Did they ever make a reproduction Hop Along Cassidy bike?
I was at the local flea market and a guy had two 26" made in China black cruisers built to look like the old Rollfast Hopalong Cassidy bikes.
They had thin metal fenders, all the graphics were decals, the fender headlight was flimsy plastic, and the rims were already rusting chrome. The saddle was plastic with rubber encased springs.
I'd say less than even Walmart Schwinn quality.
However, the tires were 26x2.125" unbranded copies of the old Carlisle Lightning Darts in white wall. Each had a small Made in China script close to the bead on one side.
I've seen the Schwinn Phantom repro bikes, as well as Columbia, Roadmaster, and JC Higgins, but not a Rollfast. The bikes had a Hopalong Cassidy headbadge decal that was just a metalic looking sticker.
I think maybe the right name for it would be a tribute bike, it certainly wasn't an exact reproduction but my big question was who made the tires?
As far as i know, the last Lightning darts were in the late 70's or early 80's. I remember trying to buy a set where I worked in 1979 and couldn't find a set through any of the suppliers that shop used. I had to settle for a pair of Carlisle whitewall studded tires. At that time old school cruiser tires were getting scarce and most 2.125 tires came only in MTB or BMX style treads.
Maybe there's a source out there making Lightning Dart copies now?
The bikes were likely surplus, the guy had a bunch of department store bikes for sale, all looked like they've been banged around bit, likely by him hauling them on in an old pop up camper trailer with the top removed. He had them piled atop one another like firewood when he left. Absolutely no concern for the paint or about denting fenders.
He had $200 on each of them. I didn't have a camera or I'd have snapped a pic or two but my new cell phone they sent me doesn't have a camera.
I did a google search and couldn't find any HC repop bikes or any talk about one so I have no clue was to who made the tires. I'm fairly certain there was never a made in China Carlisle back in the day either.
If the weather is decent, and I get the chance, and I remember my camera, maybe I'll take a ride to see if he's got them there again.