[CR]NOW:Originality WAS:Historic bike value

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 18:57:19 -0700
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
References: <006301c2ba89$d5d22480$bc280744@sd.cox.net>
Subject: [CR]NOW:Originality WAS:Historic bike value

CyclArtist wrote:
> (cut)
> cars have sold for prices into the millions. RESTORED! Can they have been
> more wrong? Fine cars at auction bring more money restored than "as
> raced" and are rarely shown or sold in other that pristine condition.
> Why is it that some feel that bicycles lose all their "mojo" when damage
> is repaired and cars do not? I think this comes from the perception
> that bicycles are not "worth" restoring. Maybe we should crush old race
> bikes; I don’t think so.
>
> Also I think many are adopting the "don't touch it" mindset due to the
> influence of Antiques Roadshow, but bicycles are certainly more like
> race cars than furniture.

Not true Jim. Significant race cars auctioned as raced with chips and dents from the races they won are worth way more than if they are restored to as new condition.

The reason racing bikes are different than cars is that there is a reasonable expectation of finding an old bike in pretty decent condition and this doesn't hold true for an old car.

A lot of old bikes (the top tier variety) lead a pretty pampered existence and are often stored inside of houses. Obviously the same can't be said for cars. Even if the car is garaged it still spends a significant amount of time in the sun and is much more prone to get dinged and dented as it is used.

Any item, repeat, any item loses mojo when the original finish is replaced. Original condition, by definition, can not be replaced.

Chuck Schmidt SoPas, SoCal

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