I try to stay out of market value discussions, because I'm not active in the market, but I'd be surprised if Lamberts come to have serious collector value. Here are what I see as the reasons - and a reason why I could be wrong.
--> Biggest problem: it was common but not a cult machine. It was Corvair (which I owned not too long ago), not Mustang. Few of us old geezers lusted to have a Viscount when they were new (IMHO). --> Not really high quality components, particulary the bespoke Viscount stuff. This also makes them hard to get parts for.
The best reason why they might be collectable might be the serious effort to innovate, both in manufacturing and in marketing. In this, to me they resemble the Moultons, another British effort to do a really innovative product (almost 1/2 million were made, I think). I have a beat-up, much modified series 1 Moulton, with the parts to largely "restore" it. Would it have more value with its awful sheet steel side-pull brakes, rusting steel rims, crummy chromed cranks and handlebars than with the era-correct alloy stuff I've put on? Sure would be less fun...
Just my 2c, and I happily keep my Viscount frame with the original fork, tapped out bb... hanging in the attic as a novelty to show friends.
Thanks, huemax, for giving me the chance to have this one.
harvey
At 13:35 1/24/2001 -0800, David Van Hook wrote:
>Dave,
>I don't think I would ever pay more than $200 for
>one, even in good shape. I have only one that I
>paid that much for but it was owned and ridden by
>a rather well known entertainer with some
>interesting "Sicilian Family' ties, so I thought
>it worth that because of it's interesting
>history.
>I have one I bought new in 1975 for about that
>amount; it has a replacement fork. I have three
>others in various states of reconditioning, two
>have the original aluminum fork and one has a
>nice replacement fork. I paid $55.00, $115.00,
>and $175.00 for those respectively. I like them
>that's why I buy them. I keep hoping their value
>will increase, but I doubt if that will happen in
>my lifetime.
>Regards,
>Dave Van Hook
>Hershey
>
>
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