Want to sell my vintage Sting-Ray, need advice

[aravosis]

Hey everyone, I'm new here, and looking for advice on selling my old Sting-Ray Fastback bike. I'm from the Chicago area originally, and my mom recently passed away, and we've been cleaning out her house, and I figured it's finally time to sell my bike that's been hanging in the garage for, no joke, 50 years. It's my first bike, everything on it is, I think, original -- including tires. I seem to recall getting it in the late 1960s, when we lived on the south side of Chicago, and from what I could tell googling the serial number (MC44836), it may be from December of 1967 -- though someone in this forum said it's actually a 1968. I have no idea what this thing is worth. I'm happy to list it here, as I've seen folks recommend that in other threads, but I'm required to list a price, and I have no idea what to ask for this. I just want a fair price, and to sell it to someone who will appreciate it. I will post a number of photos below, so you can see the condition, etc. Any advice on what it's worth, and where to list it (I'm assuming people sell these for local pickup only?) would be much appreciated. Thanks, John

 

[nick tures]

Bike is a December 67, you being the original owner is very cool, I would say it’s worth $1000, it wouldn’t take a whole lot to clean it up, and all original is cool to, good luck with what you do with it

 

[mrg]

Better look round the garage for that front fender and try putting it in the Deal or No Deal section and let it set it's own price, better yet carefully clean it up and keep it in the family sense your the original owner!

 

[Freqman1]

$1000 for a Fastback?

 

[aravosis]

Better look round the garage for that front fender and try putting it in the Deal or No Deal section and let it set it's own price, better yet carefully clean it up and keep it in the family sense your the original owner!

I was thinking about that front fender when I was looking at the bike, noticing it wasn’t there and wondering if it was missing or whether that was the design. I’ll definitely look on the floor of the garage, but it was a well trafficked area so I doubt it’s there, it could’ve fallen off 40 years ago! How hard is it to clean, I’m a newbie to all of this, and not particularly handy. Also, how much of a pain is it to ship something like this to a buyer? Again, I’m not someone who is accustomed to packing bikes, and assume it would be awfully expensive to just ask UPS to pack and send. .

 

[sworley]

I would just sell it locally on Facebook marketplace or the like. Big market like yours, price it right and it’ll sell tomorrow. I wouldn’t even worry about cleaning it, you can do more harm than good. $1000 is a bit much given the condition but $550 and that will be out of your hair within hours.

 

[aravosis]

I would just sell it locally on Facebook marketplace or the like. Big market like yours, price it right and it’ll sell tomorrow. I wouldn’t even worry about cleaning it, you can do more harm than good. $1000 is a bit much given the condition but $550 and that will be out of your hair within hours.

Oh interesting. The only reason I didn’t try Facebook is because I recently tried to sell my mom’s furniture on there and nobody wanted it even for free! I guess there’s no harm in listing and see if anyone bites. I’d just like to get a fair price for it, and it’d be nice to know that it has a new home.

 

[sworley]

I think you’ll find interest. These stik shift bikes are hot tickets right now. $650 is TOP value in my book. Your chrome is quite pitted and the bike needs frankly everything.

 

[aravosis]

I think you’ll find interest. These stik shift bikes are hot tickets right now. $650 is TOP value in my book. Your chrome is quite pitted and the bike needs frankly everything.

What do you mean by $650 is top value? I’m not sure I understand the meaning of your sentence. You mean you think the most I would get for it is $650 in its current condition?

 

[sworley]

Yes