A recent post on a thread on here which I enjoyed seeing stated that the Lemon Peeler was the least valuable in color. A very interesting topic which may have even been discussed on here in the past. Got me to thinking and would be very interested if anyone knew if there were actual production numbers as to the number of bikes Schwinn sold each year by color and even perhaps broke it down for each model. I have never seen it or heard of such a thing but would be very interested if there was something like this. Even it those numbers were available it does not mean that the least produced color back in the day when originally sold would equate to the most valuable $$ today as rarest does not always equate to most valuable money wise. I buy and sell quite a few Krates each month these days, and have been involved with them the last 40 or so years. In my opinion as far as values today for original paint bikes all else being equal as far as condition the Grey Ghost a one year bike would be number one followed closely by the Cotton Picker a two year bike. Then comes another one year bike the Sunset Orange colored 1973 bike. I would say no matter how you rank them, those would be easy for me to say they are the top 3 most valuable colored Krates today. Now it gets interesting between the Kool Orange, Lemon, Pea, and Apple which is close. I think the Kool Orange Krate would be number 4 on the list. If you ask most people that are into bikes not necessarily Schwinn Stingrays if they can name a Krate, the first name you will usually hear is Orange Krate. That was the first color iconic ad at the raceway with the boy on the dragstrip where a lot of people first saw a photo of a Krate. Then I would say the bottom of the list is pretty close between the Apple, Pea, and Lemon, all great colors but It just seems to me to be a bit easier to sell a nice Orange Krate for a bit more money than a Pea, Lemon or Apple. I think like they used to say about Ferrari's is if you are fortunate enough to afford one that your first one had to be a red one. Kind of a bit like that with Krates now days. Anyway interesting topic about what color Krates are most valuable now days. I am even seeing that nice original Cotton Pickers are bringing big money to almost have me say that they are close to being in that number one spot. I think they may have sold fewer Cotton Pickers in the two years they were made than the Grey Ghost did in one year. Most boys in my opinion when say in 1971 when picking out a bike at the dealer standing in front of all those 6 wild color Krates in 1971 might find a white bike with a white seat a bit dull compared to the other 5 colors even the Ghost which was not what I would call a very colorful bike, but more so than a white bike anyway. And again I state that rare does not necessarily equate into valuable, I have found that nice original Cotton Pickers to be more elusive to find than a nice original Grey Ghost. My opinions anyway. Anyone else have any thoughts about this. And since this is all a matter of opinion, have fun with it if you want.
