Steve and others,
I think the Paramount had/has a special place in the History of American bikes. I also think that the the anti Schwinn sentiment might be somewhat regional based on the local dealer. Some good reasons for the popularity of the Paramount include, How many bikes other than Schwinns were used by the Olympic team as the Official Bike? Regardless of who actually made those bikes, most of them before the 80's had Schwinn stuck on them. How many other American bikes did the average racer/consumer have access to that could be ordered custom? Also many great American riders rode the Paramount. I have heard that up until a few years ago Christian Vandevelde was still riding/racing a 70's Paramount track bike that was his fathers. And I hope I'm not going down the wrong road here, but a chrome Paramount has mojo.
The end of the 70's Paramounts was really the beggining of the end of Schwinn. For reasons not at all related to the Pramount. In my mind that is why I have a fondeness for them. They are what they are.
Jonathan Greene
Maitland FL