I picked up a Coaster 70's Stingray from a nice gentleman last week in San Francisco. He had a few bikes up in a loft type storage area. Said he was keeping the orange/red bike but was selling the other. He said it was an Admiral. I told him I know my Stingray bikes and what they sell for, but no idea if a bike like that is worth $300 or $3000 or more dollars. He said he would sell it for a $1000. Could not get to close to the bike, but took some photos the best I could. Been thinking a lot about that bike.
This happens to me a lot, that is I see a cool looking vintage bike like this at a swap when it is being unloaded, or at some ones place when I go to pick up another bike such as today. I do not mind gambling a bit one bikes like these where I am not sure of a value, On something like this bike for example I would have gone $500 on it, figuring it must be worth at least $200-$300, so only gambling on a few hundred downside at $500. But the upside could be very good on these type of bikes I have a good feeling about like this one. I paid for a lot of my collection by purchasing these types of bikes and then selling them or trading for Stingray's, usually I have pretty good gut feelings about certain bikes when I see them, this is one of them. I can't tell you the number of times at a swap I will pass up on a bike when someone wants say a thousand dollars for a bike I think might be real valuable that he or she is pulling out of a van or truck while it is still dark at 5AM and I am the first to see it, and then hear everyone talking about that bike selling, and what a fantastic deal it was. Now I can tell you what almost every part on a Stingray is worth, as well as complete Krates and Stingrays and can jump on those bikes really quick even when they are up in rafters like this one. I enjoy paying for my collection of bikes by buying and selling bikes and parts, and even taking a small chance on items I am not quite sure on the value, but do not see much of a downside/possible loss. Sometimes at 5 in the morning at a swap when someone is unloading a nice bike for sale and a crowd starts to mill around it you have to make a quicker decision than normal on whether to pull the trigger or not on buying it. I do not like to rush into making any decisions, but sometime that is what the situation dictates. Most of the time I will walk away when I must make a quick decision, sometimes if the risk is minimal, I will roll the dice. So all that said, any idea on what this is and a ball park value of this bike. I know not much to go on and I know photos are poor but best I could get today. Thanks.
This happens to me a lot, that is I see a cool looking vintage bike like this at a swap when it is being unloaded, or at some ones place when I go to pick up another bike such as today. I do not mind gambling a bit one bikes like these where I am not sure of a value, On something like this bike for example I would have gone $500 on it, figuring it must be worth at least $200-$300, so only gambling on a few hundred downside at $500. But the upside could be very good on these type of bikes I have a good feeling about like this one. I paid for a lot of my collection by purchasing these types of bikes and then selling them or trading for Stingray's, usually I have pretty good gut feelings about certain bikes when I see them, this is one of them. I can't tell you the number of times at a swap I will pass up on a bike when someone wants say a thousand dollars for a bike I think might be real valuable that he or she is pulling out of a van or truck while it is still dark at 5AM and I am the first to see it, and then hear everyone talking about that bike selling, and what a fantastic deal it was. Now I can tell you what almost every part on a Stingray is worth, as well as complete Krates and Stingrays and can jump on those bikes really quick even when they are up in rafters like this one. I enjoy paying for my collection of bikes by buying and selling bikes and parts, and even taking a small chance on items I am not quite sure on the value, but do not see much of a downside/possible loss. Sometimes at 5 in the morning at a swap when someone is unloading a nice bike for sale and a crowd starts to mill around it you have to make a quicker decision than normal on whether to pull the trigger or not on buying it. I do not like to rush into making any decisions, but sometime that is what the situation dictates. Most of the time I will walk away when I must make a quick decision, sometimes if the risk is minimal, I will roll the dice. So all that said, any idea on what this is and a ball park value of this bike. I know not much to go on and I know photos are poor but best I could get today. Thanks.
Last edited:
....
