I bet a lot of Barn Finds readers have owned a Schwinn Varsity, or knew a relative, friend, or neighbor who had one. I still have my Opaque Blue Varsity from 1974 that I got new. It was a lot of money for our family, especially when my brother also got one at the same time. At $115.95, including the $7 optional chrome fenders, that’s the equivalent of $786.57 today! This vintage Schwinn Varsity 10-Speed in brown, commonly referred to as “Root Beer Brown,” can be found listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Menasha, Wisconsin, and the seller is asking $80. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
I knew the Varsity, as rugged a bike as there is, has been around a long time, but I never knew it came out in the early 1950s. That’s a long time ago. It was originally a 3-speed with upright handlebars, but it was a Varsity nonetheless. It was perfect for students to get around on a college campus, much better with those handlebars than the downturned ram’s horns handlebars known as drop bars. The W-11S was the first Varsity model in the early 1950s. Some sources say 1951 was the first year, others say 1953 was the first year, and still others say 1960 was the first year. The official Schwinn website just lists the 1950s as when the Varsity was introduced. The rear luggage carrier on this example is a no-brainer for a college student; that’s a nice accessory.
The 1960 Varsity added drop bars, and they stayed on with this iconic model until the end of the run in 1986, although some models could still be had with the upright handlebars. Maybe that’s why some sources list 1960 as the first year for the Varsity? The 1960 Varsity not only saw new handlebars, but it went from a 3-speed to an 8-speed. 1962, which I consider the best year in world history (cough) (the year I was born), was when the Varsity went to a 10-speed derailleur system. That’s probably what most of us remember the Varsity being, a 10-speed.
We don’t know the year of this Varsity without seeing any numbers or other info, but 1969 was the first year that Sierra Brown was offered. There was also a Chestnut brown color beginning in the 1975 model year, so that’s a possibility here, too. I’m assuming this is more of a mid-70s bike than a late-60s bike. We also don’t know the frame size, but the weight ranged between 38 and 41 pounds or so. They aren’t light bikes. Mine weighs around 141 pounds, from what I remember, or it seems like it does. Speaking of that, here’s some meatball on my 1974 Opaque Blue Schwinn Varsity, back in 1997. It’s still hanging in the garage, ready to go. Have any of you owned a Schwinn Varsity? If so, what year and what color was it?
Didn’t have a Varsity, but I have a bright red Collegiate in the garage, waiting for yet another restoration! Great bikes.
I have a ‘68 men’s Collegiate 5 speed in brown hanging in my garage. I had to special order it in a 27” frame size because I was 6’ 2” tall back then.
Scotty!!! Once again you picked something near and dear to me!!! This is a photo of my ’84 Varsity in what Schwinn called Sky Blue. It was the first brand new non-hand-me down bike I got in my life. It cost $181.83 I don’t know WHY I remember that. My Older brother also had a Sky Blue Varsity. His was a ’78. Lots of great miles and memories for sure. There were a ton of Schwinn Varsity 10 speeds around when I was a kid. You mentioned the year of this one. I was going to guess early 70’s to mid 70’s. I remember those decals. And I remember one of the kids that was older on my street who was my older brothers age, and he had HIS older brothers Varsity in brown with the decals that looked like this one. I wish I had fenders on mine, heck when I got older I had hoped to find an older model with the upright handle bars, lets face it, my body’s built for comfort….. Not speed anymore….. I also had the “Schwinn Approved ” speedometer on mine, and my older brother had the odometer that mounted on the front wheel. These were not light bikes as Scotty pointed out. But they are very strong. As a sad side note. We downsized a few years back and had absolutely no place to keep it. I didn’t just want to give it to anyone. I had a very good friend I gave it to. With the stipulation that if he ever wanted to get rid of it I had first dibs. The photo you see is from him after he cleaned it up and put new gumwall tires on it. Very sadly he passed away from a very hard battle with Cancer. We’re still in touch with his wife, but have not mentioned the bike. I know its there in his shed. He had fun riding it after he fixed it up, and I’m very glad that he did. He had worked on it and was riding it before he was diagnosed. Scotty. Thank you so much again for writing this up and the great memories. And Lothar, thank you for finding this old gem of a bike.
-Dave
Nice story.
That’s a heck of a story, Dave! Thanks for sharing that. I’m sorry to hear about your friend.
