Varsity Blues, errr Greens. 1962 Schwinn Varsity

[soddruntlestuntle]

Never really been a road bike guy, as riding around on those spindly little wheels and tires has always made me nervous. And if you saw the condition of the roads in my part of the world, you'd be nervous, too. Nevertheless it's one of the few categories of vintage bike I've yet to experience, so I started looking a couple months ago. Found a very nice terra cotta Super Continental not far from me, but the seller was non-communicative, so I moved on. Nothing else really caught my eye (or fit my extremely limited budget) until I found this one last night on Facebook:

Looks like the derailleur has been swapped out, as has the saddle.

Welcome one very scruffy Opaque RADIANT Green September '62 Varsity Ten Speed. It's crusty, but aren't most of my bikes? Was surprised to find that it rode on 26" rims, I thought the proportions looked a little odd, but wasn't sure why. Not really sure what I'm going to do with it beyond getting it rideable. Maybe sell it and pursue that terra cotta Super Continental again. If anyone has any tips or insights on this one, I'm all ears.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

It's not Opaque Green, that green was called Radiant Green. The ten speed Varsity should have 27" wheels, that's why you have the 810 calipers trying to adapt the 26" wheels to a 27" frame. The original 8 speed Varsity did come with 26" S-6 wheels. The derailer and seat are not original. It's a nice find and you can change the parts back if you choose to restore it.

Snider's Sporting Goods was one of my parts accounts when I repped for Cycles Peugeot USA in 1977. The Snider family was related to George Snider who drove Indy Cars for A.J. Foyt. Just a little Indianapolis history FYI for the month of May.

John

 

[cyclingday]

Alright, Alright, Alright!
I’m about to explore one of those relics myself.
I just picked up a 1961 model in the same size and color.

The archaic Simplex derailleurs are what attracted me to this particular one.

But, original condition, size and color also was a big factor.

Those 26” wheels are actually correct for those first year Varsity 10 Speeds.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

Alright, Alright, Alright!
I’m about to explore one of those relics myself.
I just picked up a 1961 model in the same size and color.
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Those 26” wheels are actually correct for those first year Varsity 10 Speeds.
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Alright, Alright, Alright!
I’m about to explore one of those relics myself.
I just picked up a 1961 model in the same size and color.
View attachment 2238421

View attachment 2238422

View attachment 2238423
Those 26” wheels are actually correct for those first year Varsity 10 Speeds.
View attachment 2238419

View attachment 2238420

View attachment 2238426

View attachment 2238427

View attachment 2238425

 

[GTs58]

The Varsity rode on 26" wheels until it had the makeover in 1963. The 62 Varsity was the organ donor for the Corvette 5 speeds...

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

Alright, Alright, Alright!
I’m about to explore one of those relics myself.
I just picked up a 1961 model in the same size and color.
View attachment 2238421
The archaic Simplex derailleurs are what attracted me to this particular one.
View attachment 2238422
But, original condition, size and color also was a big factor.
View attachment 2238423
Those 26” wheels are actually correct for those first year Varsity 10 Speeds.
View attachment 2238419

View attachment 2238420

View attachment 2238426

View attachment 2238427

View attachment 2238425

Boy, that’s a clean bike, but there’s no way I could deal with that suicide shifter.

 

[Eric Amlie]

Yup...26" wheels.
I converted mine over to 27".

 

[Eric Amlie]

Pursuing that Super Continental would be a worthy endeavor.
There aren't many of those around.
If you don't know already, it was a 15 speed model.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

Had to actually cut the damn tires off the rims. Never experienced tires so tight on the rim, even broke a good tire lever trying to get them off.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

Bath time.