What to do with the Stars & Stripes Claud Butler 1949 Path
I have a thread running here;
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=385380
But want to reach out to the public vote......
:? Right, help, I know not what to do……. :?:
After getting through the grime, and lifting some of the rust, the paint on this old Claud is awful, too much damage to touch in, but then I really want to resist striping it all off and re-spraying an exact replica… :cry:
Ok let’s go through some facts;
1. It’s a 22” frame
2. I’ve got a 34” inside leg, so I’m really only comfortable on 23.5” + frames, so this bike was never for me.
3. Jim, my 11-year-old, currently has a 19.5” ride, and a 21” in the pipeline, but has his eye on this.
I wanted to clean and preserve every last part of this frame set, then offer it up for sale. But the parts are proving all to be as rough as a badger’s arse – or broken. The wheels, hubs and bars are shot. So, options?
After chatting to Jimmy, we have decided on 3, but I thought I would use this thread to canvas your opinion;
1. Put what I can back together, with some period correct replacement parts and stick her back on the open market, making it someone elses problem. (cheapest option)
2. Complete restoration, immaculate paint job with proper slide on transfers rather than vinyl cut. Re-chrome all parts including exact like for like replacements, it would look the nuts, but then I would never ride it. (going to cost a pretty penny)
3. Jim’s plan. RESTO-MOD, lacquer over the patina, pack it full of modern kit & ride it like he stole it every day! (his words :facepalm: )
Option 3 does mean she will have a new life... and could always be re-built if I ever find out anymore of her history.