I have a Schwinn Voyager out in the shed that is very interesting. It has a dual crank with one being eliptical and the other round. Five speed at the rear making it 10. It had the shoe clips that were dangerous for me so they went byebye and the brakes are the center pullup Shimano ones not usually found on 10 speeds. I replaced the seat with the wide variety and conventional handlebars replaced the downturned variety. I found the bike in a junk shop and gave them $7.50 for it. They were going to scrap it.
Dave-
You’re welcome and I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. That is a beautiful, blue bike!
I know you didn’t ask but that usually doesn’t stop me from weighing in on things… :) I’d wait an “appropriate amount of time” (whatever that is) and ask the wife about the bike. I bet you that she’d rather it go to you than some stranger. Just my 2-cents’ worth!
Peace.
~Lothar
Great stories when the bicycles show up. Lothar with an affordable find 🚲👍
I bought a Continental new Chrome Forks!).It was a really
nice looking bike,but I didn’t realize just how heavy it was until
I bought a new Gitane,& then a Gitane Tour de France.
Continental! That was pretty fancy compared to the Varsity. My wife has a LeTour 10-speed that she bought after high school in the early 1980s, and it’s probably 10 pounds lighter than my Varsity. She got serious about biking and triathlons a couple of decades ago and got a Bianchi, and it’s like a feather compared to either Schwinn. I still like my Varsity.
I have a bright yellow Schwinn Le Tour as well, but unfortunately it sits in the shed unused for many years. Needs cleaning up and restoration. Does anyone want it? I bought my wife a new Schwinn that has maybe 5 miles on it. That should go as well. It has rust on wheels otherwise needs tune up.
When I was a kid with a 3 speed Varsity, I used to visit a nearby bike shop and lust after their merchandise. Reflectors, mud flaps, and even speedometers. I loved it all.
A SCHWINN VARSITY, jeez, who was sportin’ THAT kind of cash? I was the son of a poor carpenter, and a Schwinn was out of most kids budgets in “Pressboard Estates”. Heck, you could get a “Monkey Wards” for half that, and have money left over for that new slot car at Hobby Horse. My 1st 10 speed was a Raleigh Record(that I almost got killed on), then since Italian/French bikes were all the rage, same thing, a Gitane was too expensive, and “settled” for a Follis, and did everything the Schwinn did, in fact, the Schwinn was kind of a tank in comparison. Schwinn did garner some respect, but mostly for the Sting Rays, and not so much these. I went for a long time without a peddle bike, and before I moved here(CO) I found a Specialized at a thrift store in N.Wis, for THIRTY BUCKS!! Brought it here, and couldn’t handle the rough roads, and broke in half, sending me hurtling to the gravel at speed. It was the worst 2 wheel spill in my life, and that includes all my motorcycling. So, sore shoulder aside, I was undaunted, and got a used Gary Fisher Genesis, nice bike, made it into a cruiser, one day, peddling slowly, out go the lights, and down I went. Never knew what happened, no helmet, ( the 1st thing the ER nurse asked) and banged up, went through a battery of tests( thank you CO), inconclusive, but that was enough, 3rd time would certainly be the charm and gave the bike to a neighbor. I found, old age and bike riding don’t go well and if you do, please, wear a helmet, as goony as it looks, would have saved me some headaches.
In 1962 I was given a gold Varsity 10 speed, for Christmas. It had black tires, no fenders gold wrap around handle bars, it was awesome. I was 9 years old at the time and sold it when I turned 17 and began driving.
Wow, so many great stories and memories shared here. I’m going to add another one. My very first new bike was a 1974 Schwinn Speedster 3-speed, blue in color. My uncle, who was a successful small-town newspaper owner, bought it for me, as my mom never had a lot of money raising 4 boys by herself. I still have the bike hanging in my garden shed. Lots of memories with that bike, but someday it will have to be sold, as I’m getting up there in age myself. Then, about 20 years ago, I went to a garage sale where a lady had a red Schwinn Collegiate 5-speed for sale. The bike looked brand new. It had a parking sticker from a university on it from 1971. I paid $5 for it. It is hanging next to my Speedster. Just something about Schwinn bikes that are so cool.
I had an Etienne, I think it was called, back in the seventies. White, dropped handle bars and a ten speed. Bought from a local Honda dealer named Rick Case. It was one hundred dollars. Great bike. I even rebuilt the hub bearings and all. Don’t ask me why, I’m not even sure it needed it.
