Very nice, but overpriced? Okay, that's easy to say for me since I have its virtual twin, a perfect all-chrome 73 P-15. But, $2,500 as a 'buy it now' price and such a high starting bid? Am I wrong here? What are today's Paramount prices, real ones that is, not the later PDG products?
I paid well under a $1,000 for my 73 and while I may have gotten a steal, are any of the Paramounts of the Bike Boom period really worth the $2,500 this guy is trying to get, no matter how nice? I respectfully submit not. Pristine early Track bikes from the late 30s through early 50s? Yes, especially with the right Schwinn-built components, the unique crankset, stem, pedals, etc. The early 'Keyhole' lugged Paramounts in restored conditions, perhaps but even then, not this high. Restored examples of the early 'factory' Nervex bikes? Low to mid thousand dollar range, which usually means a Waterford or like-quality repaint and correct parts.
But no matter how nice this all-chrome 72 may be, and it seems to be all that and more, $2,500? Not IMHO. Too many keep popping up. For every Bike Boom Paramount, there are only a handful of Masis of the era, early De Rosas for the Italian fancier, etc. How many of those are bringing $2,500? Not a lot, unless I am way off here.
At the same time, Paramounts from the lower production era rarely surface. My 59s (a road frame and a track frame, both beautifully repainted when I bought them) were much more rare on Ebay or elsewhere. Paramounts from the pre-70s do not surface all that often, and if really nice, get grabbed up quickly.
Curious to see what the rest of you think of the Paramount price structure in the current vintage market. Fortuantely, my plate is full and this is only of academic interest for me.
Dave Novoselsky Chicago, Illinois (Paramount Roster: 41 Track; 59 Track and Road bikes; 61 Road; 67 Road; and 73 all chrome P-13)