bobcycles
Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
Last year I recieved a random email from a bike shop in Las Vegas inquiring about the restoration
possibility of a customers Black Phantom bike... Upon seeing the pix of the bike...I suggested seeking
out a decent original for 1/2 the cost of restoration of the bike, missing parts, rough shape etc.
The owner of the bike, recently retired local Culver City PD sarge, depsite the expense of doing the bike justice with original vintage parts, otped to go ahead with the project..
Bicycle belonged to his father and years back had been "restored" by some fool who screwed the
bike up entirely and even went as far as stealing the tank! "What tank?" Jeez! Bike belonged
originally to Terrys dad who rode it back in the day... even going as far as 'rescuing' it from
a police impound after being seized for no bike license back in the 70's.
I couldn't say no to taking it on...plus Terry spared no expense in doing a full resto on the
bike using no aftermarket parts, even opting for NOS Typhoon USA Tires etc.
Frame date was F 1949 so we're talking early Black Phantom project. Luckily I had
all of the missing or incorrect parts to resurrect the bike. About all there was to begin
was the frame, fork, drum brake and rear carrier.. everything else went in to the recycle bin.
Results were very satisfactory. I honestly tried to talk him out of the resto due to expense...
but some folks still highly value these old ballooners and this one is destined to 'live on'
for a verrrrrry long time.
possibility of a customers Black Phantom bike... Upon seeing the pix of the bike...I suggested seeking
out a decent original for 1/2 the cost of restoration of the bike, missing parts, rough shape etc.
The owner of the bike, recently retired local Culver City PD sarge, depsite the expense of doing the bike justice with original vintage parts, otped to go ahead with the project..
Bicycle belonged to his father and years back had been "restored" by some fool who screwed the
bike up entirely and even went as far as stealing the tank! "What tank?" Jeez! Bike belonged
originally to Terrys dad who rode it back in the day... even going as far as 'rescuing' it from
a police impound after being seized for no bike license back in the 70's.
I couldn't say no to taking it on...plus Terry spared no expense in doing a full resto on the
bike using no aftermarket parts, even opting for NOS Typhoon USA Tires etc.
Frame date was F 1949 so we're talking early Black Phantom project. Luckily I had
all of the missing or incorrect parts to resurrect the bike. About all there was to begin
was the frame, fork, drum brake and rear carrier.. everything else went in to the recycle bin.
Results were very satisfactory. I honestly tried to talk him out of the resto due to expense...
but some folks still highly value these old ballooners and this one is destined to 'live on'
for a verrrrrry long time.
