Thanks guys for the great info. Since this bike will be a rider, I’ll probably pick up a rubber mesinger, I usually have several of these hanging around but none at this time. My cousin has a few I’m sure. Got some nice Schwinn fat ass tires going on it this weekend and probably some black mushroom grips. Looking forward to re-assembly this weekend!!

 

[Irish mike]

 

[koolbikes]

Awesome thanks!

Can you post the 4-digit number stamped on the Schwinn Head Badge? ... Much Appreciated.

 

[rollfaster]

Can you post the 4-digit number stamped on the Schwinn Head Badge? ... Much Appreciated.

Will do. You’re right though, definitely think it’s an 81.

 

[rollfaster]

Got my 81 Cruiser finished up, not sure about the seat but it’s comfy. It rides excellent despite the rusty rims. Sat in my sister’s garage with no door since 2011, it was perfect when she got it. Cleaned it up the best I could.

 

[rollfaster]

Can you post the 4-digit number stamped on the Schwinn Head Badge? ... Much Appreciated.

Here you go.

 

[larock65]

I rebuilt my 1980 white Schwinn Cruiser with some blue parts.

 

[1979AL]

My 1979 all original Spitfire 5 from Bills Bike shop in Orange, CA. Just recently took off the Wald fenders and the original Schwinn studded balloons and added the original Carlisle Black Wall tires. Like this look much better.

(If anyone is interested, I'm selling the Fenders).

 

[koolbikes]

My 1979 all original Spitfire 5 from Bills Bike shop in Orange, CA. Just recently took off the Wald fenders and the original Schwinn studded balloons and added the original Carlisle Black Wall tires. Like this look much better.

(If anyone is interested, I'm selling the Fenders).

View attachment 2297498

Very Nice Spitfire 5 ... but this is the coaster brake thread.