1988 SCHWINN PARAMOUNT

50TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION

57 CM. CENTER-TO-CENTER

SERIAL No. 580 C WF 88009 142


I am the original owner of the frameset, which I bought new in the early 90s.  It's never been ridden and it is in truly perfect condition.

The components are used but in excellent condition.  Most of them have been polished and they look great.

I hate to let it go but I'm over my ten bike limit, and so my loss is your opportunity.


 

The frame size, according to the serial number located under the bottom bracket, is 58.0 cm.  This is a center-to-top size.  The center-to-center measurement is 57 cm.  The top tube measures 56 cm. center-to-center, and the standover height is 82 cm.

The serial number indicates that this was the ninth frame built at the Waterford plant in June of 1988, and that it is frame number 142 of the 50th Anniversary Limited Edition series.  According to Paramount records, approximately 600 of these frames were produced.  They were sold exclusively as framesets.

The Anniversary frames were made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1938 introduction by the Schwinn company of the Paramount model.  The Paramount was designed to meet the needs of American racers, by providing them with a high quality, hand made racing frame, made in the USA.

The 50th Anniversary frames are distinguished by a gold plated fork and  gold decals.  They came with a burgundy velour pouch to protect the fork, and a special 50th Anniversary certificate.  I have the pouch but unfortunately I never received the certificate.

"La Fausto Coppi", a limited edition saddle by Selle Italia, goes great with the frame, and is period-correct too.

This is one of those Super Record posts that came from the factory polished all the way to the top.  Many others came with a rough finish on the neck.

The frame takes a standard 27.2mm diameter seat post.

Those rivets are gold plated.  This is probably the perfect saddle for this frame.

And this would be the perfect pump for this frame - a chrome Silca with a gold plated Campagnolo steel head.

Note the rubber feet in perfect condition.  In this photo you can also see that the paint is black with very fine gold flakes.

The finish on the pump is excellent.  All frame decals are in perfect condition.

Cinelli 1A stem, 110mm long, paired with a Cinelli Criterium bar, 65-40. both polished.

These Stronglight-Paramount headsets were the "official" headsets of the Paramount 50th Limited Edition framesets - they came installed from the factory.

The bars are wrapped with brand new Bike Ribbon tape.  The chrome bar plugs look great.  And notice that the frame-protecting rubber bumper behind the brake caliper is still there too.

The hoods are like new, and so are lever blades.  Notice the chrome ferrules coming out of the top of the brake levers?  Those are double-length ferrules.  Normal length ferrules would be barely visible or not at all.

I believe the brake levers are mounted-but-never-ridden.  That's why they look new.  In fact they looked so good that I decided not to polish them.

The brake cable housing is part of a Clark's set, with matching gear cables.

I polished the bars and removed the Cinelli letters to give it a super clean look.

Perfect head tube decals.

24 karat gold plated fork, the frameset's piece d'resistance.  The gold plating is in perfect condition.

Another nice detail is the brake mounting nuts.  Chromed, with a rubber insert to keep crud from getting into the socket, they are unusual and fancy.

Of course the hubs are polished too.  Note the radial lacing of the front wheel (both wheels are 32 hole).

The brake calipers are in excellent condition.  I debated polishing them, but decided to hold back a little on the "bling" factor.

I used black stop-plates for the shift levers, which make for a cleaner look.  And here you can appreciate the detail of the Clark's gear cables:  they are coated with a plastic that matches the brake housing.

Campagnolo Bio-Dynamic bottle - cool, elegant and period-correct to boot.

There are bosses for a second water bottle cage.

Here's another close-up of the cool brake mounting nuts.  Here you can clearly see how nice they are. 

Never ridden, top o' the line, period-correct Vittoria Corsa CX tubular tires in perfect condition (don't forget to glue them!).  The rims are Campagnolo Omega (tubulars, of course), and the  spoke nipples are gold anodized alloy. 

Note that all the nuts and bolts are rust-free.

 

Beefy seat stays!

Now let's take a look at the drive train.

Top of the line Cinelli Prestige toe-straps.

Gold plated ALE toe clips, size Large.  Rare and perfect for this bike.

Polished crank arms with 52/42 rings.  Gold plated Campy ring bolts and Campy crank bolts.  Too much bling for you?  I'll swap them for regular Campy bolts and reduce the price by $50.

This is a Nuovo Record front derailleur.  I used it instead of a Super Record because it looks great against the black frame.  But if you want a Super Record model I'll be happy to swap it.

 

This Paramount chain stay saver is factory original.

Super Record rear derailleur, Regina CX freewheel (6 speed - 13-23), Sedis Gold chain, and traditional Campy gear housing .

Polished Record hub, of course.

The chromed quick release skewers are in like-new condition.  Also of note, the chrome drop-out faces and chromed drop-out adjusting bolts.

The polished crank arms look great.

Only the 50th Anniversary Limited Edition frames carried this decal.

Superior workmanship is in evidence - Waterford quality!

Crank arms are 170mm.  Note that the both the chain ring bolts and nuts are gold plated.

Impossible to read here, but the Serial No. is:  580 C WF 88009 142.  By the way, the bottom bracket is a Campagnolo Record.  The threading is English.

Too much bling?  I don't think so.  I think it's an appropriate build for this frame.  And compared to some of the modern paint jobs out there, I think it's downright elegant.

 

The components are not new, so you don't have to feel guilty about riding this showbike.

I hope you enjoyed the photos.  And if you bid, good luck, I hope you win!


Flat shipping rate of $75.00 to anywhere in the continental US.

International bidders please ask me for a shipping estimate before bidding.

International bidders must pay with PayPal or International Postal Money Order.


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