Other than the wheels, tyres, forks and v-brakes it all looks original and in good condition, even the gripshifters.
I'd love to see what the Co-op bike catalogue said for the other 1996 models, especially the price of the basic steel Stumpjumper in Red or Indigo Blue. The Red one was my entry into riding a decent bike, and I got mine for £700 at the end of the season sale in 1996 at Dales in Glasgow where they had a showroom floor full of them. I've currently got one of each colour from 1996 though am trying to convince myself just to keep one. Both are recent purchases, the original red one was ridden to oblivion.
View attachment 579843
Appreciate the input re: this odd bike.I've not seen any evidence of Specialized supplying this much, if any, variation on stock Stumpjumpers of that era. 7 speed on Stumpies was last supplied in 1994, the drive chain on this is at least a year, if not two years, old, the rear mech looks to be the 94 LX and certainly not the 95 XT Specialized supplied. It might have been a case of a singular swap of parts and upgrade following a damaged frame or warranty return for some other reason. The rear-only V-brake would also be non-stock.
The saddle will have a date stamp on it too which might help piece together the back story.
Definitely a nice looking bike though!
Re the forks, my own bike had its original Rockshox Quadra’s swapped out early in its life for a set of slightly later 1999 spec Rockshox Judy hydracoil C/XC forks, and these are superb, I find them progressive and maintenance-free (If you’re looking for 90’s spec!). They’re coil rather than elastomer sprung.
In fact the whole bike has been trouble free and a pleasure since I took ownership earlier last year … so that it’s now my preferred 2-wheeled mode of transport.
Good luck with the project!