Series III Breezer For Sale // One Time Only

[theproscloset]

We are lucky enough to have 2 of these holy grail Series III Breezers in our shop. In order to have a more rounded collection we have put this rare bike up for one auction round.

After recent time spent with Joe it has been determined that there are actually less Series III bikes made than Series II's. Joe's hi-rite sales took off and slowed down the production of these Series III's. There are less than 25 of them.... very few actually accounted for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1982-Br ... SwcOFWaxva

Hit me up if anyone has any questions.

Best of Rides,

Nick

 

[SF Klein]

Re:

Hi - question...if there are fewer than 25 made, why is the serial number for the one in the auction 32? Seems strange that a builder like Joe would kick off production with serial numbers starting at 7 or 8 unless pre-production models occupy the first serial numbers. Even then though, 7 or 8 pre-production models for a production run of less than 25 seems odd doesn't it? Since you talk to Joe it be neat to understand how it all fits together. Thanks.

 

[theproscloset]

Re: Re:

Hi - question...if there are fewer than 25 made, why is the serial number for the one in the auction 32? Seems strange that a builder like Joe would kick off production with serial numbers starting at 7 or 8 unless pre-production models occupy the first serial numbers. Even then though, 7 or 8 pre-production models for a production run of less than 25 seems odd doesn't it? Since you talk to Joe it be neat to understand how it all fits together. Thanks.

Totally fair question. BTW I can't take credit for the investigative work below and close correspondence with Joe about the Serial number mystery. TD at vintagemountainbike workshop has confirmed in detail with Joe on his detailed timeline and this is how it all breaks down:

We were wondering about the numbers of Breezers made, because if what we think might be true is true, the rarity and value of Joes bikes.

Between 1977 through 1979 JB built JBX1 and 9 Series 1 bikes.

Joe delivered the first Series 2 to Fred Peters in March of 1980, but said that he built all 25 frames as a batch. This makes some sense since the three smallest frames are consecutive numbers (22, 23, 24). Joe finished up and sold Series 2 bikes throughout 1980 and into 1981.

The lowest serial number we are aware of for a Series 3 bike is #28 sold to Dave Penney in Crested Butte through Murdoch and Bicycles, Etc. The next bike, #29, is currently owned by another collector friend of ours, and it is stamped with 1982. Unless Joe was really busy between mid 1981 and late 1982, it doesn't seem likely that he produced 27 Series 3 bikes in that time. Joe also noted when the Hite-Rite business started to take off, his time to build these Series III bikes was very limited.

The Series III bikes known to still exist are:

#28
#29 - 1982
#32
#34
#40 - 1983
#43 - 1983
#47
#48 - 1986
#49 - 1986

Based on the limits of this list and the stamped dates, as well as confirming with Joe, the Series 3 bikes started with #26 and went up to around #49. Because of what is posted at MOMBAT.org, most people seem to think that about 60 Series 3 bikes were made. The number is closer to 25, if not actually 23.