Ne vintage first-year Schwinn Sting-Ray Fastback bicycle with 5-speed stick shift. This rare and early American-made muscle bike was manufactured in Chicago in August 1966, the first year they were produced, and it bears the serial number: HB739xx. It is in very nice condition for a 54-year-old boys bike and has a lot of shiny chrome.
It has its ORIGINAL violet paint (a rare and desirable color only produced in years 1966-68) in very good condition with few paint nicks, and a beautiful condition head badge. The bike also has a. Nice, but not perfect, deep-tufted silver-glo seat with some light discoloration, otherwise very soft and nice, with no cuts and some rust on the underside, with a Gulco six-pie Stratolite No. 38 rear red reflector attached to the original underseat tab. Original violet glitter grips in very good condition, red dot eye-stabber brake levers with rare violet brake lever grips, both really nice condition, correct Weinmann Type 810 brake calipers with original brake pads (should be replaced), and correct single-arrows bow pedals in good condition, with small end caps. The very clean 5-speed stick shifter sports original shifter body decals, with the side decal in very nice condition (some loss at edge) and the top one very clean, both have very complete and legible lettering and numbering. Hard to find both in this good a condition. Shifter ball also has the usual loss of silver paint in the'5'. Very light peppering on some chrome, mainly fenders and under seat, chain guard, rack and wheels, with some pitting on front wheel.Rear wheel has a few dings. Chain guard is clean with some minor paint nicks and scratches and minor peppering. The chain guard still has its original paint and completely legible screened lettering and is a good match to the frame.
What really makes this Fastback stand out is the sheer amount of shiny chrome on it. And a large part of that is because it has a very rare vintage chrome front rat-trap rack by Wald, that is fully functional and in nice condition. Rat-trap is clean and quiet and the springs hold it down properly, and the chrome has just light peppering and is very shiny. You would have a hard time finding a nicer one. This Fastback has nearly all original and/or correct parts, which adds to the total value of this really clean bike. As a Raleigh Gold Dot rear tire; Wald front rack. Bike was in long-term storage for about 6 years, then recently brought out for minor clean up, adjustment and parts replacement. Better rear wheel hoop; repack of bottom bracket and probably headset; screw piece for derailleur; shifting fine tune, doesnt shift into 5th; replace brake pads, possibly tires. We will continue to refurbish this bike, first, by tearing down and repacking both bottom bracket and headset, then the rest.This bike is in very nice and clean condition. For its age; not flawless, but far above average, an easy C7 (Good intact bike with visible wear, may need minor restoration) to C8 (Very Good, a pretty bike, few scratches, minor wear, no cuts in seat), per bike condition descriptions in the 1997 Schwinn Sting-Ray book by Liz Fried.
This very early Schwinn Fastback turns 55-years old this year. Now is your chance to own a true classic of the muscle bike era. This is an investment-grade quality bicycle that, with proper care and maintenance, should continue to appreciate in value, and it's one of the nicer ones with mostly original equipment that we've seen in over 20 years of dealing in classic muscle bikes.
Ships to continental USA only. Check out our feedback and our other great collectibles auctions, including more Schwinn bikes, parts and accessories. Stingray, muscle bike, orange crate, chopper, Krate, lemon peeler, pea picker, apple krate, cotton picker. The item "1966 Schwinn Sting-Ray Fastback bicycle, vintage muscle bike, rare violet Stingray" is in sale since Sunday, May 16, 2021. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Transportation\Bicycles\Complete Bicycles". The seller is "robo234" and is located in Seattle, Washington. This item can be shipped to United States.