It was 1960, my cousin and I worked the entire summer cleaning the parking lot for his father’s small drive-in. We got 25 cents each morning to clean the lot before school and 50 cents for Saturday and Sunday to a total of 2.25 per week which we religiously saved because the local Scwinn dealer had given us a peak at the upcoming Varsity 8 speed model. At that time the normal bike was a traditional style with fat tires and maybe a 3 speed rear hub- the new varsity was lean and mean with 8 speeds which the dealer promised could take us up hills while sitting down. When we had enough saved we put down deposits for our order and when we paid the balance we got our bikes. They were the first 2 in our town and we proudly showed them off when we arrived at our first day of school. Mine served me well until the first rental go-kart track opened and I was off to another universe. I sold the Varsity to buy my first go kart.
Only rich kids had schwinn’s, us working class kids got hardware store or department store bikes!
Neat find, Lothar and once again Scotty does a feature that gives everyone their own ride in Mr. Peabody’s Wayback Machine.
Some years ago a bunch of us as a motorcycle rider group were riding support/escort for the folks doing the Death Ride ( https://deathride.com/ ). At the prep some of us were admiring a beautiful Peugeot bike with silk tires when this well aged hippie looking guy wearing a tie dye tee shirt, Levi’s and sandals shows up on an old 3 speed Schwinn.
Trying not to stare our collective thought “well, here’s someone we’ll be calling the support truck for..”. He looked over at us, saw our surprised faces and said “like, see you dudes at the finish, man! Thanks for helping out, man!”
He never stopped, and his ancient Schwinn took him all the way without an issue.
So much for stereotypes.
You found my bike! I bought a garage sale Varsity in 1976 to bike the 3 miles to my college classes. That lasted almost a year before someone broke into our garage and stole my and 2 of my roommates bicycles. I had less than a year to graduate and winter was coming, so I either walked or fought parking until graduation.
Years later I bought a fat tired Schwinn 5 speed from my boss. Loved that bike until I accidentally pinned it against a shed while backing up a skid steer. Never knew a bike could dog track that badly!
People should not sell their items that bring them memories,your memories are a part of your life, Cherish them.
Now you tell me,,,
People should not sell items that bring them memories,your memories are a part of your life, Cherish them.
Is “cherish” a kinder word, perhaps, than “hoard”? If so, I do cherish many things that bring memories, too many. I need to keep memories at bay but it’s difficult.
I am likely far more health today because in the 60’s we rode bikes EVERYWHERE! Your legs are your second heart muscles. I thought that legs in a sitting bench press position were far better used and in later life I built a “Rowing Recumbent” from my Varsity 10 speed that one can either pedal, or row, or either or both. WE named my unique long recumbent bike
” Schwinn-abego” And I still ride it occasionally these days. I am a lucky 75.
My legs are still strong at 65 from riding nonstop as a kid. My neighbors have boys, they’re being spoiled by electric bikes, tons of fun. But they’re chubby and rarely pedal.
Never owned one,only a full size Schwinn 26 inch back in the 60’s.There are a lot of bike clubs here in the retirement community that have those fancy bikes and wear those bright outfits..Most old folks now have electric bikes.
GREAT read GREAT comments!
Thanks
Joe
Never had a Schwinn bicycle… Western Auto bikes… mostly nice used were what we had. Occasionally a new one.
I never had a Schwinn either. My dad bought me a new Philiips 3 speed made in England in 1966 which I still own and take very good care of. My wife and I bought Raleigh and Magna 10 speeds in good shape at reasonable prices in yard sales and had a local bike shop repair both of them to good riding condition . Both of them are well kept. All three are stored inside along side my HO train layout. A pair of seniors who wear helmets and hi-viz when we ride.
I had a Varsity. Got it for Christmas in 1973, minus the fenders and mousetrap. It was one heavy bicycle.
My first ten speed was an Azuki purchased for something like $112 from lawn mowing money when I was twelve years old. Conquered some mighty steep hills on the bluffs of the Ohio River growing up. My younger brother and I had an especially arduous (and dangerous) triangle course, and if our mother said it would be at least fifteen minutes until dinner was ready, off we’d go!
It was only five years ago since I’ve owned my first Schwinn, quite by accident. It’s a 1982 World Sport, manufactured by Giant under the Schwinn brand, I believe. Part of the collection from the PO of my shop, he must have found it at a yard sale and squirrelled it away. I’m eagerly awaiting warmer temps and using it as my daily mode of transportation.
Great write-up! Thanks for the memories.
