This is a 1958 Schwinn Spitfire, custom built as a resto-mod, board-tracker, bobber style cruiser. It has a 3-speed rear hub. It is AWESOME!

While this bike was built-up several years ago, many of the components were brand new, and custom, at the time, and the bike has had hardly any use since then. It just spent a lot of time in storage…now I need the space.

This bike actually rides great! It’s fast, smooth, easy, shifts perfectly. In use, you’d never know it was a vintage bike. Honestly, it’s rather impressive.

Here are some details on the components and build:

Monark double-springer front shock. monarkforks.com Bought new for approx $170. They work great, and look extra-super-great (way cooler than the typical cheapie single-springer front end).

A long/low aluminum stem and upside-down bars help the “vintage racer” look and riding position. You can flip the bars right-side-up any time, if you want more-upright riding, but this current configuration looks great! I actually like this riding position. These parts were used at the time of the build, but in very good shape. Headset bearings and races are new and steer smoothly. Bar tape is very recently new.

700C front wheel (rim, spokes, hub, bearings, tube and tire) all new at the time of build. I even ordered the tire from Australia because I couldn’t find a white-wall in this size in North America. This atypical large-diameter front looks awesomely retro on the bike. The wheel is straight and solid and rolls fast. Tread is near-new and tube holds air.

Custom 24″ by 3″ rear wheel with 3-speed hub. This was custom-built to specs for this bike. I wanted the smaller, but FAT, rear tire, and I also wanted the ride-ability of a 3 speed hub. This had to be built by a shop, using all new parts. This fatty rear-end adds to the “drag/bobber” look of the bike and rolls fast and smooth. The new SRAM I-Motion 3-speed hub shifts perfectly (even coupled to the Vintage Sturmey-Archer shift handle; I was amazed). Tire is a Fatty-O and tread is near perfect, tube hold air.

The single-piece crank is vintage and still looks great. The crank bearings and races are new and spin perfectly. The flat-plate front sprocket is new (I don’t totally love the Maltese Cross motif, and was going to strip it…but somehow the Red-Baron look worked OK with the rest of the design, so I never got around to exhanging it…A vintage-style sprocket wouldn’t look as hot-rod, but could be added any time). Pedals, new at the time of build, are tear-drop shaped with still perfect rubber. Chain was new at time of build, very good condition.

The saddle is a vintage leather racing saddle (like a Brooks) but I cant determine the brand (logo is an M…perhaps Motobecane). It is on a QR seat-post so I can lower it to look cool, or raise it for a more-efficient and comfortable riding position. (yes, even lower would look great, but it’s hard to sacrifice how well this bike actually rides).

This bike is two-fold cool:

1. On one hand, it rides like a modern bike. Smooth and easy, and shifts perfectly. It has none of that rickety clunkyness of most vintage bikes. With the 3-speed, it would even make a fine daily commuter. Or at least, beer-runs would be fast and efficient.

2. OTOH, this bike looks great too. It could easily be one of those bikes you see in a window display of a boutique, or hanging from the rafters in your coffee-shop or bar. It’s a one-of-a kind build that would cost you twice the money to recreate (ask me how I know).

This bike comes with some extras that should sweeten the deal:

• Original Front Forks, in comparable patina condition to the frame. You could easily go back to a stock 26″ front end, or take the whole bike back to original.

• Original Chain Guard. Complete with logo and “Spitfire” design in a great patina that matches the rest of the bike. This would look great added back to the bike (I just felt like it fought for attention with the front sprocket design…see above).

• Additional, brand new 24″ by 3″ fatty rear tire, never used. A white-wall slick motif like the one on the bike, but “Nirve” brand.

•Original brand new grip (style) shifter that came with the 3 speed hub. Never mounted or used. Perfect.

• Other odds and ends. I have rear pegs so you can double your belle/beau.

This bike is not aesthetically perfect. Beyond the patina of the old frame , paint, and decals (which add to it’s coolness), there is some minor scratches and surface rust on the newer parts. But with a little elbow grease and some auto wax, this bike would be even more of an eye catcher than it is now. More photos available on request.

Functionally, this bike IS near perfect. Honestly, I can’t believe how well it rides/rolls. With the 3-speed it’s both fast and climbs with an effortless flip of the shifter. Solid, stable, and balanced.

I’m happy to answer any questions. Shipping is possible, but a hassle (I’ve done it before) and it won’t be cheap. Let’s talk.

$850 OBO