Ted E. Baer wrote: > What is the cheapest model Peugeot bicycle anyone should bother > putting "proper restoration" time toward? Like is a UO-8 worth a > complete and proper restoration? My guess is there is no definitive > model as the models we discuss in this forum all seem to be classics. > Ted E. Baer > Palo Alto, CA USA
I guess it depends, if you had special fond memories about an entry level bike like a U08 or had an old one that you've kept for years then on a personal level it might be worth it.
From the late 60s until Peugeot stopped making the the model, more Peugeot U08s were imported into the US than probably any other European bike.
Restoring a U08 would be like restoring the lowest priced 1952 Ford or Chevy as far as collector value is concerned. That could change as more of those bikes become Kias, Hyundais and Toyotas (Renaults, Fiats and Peugeots too). ;-)
During the US bike boom from 1970 until 1974 around 1.5 million French bikes were imported into the US. There were over 25 different marques. I'd estimate that Peugeot had 35% of that business followed by Gitane and Motobecane at ~25% each.
Of all of those bikes, mid price range and above models ($200+) probably never represented more than 5% of the total sales.
After 1974 Peugeot, Motobecane and Raleigh were the main European players in the US market. Gitane fell off the back of the truck and most of the smaller brands were no longer being imported in significant numbers.
In general, European production bikes from the 70s that have frames made of all premium tubing (Reynolds, Columbus) tend to be the most collectible. For Peugeot that would be the PX10 and similar models made for the European market.
An exception might be Peugeot bikes from the 1960s and earlier.
Chas. Colerich
collecteur des bicyclettes françaises fines
Oakland, CA USA