There was also a 24K gold plated Colnago. I really doubt any of these bikes were ridden much, though they may have been capable of being ridden. You don't buy such a bike to have years of satisfying solo rides. You buy them to impress your friends. Of course I have to admit to wanting a chrome Paramount for much the same reason, though it would be ridden regularly.
Regards,
Jerry moos
Marc Boral wrote:
> Paramount 50th Anniv. frames suffered the same misfortune as the Campy 50th
> gruppo did. Both companies stated that there would be a limited number made.
> Paramounts said only 500 frames would be made, and Campy said only 5,000 would
> be made. Both companies reneged. Campy made 15,000, and Paramounts at least
> 750. I don't know of any exotic road bike that was manufactured purely as a
> wall-hanger. Even the most exotic Italian superbikes (24k Cellini w/wood
> rims, Cinelli Laser, 24k Gold and Silver 50th Guerciotti, etc.) were meant to
> be ridden. My personal opinion is the Paramount is not even close to the same
> caliber as the bikes I just mentioned. However, the gold plated fork is a
> beautiful touch. What's sad is the Paramount's use of Shimano dropouts.
> Makes me gag just thinking about it. I've got a couple of the 50th Paramounts
> new in the box. However, it's been years since I've seen them. But I
> recollect that the forks were clear coated after being gold plated. Can
> anyone confirm? Typically gold plating is only a few microns thick, unless it
> is a real quality job. So, if there is not protective clear coat, the plated
> can easily be accidentally removed by polishing.
>
> Marc Boral
>
> Tom Hayes wrote:
>
> > This question, or information quest, may be out of the date-range for the
> > CR list, but the spirit of it, I hope, falls within its parameters.
> >
> > A friend of mine recently picked up a NOS, never-been built, Paramount
> > anniversary frame and fork, black with gold plated front fork, no headset
> > or bb. He would like to know, if these frames and forks were purely meant
> > as wall-hangers, were there specific components or grouppo that went with
> > the frame and fork, and was there a specific number of these made? Also
> > whether what I have heard about or seen written (it all becomes foggy in
> > this guy's brain) that the gold plating was terribly thin and was
> > all-too-easily removed by cleaning or polishing.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> > Cheers.
> >
> > Tom
> >
> > Tom Hayes
> > 18585 Munn Road
> > Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023
> > hayesbikes@nls.net
> > hayes@jcu.edu