Inspired by the recent sale of a Peugeot super-competition for $238 (incl. shipping) on ebay, I 'd like to ask the question :
What's the easiest high-end 60's / 70's bike to restore ?? Some criteria:
(a) Availability of decals (NOS or close reproductions) (b) Availability of parts in outstanding condition, or an ability to polish up the parts. (c) The existence of painters who know good paint-matches for an original bike (MASI comes to mind ...)
I saw the $238 peugeot but decided not to bid because the size was a little bit small, and it seems to need a FULL restoration (repaint, possible rechrome), and because those blue pearl paints would be hard to reproduce, and also because I don't know the quality of the available reproduction decals. NOS decals seem rare as hen's teeth. Even if it cleaned up o.k. on delivery, I still might want to buy decals for down the road, 10 years' hence. And, then there's always a question about whether it's worth restoring a bike with possibly poor workmanship / brazing.
It seems that many french parts are cheap (except seat post), and the cranks are polished so you can get them looking NOS with an hour or two of polishing ... And for TA cranks, several ebay sellers offer outstanding reproduction decals for the crank arms. Simplex and Huret gears aren't dated, making it easier to get spares.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA