From streamlined Aerocycles and classic Phantoms to Varsity eight-speeds and Sting Ray Krates, vintage and antique Schwinn bicycles are runaway hits with collectors. In addition to the fond memories these beautiful bicycles inspire, enthusiasts praise their quality workmanship and enduring value. Whether you're considering one for personal use or want to invest in a piece of classic Americana, there's an old Schwinn bike for you.
Are Old Schwinn Bikes Valuable?
Let's cut right to the chase — before you jump headfirst into restoring an old Schwinn or selling one on your socials, you should know how much it's worth. Condition is a major factor in a Schwinn bike's value. To determine the condition of your bike, examine the paint, tires, spokes, and all equipment. If possible, identify the model. The more you know about the bike and its condition, the better your value estimate will be.
| Vintage Schwinn Bikes | Recent Sales Prices |
|---|---|
| 1971 Schwinn Stingray Grey Ghost | $4,000 |
| 1970s Schwinn Grape Kate | $3,000 |
| 1966 Schwinn Stingray | $1,700 |
| 1940s-1950s Schwinn Black Phantom | $1,000 |
| Vintage Schwinn Tandem | $400 |
In excellent condition, vintage Schwinn bikes can be worth thousands of dollars. In rough shape, they may still be worth several hundred. Compare your bike to others that have sold recently to get a sense of how much yours might be worth. These recently sold examples of vintage Schwinns can give you a starting point.
- A 1971 Schwinn Stingray Grey Ghost sold for almost $4,000 in 2022. It was in very good condition and was almost entirely original.
- A 1970s Schwinn Grape Krate with mostly original parts and in good condition sold for almost $3,000 in 2022.
- A 1966 Schwinn Stingray in muscle blue sold for about $1,700. It had been disassembled in a box for many years and was in perfect condition.
- A Schwinn Black Phantom from the late 1940s or 1950s sold for $1,000 in 2022. It was in fair condition with few details given about it.
- A vintage Schwinn tandem bike in an attractive blue color sold for just under $400, despite minimal details about its age or condition.
Where Did Schwinn Get Its Start?
For more than a century, Schwinn has been a leader in the bicycle industry. Business partners Ignaz Schwinn and Adolph Arnold founded their corporation Arnold, Schwinn & Company in 1895, debuting what would come to be a leading name in bicycle manufacturing.
Eventually, the market for adult bicycles grew smaller as cars became more affordable. Arnold sold his share of the company to Schwinn, who realized the importance of manufacturing and marketing bicycles for children. With lower prices possible due to advances in manufacturing, the market for children's bicycles began to grow.
Ignaz Schwinn continued to expand his company while making important developments and contributions to the bicycle industry until his death in 1948. Some of his advancements include:
- Balloon tires
- Built-in kickstands
- Rear wheel brake
- Spring fork
- Cantilever frame
How to Identify an Old Schwinn Bike
If you find an old bicycle at a flea market, yard sale, or thrift store, it's important to be able to identify what you have. Not every transportation treasure is worth taking home, so learning how to identify vintage and antique Schwinn bikes is important.
Look for the Schwinn Head Badge or Logo
Most Schwinn bikes feature a head badge or plate that identifies them as a Schwinn. This badge varied in style, depending on the year it was made and the style of the bike. However, if you see the Schwinn name on the badge, it's a Schwinn bike. But if the badge is missing, you may still have a Schwinn. Schwinn distributed unbranded and/or rebranded bikes through other companies, especially before the 1950s.
You may also find the Schwinn name or logo in decals on the bike, so you should always check the frame.
Find the Schwinn Serial Number
You can determine whether a Schwinn bike is vintage by looking up its serial number. The serial number appears in different places on the bike depending on the year and where it was made. Not all vintage Schwinns have serial numbers or follow a set convention for placement and numbering.
If there is a serial number, it'll always appear on the actual frame of the bike rather than on a removable part like the seat, handlebars, or wheels.
Schwinn serial numbers vary throughout the decades, and these are some of the more recognizable formats:
- 1895-1940s: Schwinn didn't begin regularly using serial numbers until 1948, although some other Schwinns have them. Older serial numbers tend to start with a "B" or a "Z," but usage was not yet uniform.
- 1950s: Vintage Schwinns from the early 1950s may have a serial number stamped on the frame on the bottom of the crank hanger. Bikes from the later 1950s may have a serial number near the part of the frame where the rear axle attaches.
- 1960s: For vintage Schwinn bikes from the 1960s, look for a serial number on the rear fork end of the frame itself or the part where the axle attaches to the rear wheel.
