While the seller of this particular bike does take hyperbole to a new level he never states that the bike is a 1978 model. Something isn't quite kosher with this one. The serial number 78268 denotes a 1983 24inch trek 500. The bike in the auction has the wrong decals, seatstays and lugs (trek investment cast?) for a 1983 bike. The bike and decals says 1985 (1984 had the model number on the downtube decal) None of the older treks came with the plastic cable routing thingy (what is that called?) under the bottom bracket. The serial number says otherwise.
a bit of a mystery really.
Marty Eison
Frisco, Texas