1952 Schwinn Black Phantom

The guy I bought my used RANS recumbent from told me this bike has been sitting under a blue tarp outside, leaning on his shed in his backyard for the past 7 years. I told him I was into working on bikes & he said he had another bike I could have if I wanted it, but it was old. “Some kind of phantom, red or black I think”. When he pulled back the tarp I asked him if he new what he had there and told him that collectors go weak in the knees over these things. He said “well I’m not going to anything with it, take it if you want it”. I told him “I tell you what, I’m going to the Annual Ann Arbor/Saline, Michigan
Classic Bicycle Show and Swap Meet tomorrow, it’s the biggest in the country if you believe the hype, & they got an auction. I’m taking over a couple of my bikes I don’t ride & I’ll take your phantom here and bring you back what ever it goes for at the auction, OK”? Then he tells me “You take half of what ever it goes for & you got a deal, OK”?

Stay tuned to see how this turns out...

UP DATE; well it went for 140, which is a steal I bet because I saw others (in better condition) from 300 to 1600. I would have liked to keep it, but I honestly don’t think I would have restored it well enough to honor it. As you can see from the pics it was mostly all there, but in pretty bad shape. The key was even broke off in the fork lock...

Hopefully it finds its way to someone who will fix it up right the way it deserves.