One first-year 1966 Schwinn Sting-Ray Fastback 5-speed bicycle in its original Radiant Coppertone paint, a restoration without repaint.  The serial # is LB536xx, which, when decoded, indicates the frame was manufactured in November,1966.  This Fastback still has its original first-year-only made in France Sprint equipment (hubs, sprocket, and derailleur), probably one of the last examples to have this rare 1966-only equipment.  Its shimmery copper paint almost glows in direct sunlight.  Schwinn's Radiant Coppertone paint was one of their most dazzling colors in bright light, and most Schwinn bicycles of this era had a silver base coat beneath the surface coat color.  Schwinn also gave silver undercoats to their blue, green, violet and red bicycles for the same effect.  The silver undercoat causes the final paint color to be more bright, radiant and reflective.  You can see traces of this silver undercoat on this Fastback in some of the paint loss areas (also usually a reliable way to verify authenticity).

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       This Fastback has been restored and refurbished with the following service and parts:  an added vintage 4-foot tapered and angled chrome sissy bar; an added original paint correct chain guard; repacked and rebuilt headset, bottom bracket, and rear wheel hub; new tires and tubes, including a Schwinn Fastback Slik in the rear, Kenda tire in front; new brake cables; added overload tube to the 5-speed Stik-shifter; applied new decals to the shifter body; and attached a brand new red-eyed chrome skull atop the Stik-shift!  Bike will need adjustment to the derailleur/shifter cable.

       This Fastback obviously was ridden very little or well-taken care of by a previous owner, or both.  The paint on this bicycle is unusually complete for its age, and is dazzling in bright light.  The chain guard is in very good condition, with a small area of paint loss and a few scratches, with all screened lettering visible, see photos.  Black lettering on white Chicago head badge is present and in good condition, with all lettering visible.  The bike has the correct and original red-dot eye stabber brake levers and also NOS sparkle copper-colored hand grips on the 1966-only 'drop' style chromed steel handlebars.  The steel fenders are very shiny and in very good to excellent condition, with minor denting at rear of both.  It has a very nice condition rear wheel and a front wheel with a bit of wavy sidewall.  Bow pedals are present and in very good to excellent condition.  The vintage Sting-Ray banana seat is sunburnt and torn at the front. 

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       Yes, we did it.  We have customized this 57-year old Fastback with one of those wild and crazy vintage 4-foot tall sissy bars that is angled and tapered at the top.  It's just ridiculously badass, giving the bike that old-school 'chopper' look.  Anyone remember Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson in 'Easy Rider'?  Then we installed that customized red-eyed chrome skull shifter knob facing backward on the Stik-shift, just like the bad boys and rebels had in their hot rods back in the day.  This bike gets a lot of looks, attention and thumbs ups!  We would conservatively grade this Fastback's condition, minus the seat, as between a C7 (good, intact bike with visible wear, may need minor restoration) and C8 (very good, a pretty bike, few scratches, minor wear, no cuts in seat), according to the Schwinn bicycle grading system in the 1997 book, SCHWINN STING-RAY, by Liz Fried.  

       

     This Schwinn Sting-Ray Fastback was manufactured in Chicago when Schwinn bikes were engineered to last and were 'built like tanks', outlasting most of their competitors' bikes.  This bicycle proudly displays that tradition.  This Fastback is a rare treat for someone who appreciates classic original Schwinn muscle bikes with some trick customization, and who wants to ride and be seen!  Or just display this classic first-year Fastback as its value increases.

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      Ships to continental USA only, buyer pays shipping/insurance.  Insurance for full amount of auction total is required.  Grips will be loosened or removed to allow buyer to adjust to their preference.  The bike will be disassembled enough to ship it in a regular mid-size bicycle shipping box, and it will be securely protected during shipment by use of hard foam and cable ties.  Buy it now or put in a bid because this super slick first-year classic of the Muscle Bike Era, Sting-Ray Fastback won't be around for long.  It's a solid made-in-America blast from the past!

Bonus #3:  We dropped the price again!  This bicycle has now had $450 taken off the starting auction price of $1999.00, and the price will continue to go down in future auctions until it sells!

Good luck bidders!

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