- 1970s: Many vintage Schwinn bicycles from the 1970s have the serial number stamped on the head tube of the frame.
Related: 8 Hangout Spots From the 1970s That Deserve a Redux
Compare Your Bike to Old Photos & Advertisements
Old images, catalogs, and advertisements are often more readily available than serial number compendiums. One of the best ways to identify an old Schwinn bike is to compare the bike you have to advertising images and photographs of other Schwinns. This can give you some clues about the model, the year it was made, and any options it may have.
Popular Styles of Vintage Schwinn Bicycles
With over a century under its belt, Schwinn has created quite a catalog of unique bikes. However, there are some of these that stand the test of time.
The Black Phantom
The first Schwinn Black Phantom was manufactured in 1949 and was in production for ten years. Highly desired by collectors, original Phantoms are very hard to find. The company reissued a limited production of the original model in 1995. Special features of this classic bicycle, which was issued in black, red, green, and blue, include:
- Patented Schwinn forewheel drum brakes in the front and rear wheels
- Whitewall tires
- Taillight
- Streamline fender light
- Cyclelock steering mechanism
- Tank with horn
- Chrome steel fenders
- Rear carrier
- Three-spring padded saddle
- Bow pedals on the later models
Sting Rays
Manufactured from 1963-1979, Schwinn Sting Rays were considered one of the coolest bikes of the time — at least kids thought they were. The Sting Ray design was unique, featuring a banana seat, 20-inch tires, and raised handlebars. These bikes were manufactured in 1, 2, 3, and 5-speeds in several styles including:
- Classic
- DeLuxe
- Super DeLuxe
- Fastback
- Ram's Horn Fastback
- Krate
Sting Ray Krate
The Sting Ray Krate series featured a fat rear tire, rear shock, and a 16-inch front tire with a springer front end. Painted in bright hot rod colors, each Krate also had the popular Stik-Shift. Colors of the Krate models include:
- Flamboyant red (Apple Krate)
- Flamboyant lime
- Radiant coppertone
- Sky blue
- Violet
- Black
- Campus Green (Pea Picker)
- Kool Orange (Orange Krate)
- Kool Lemon (Lemon Peeler)
- White (Cotton Picker)
- Silver Mist (Grey Ghost)
- Sunset orange
- White with bicentennial decals
- Cardinal red
- Emerald green
- Golden yellow
Related: 11 Dangerous Toys From the 70s That We're Surprised We Survived
Where to Buy Vintage Schwinn Bikes
If you're interested in purchasing an antique or vintage bicycle made by this iconic company, you'll have plenty of options. Prices vary significantly, depending on the condition, age, scarcity, and buyer interest in the model. Whether you're looking for a fixer-upper or want a bike in mint condition, there are plenty of places to shop.
eBay
eBay is a great resource for all kinds of antique and vintage items, including Schwinn bikes. You'll see many of the models Schwinn produced in the last half of the 20th century, along with some older models from the earlier part of the company's history. You'll also find parts for Schwinn bikes of all ages. If you're buying a vintage Schwinn on eBay, be sure to ask lots of questions about the bike's condition. Also keep shipping costs in mind, since packaging and transporting a bike can get expensive.
Craigslist
Although the selection of merchandise is constantly changing, Craigslist can be a great place to score a deal on a vintage Schwinn. This isn't the place to go if want a bike in the next few hours, but if you're patient and carefully watch the listings, you may just find the vintage bike of your dreams.
Local Resources
Although shopping online for a vintage Schwinn may net results, you may have better luck if you look at local shopping resources. Bicycle stores and repair shops often carry used or vintage bikes, and they may have some beautiful Schwinn models available. Additionally, you can find vintage Schwinn bikes at garage sales, estate sales, antique shops, flea markets, and digital community marketplaces.
Vintage Schwinn Restoration Tips
Often, vintage bikes aren't in great condition when you find them. In fact, this can be an ingenious way to get an old Schwinn for an affordable price. If your vintage Schwinn needs some restoration, you can hunt down parts on eBay or other specialty sites.
Certain restoration jobs may be easier than others, and depending on your skills, you may want to avoid the following major issues in a vintage Schwinn:
- Bent frame
- Bent fork
- Severe rust damage
- Weak points in the frame
The Beauty of Pedal-Powered Machines Lives On
Whether you dream of repairing your childhood Sting Ray, hanging your shiny red Phantom on your den wall, or amassing a large collection of vintage Schwinn bicycles, you're helping keep the love of these pedal-powered machines alive.
