Martin,
I see the 24" wheel "Varsity Sport" listed in both my '72 and '75 Schwinn catalogs. It's listed as model 144. In '72 the price was $89.95; in '75 it was up to $129.95. The '75 catalog lists its weight as 36-1/2 lbs. Wow! In '75 they even produced a girl's version with step-over crossbar; it was model 194; same price as boy's model. In '75 the available colors were listed as Chestnut, Lime Green, and Yellow; chrome finish fenders were available at extra cost on both models 144 and 194.
Pete Rutledge
(a neighbor) in Woodbridge, VA
> Dear CR List,
> I just picked up a Bicentennial "junior'' Schwinn Varsity,the heavyweigh
> of lightweights, for my nine year old neice.
> I checked on Bob Hufford's Schwinn Lightweight Data Book website
> regarding the Schwinn Varsity.
> The BM 508310 serial number, indicates that the bike was made in
> February,1976.
> This jives with the patriotic paint scheme. White mostly, with red bands
> and white strips and blue bands with white stars (white, red and blue).
> The data for the 1976 model year Schwinn Varsity only indicates that it
> was made with 27" X 1 11/4" wheelset.
> The "junior" model I have with 140mm cranks and 24" wheelset certainly
> is original.Men's (boys) frame is 42 CM seat tube with a 50 CM top tube
> (C-T-C).
> I had never seen a 24" wheelset sized Varsity bicycle before buying
> this Schwinn Varsity.
> The frame is your typical Schwinn Varsity design,just like it was put in
> the washer and "shrunk".
> Is this an unusual size for a Varsity or were there just not many made
> with the 24'' wheelset???
> Any information regarding this bicycle would be greatly appreciated from
> the "Schwinn experts out there".
> Yours truly,
> Martin Walsh in Vienna,Va.