Oldbikeguy1960
Wore out three sets of tires already!
(Part 2 on reply below.)
Yeah I know. Here we go again.
I have been here since December 2021, and have heard many discussions on old bikes, in regards to oddities. One of the bikes whose existence is most vehemently opposed is pre Scrambler black Stingrays. The other was a one off all chrome 1936 Autocycle Deluxe.
I am here to debunk the myth that anyone here, including myself is an expert on EVERYTHING Schwinn (or any other manufacturer for that matter) did.
Today I saw an awesome article about a true one off bicycle, not known to exist in ANY Schwinn documentation anywhere.
It is an all white 5 speed Corvette.
If memory serves me correctly (more doubtful every day) the 5 speed Corvette was rare enough anyway being built from mid 1961-1962 for the 1962 model year. Now we have an all white Corvette, which until now has never been mentioned in any Schwinn memo, newsletter or even a scrap of paper.
This is exactly why I say and lead by example, DO NOT DISPROVE ANYTHING WITH NO PROOF THAT IT COULDN'T EXIST! If this bike would've appeared without the blessing of a letter from Schwinn when they were still in Chicago it would be like the aforementioned bikes, argued out of existence by the experts, scientists and armchair Schwinn executives like those bikes were.
The problem is, no more of these White Corvette 5 speed bicycles would've ever turned up to bring the possibility back to life and it would've been relegated to the dustbin of history (where it was found as I read) never to resurface or possibly stripped and rebuilt as whatever color everyone agrees on existing for the 1962 model year.
Thank Schwinn a person with some foresight put the letter where it could be found and someone that loves these bikes found it and not some mom buying an old bike for their son or a kid in the 1970s looking to make a beater or Klunker out of it. The letter would be gone and so would the proof one ever existed since nobody else would ever ask about it again.
Now, back to the original bikes In question. I will start with the 1936 Autocycle.
I know on the Autocycle several experts chimed in on this part or that part not being available to the public until 19XX. I can understand that. Neither was the whole bike as an assembly.
That doesn't mean however that one was not made as a test market mule, with parts from the design team that were not yet available in order to showcase them.
There had to be working prototypes or Schwinn would not have wasted money patenting and producing them for sale. Also, chrome Autocycle fenders and chainguards painted over have been found.
The fact that the serial number is crisp and clear is more evidence for it possibly being factory chromed. Stripping or blasting paint, polishing and chroming (3 layers) would have dulled it noticeably around the edges.
As for the jeweled tank, as some pointed out it was already available so why would a dealer not just order one if they already existed then? Maybe the tank was changed because the old one was damaged and a new one was no longer available. Who knows. Not I.
Pretty much every shot taken at this bike can be a close miss as easily as a fatal wound.
Stay tuned for part 2, which will really be about a black Stingray.
Rob
Yeah I know. Here we go again.
I have been here since December 2021, and have heard many discussions on old bikes, in regards to oddities. One of the bikes whose existence is most vehemently opposed is pre Scrambler black Stingrays. The other was a one off all chrome 1936 Autocycle Deluxe.
I am here to debunk the myth that anyone here, including myself is an expert on EVERYTHING Schwinn (or any other manufacturer for that matter) did.
Today I saw an awesome article about a true one off bicycle, not known to exist in ANY Schwinn documentation anywhere.
It is an all white 5 speed Corvette.
If memory serves me correctly (more doubtful every day) the 5 speed Corvette was rare enough anyway being built from mid 1961-1962 for the 1962 model year. Now we have an all white Corvette, which until now has never been mentioned in any Schwinn memo, newsletter or even a scrap of paper.
This is exactly why I say and lead by example, DO NOT DISPROVE ANYTHING WITH NO PROOF THAT IT COULDN'T EXIST! If this bike would've appeared without the blessing of a letter from Schwinn when they were still in Chicago it would be like the aforementioned bikes, argued out of existence by the experts, scientists and armchair Schwinn executives like those bikes were.
The problem is, no more of these White Corvette 5 speed bicycles would've ever turned up to bring the possibility back to life and it would've been relegated to the dustbin of history (where it was found as I read) never to resurface or possibly stripped and rebuilt as whatever color everyone agrees on existing for the 1962 model year.
Thank Schwinn a person with some foresight put the letter where it could be found and someone that loves these bikes found it and not some mom buying an old bike for their son or a kid in the 1970s looking to make a beater or Klunker out of it. The letter would be gone and so would the proof one ever existed since nobody else would ever ask about it again.
Now, back to the original bikes In question. I will start with the 1936 Autocycle.
I know on the Autocycle several experts chimed in on this part or that part not being available to the public until 19XX. I can understand that. Neither was the whole bike as an assembly.
That doesn't mean however that one was not made as a test market mule, with parts from the design team that were not yet available in order to showcase them.
There had to be working prototypes or Schwinn would not have wasted money patenting and producing them for sale. Also, chrome Autocycle fenders and chainguards painted over have been found.
The fact that the serial number is crisp and clear is more evidence for it possibly being factory chromed. Stripping or blasting paint, polishing and chroming (3 layers) would have dulled it noticeably around the edges.
As for the jeweled tank, as some pointed out it was already available so why would a dealer not just order one if they already existed then? Maybe the tank was changed because the old one was damaged and a new one was no longer available. Who knows. Not I.
Pretty much every shot taken at this bike can be a close miss as easily as a fatal wound.
Stay tuned for part 2, which will really be about a black Stingray.
Rob
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