Bob H.’s 1967 Schwinn Varsity

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Today’s OTS is not likely to be repeated here anytime soon. This is Bob H.’s “Custom Built” Haack’s of Madison, Wisconsin 1967 Schwinn Varsity. Purple and proud, fender’d and ready. I’ve never been so excited to see a Schwinn Varsity roll in the door as I was with this. No offense to previous and future Varsity submitters/owners, your garden variety Varsity is loved and welcome. Jan V. loves to talk about character and patina and so forth, well this one should suit him well. Bob, if your other OTS are half as good as this, we’ve got a spring and summer of which to look forward—to be sure.
1967 Haacks of Madison Wisconsin Schwinn Varsity
Sprint (Huret) Leather SaddleOn of those funky french death trap stems.Down Tube ShiftersMr. Bicycle - Haack's - Madison Wisconsin - Custom Built Schwinn Varsity

This is an OTS I no longer have (as opposed to the many I still do – just ask my wife), purchased two summers ago from a neighbor down the street whose parents bought it new. It’s a Varsity of course, and a relatively early one, if I remember correctly a 1967 (I looked up the serial number online) with mostly French parts including the Sprint aka Huret derailleurs. I thought the downtube shifters were awesome, along with the headbadge (featuring Mr. Bicycle) from Madison’s now defunct Haack’s cycle and of course that purple paint!

I took it off my neighbor’s hands for the princely sum of $5. I overhauled it and gave it a thorough cleaning (the pics are as purchased), and I mean it sparkled! I’m not going to tell you how much I sold it to a UW student for, but suffice to say I turned a tidy profit. He planned to ride it as a winter bike but told me several weeks later that he’d sold it to another student so he could get his car out of the impound lot! Why one would need a car on the UW Madison campus is beyond me.

Hope you enjoy this and I look forward to sharing some of the OTS I still have!

Thanks Bob

Related posts:

  1. Patrick’s 1975 Columbia Lexington
  2. Monday Market – Southeast Michigan’s Source For Old 10-Speeds
  3. New Classics – Own the OTS of Tomorrow Today
  4. Zach’s 1984 Schwinn Traveler
  5. Joe B.’s 1975 Schwinn Varsity
  • J. Valentin

    Well yes! This is a spot on US-made bike. In this case the fenders and high rise seat singles it out from the lot!

  • J. Valentin

    …and the seat itself, may I say, is a eye-catcher and for sure hard to come by item!

  • http://oldtenspeedgallery.com The Ten-Speed Dreamer

    what’s funny is that this is nearly identical to Dave’s ’65 Varsity from a couple weeks ago, but the drops and weathered leather saddle completely change the look and demeanor of the bike.

  • Joe B.

    Gotta love “Mr. Bicycle”! 🙂

  • http://www.wrn.com Bob H

    Thanks for the feedback. I hiked the saddle up so I could ride the bike but it was just too small for me, which is why I sold it.

  • Tommy Bruner

    Hi Bob. I have a question. I just bought a Varsity for 35 bucks at a Goodwill. It needs cleaned up a bit but is in perfect working order. Do you have any idea how I can get replacement handlebar tape. I want to get the original stuff if possible or something very close. Thanks.
    Tommy Bruner