My new "rat rod" bike!

[67_C-30]

Other than old cars and trucks, old bicycles are probably my favorite collectable thing in the world. I love the 30's - 50's art deco-styled balloon tire 26" cruisers. I have Schwinns, Columbias, a Shelby, a Hawthorne, couple of Western Flyers from this era. Besides my first one (a 1939 Schwinn B-6 which is disassembled undergoing resto) most of my bikes are original paint, but worn, survivors and barn finds. About a year ago, I picked up a 1938 Firestone Pilot which if it was in good shape may have been the coolest one I have. A friend found it in the woods on his property behind an old shed totally covered in kudzu. He knew I loved old bikes, so he gave it to me. He bought his property in 1980, and found it back last year, so we know it sat in the weather for 30+ years. It is complete, but really too far gone to restore. I think I'd destroy it trying to take it apart because most of it is so pitted. I don't ride these things anyway, and it just too old and too cool to throw out. I was bored today and got the bright idea to paint up some old rims red and put some old dry-rotted white walls on it and make it rat bike! If you like the rat rod thing, I think you'll find it cool too. If not, you'll be asking WTH would somone do that??? Either way, here she is. I think it looks bada$$, and now has attitude to go with the character.






Notice the jeweled handgrip.



One of the coolest things about is that even though it almost totally covered in rust, you can still still see the pin stripes and scallops on the fenders, horn tank, and rack. Like rat rods or not, this is a look only mother nature can produce.











Here's some side by side shots beside another one of my favorites. It is a 1940's Shelby Traveller with old pre-war red tires. It kinda has a rat look as well, but is totally unaltered.

[see ten]

Those are both cool! How come you don't ride em???

[big_al_71]

thks for sharing!!!

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by see ten

Those are both cool! How come you don't ride em???

Well, I do around the yard! My fat arse ought to be riding them! All of them are rideable except the Pilot. I am going to have to put a chain on it.

Here's some more of my collection.



His and her's late 30's Columbias.





Notice the dress guard girl's bike!



1941 Hawthorne Victory. This bike was painted with the Victory "V"s and was a tribute to the war effort. Its a pretty sought after bike.







This is my 1950's Schwinn Panther. I have missed on a few sets of fenders on ebay, but if I can come up a set of black fenders and the missing horn tank that somewhat matches it, I'm going to leave it alone. I have the chainguard and rack for it. If not, I think I'm going to restore it also.







I don't have a digital or scanned pic of my '39 Schwinn B-6 before I took apart, but here's a restored one. Its pretty much my favorite of all of the Schwinns. I even prefer it over the imfamous Black Phantom. The Phantom has too much chrome for my taste.

[dieselarmy13]

Some nice bike's you have there. I wouldn't touch that first one you posted, that thing is a work of art

[Sillyoldman]

I have pedaled similar bikes when I was a kid. The new bikes of my time had a banana seat, sissy bar and homemade extended forks that always failed.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by Sillyoldman

I have pedaled similar bikes when I was a kid. The new bikes of my time had a banana seat, sissy bar and homemade extended forks that always failed.

That's funny. When I was kid, BMX and 10 speed mountain bikes were the rage and I was riding old Schwinn Krates and balloon tire bikes when I got bigger. I took the '39 Schwinn B-6 totally apart, and my dad was doing paint jobs on the side back then, so he painted it for me. He painted it with black polyurethane enamel, and my mom redid the scallops and pin stripes. We bought the correct style NOS water transfer Schwinn decals for it. It definitely stood out in a sea of 26" mountain bikes. Like a dummy when I started driving, I left it outside beside the shop and it went downhill, so several years ago I disassembled it again, and have been collecting parts to restore it correctly. Over the years I have spend too much money on NOS Schwinn parts off ebay. I need a few odd and end parts to finish it, but I have bought just about everything else, including all the chrome parts.

[Andy4639]

I have some friends in Greensboro NC that has well over 5000 bikes if not more. He is in his 70's and has all kinds of bikes. He collects everything. Him & his wife have maching Harley's! Bikes he flew to Cal. and had them built for him and her. Have saddle bags and all. They are pretty cool looking.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

I have some friends in Greensboro NC that has well over 5000 bikes if not more. He is in his 70's and has all kinds of bikes. He collects everything. Him & his wife have maching Harley's! Bikes he flew to Cal. and had them built for him and her. Have saddle bags and all. They are pretty cool looking.

Wow! I'd love to see his collection! I don't what it is about these old bikes, but I love 'em!

[tcb-1]

James,
I want one now!! throw it on the back of the truck and rock the rat rod look!!!!

[Andy4639]

Well if yo ever get out that way he is very nice fellow and doesn't mind showing it to anyone. He even bought a old rail car that they used to check the tracks with, I asked why he bought it he said cause I didn't have one why else.
They built there home out of a old hunting lodge. They have there own buisness there to.

[72BlckButy]

Those are awesome James!

Doug I can see you pulling into the show this year with one of these in the back...

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Very cool my mother has one that she still rides to this day... It kinda look like the black one towards the bottom.