I worked as a bike mechanic throughout high school and college, circulated through about half the bike shops in Baltimore at the time (70s). I worked at Princeton Sports on Falls Road and assembled many of these. They were tanks. The typical customer was someone who grew up with Schwinn, wanted that brand. Gitane, Peugeot, Motobecane and others were comparably priced but weighed 12-15 lb less, and rode better as the frames had some spring to them. That said, the Schwinns were durable and some have survived. My recollection is the Continental had a few more alloy parts, quick release hubs, maybe better derailleurs. Still had those massive one piece cranks. Schwinn did make an exceptional bike – the Paramount – Reynolds 531 frame, all Campagnolo equipment, those were beautiful!
Thanks Scott,
It has been a long time since I’ve heard mention of Reynolds 531 Tubing or Campagnolo components. I had the good fortune of working in my Father’s bike shop, Factory Direct Imports. We traveled to the UK and France to buy frames. I toured the Bob Jackson and Geoffrey Butler factories where we watched the artisans setting up jigs and brazing 531 double-butted tubes to headstock, crank, & axle fittings. Compelling old world craftsmanship.
The shop where I work currently has a lovely Bob Jackson for sale; touring bike, the frame has S&S couplers in it. Cantis. Thing of beauty.
I had a Schwinn road frame with a seized seatpost – at just the right height! Ran it as a flat-bar singlespeed for a while, then built a nicer (Carlton-based) fixed with drop bars – which I still have – and the Schwinn went for scrap. Kept all the bits apart from the frame.
My younger brother Mark and I made a trade back in 1974: His 3-year-old Schwinn Continental, with its stainless steel fenders and same shade of bronze as above, for my white 1964 Pontiac Catalina 4-door hardtop with 104,000 miles (translation: rusty, gas-gulping, oil-burning, shot). I still have the bike, but first the Poncho and then Mark are long gone.
Sorry to hear that your brother is gone. My older brother passed in ’08. Many of vehicles on these pages remind me of him and his friends as I was growing up in the 60s and 70s.
Christmas 1963 my folks gifted me a brand new gold colored Royce Union 10 speed bicycle. I was 12 years old. I owned the first 10 speed bike in my neighborhood. I loved that bike. 27 inch tires and no fenders! Taped drop down handle bars all made for interesting conversations from my friends. Everyone took it for a test ride. Fond memories.
I bought a red Schwinn Le Tour 10 speed at a Sheriffs sale in 1974 for $5.00. I took to a local bike shop and got new tires and a check up. I rode that bike all through college so much I would need a jump start for my truck because the battery would discharge over time. Still have that bike the magnesium frame made it really light.
I too have my early 70’s red continental hanging up in my garage. The bad side of that is that I sold my orange krate to buy the continental. Waa waa, shoulda,woulda, coulda. Also sold two e-type jags in the late 80’s. Stupid me.
Schwinn started using a date-coded serial number in 1964. First letter = month, second letter = year, SO DB00432 would be April of 1965 and frame number 432. It happens to be the serial number of the Collegiate 5-speed stolen from me. If you see it, I’d like it back. I paid $59.95 for it with 1st Communion money.
I had a chestnut brown 1972 Schwinn Varsity 10 speed and later on bought a maroon Schwinn World Sport on 5/21/82 that I paid $179.95 for. (I had ordered it on 5/18, “holding” it with a $5.00 deposit!)
Pop bought me a new red single speed bike at the local Western Auto in 1963, located in our little West Texas town. Had chrome fenders, a spring-loaded rack on the back, headlight (battery operated), and white handgrips. Rode it everywhere. The following summer I made enough money from mowing yards that I was able to purchase a banana seat, sissy bar and ape hanger handlebars. Took off the fenders, rack and headlight. Learned to wheelie that bike. It lasted all the way through junior high, freshman year I took driver’s ed, Pop bought me my first car that following summer. Moved off to college after high school and parents moved to another little West Texas town. Never saw the bike again, guess it didn’t make the move. I have fond memories of riding it though. Spending summer days pedaling around town, not a care in the world. Oddly enough, the local elementary and junior high schools have bike racks out front. Never seen a bike in anyone of them. For that matter, it’s a rare sighting to see any kids on bicycles. I do spot kids on electric bikes though. They don’t know what they are missing.
My grandson rides his 10 speed to school,grades K-8,only pedal bikes or foot powered scooters,no electric bikes or electric scooters.They get locked in fenced pen.
I had one of these back in the day. As I remember, the frame geometry was perfect for long extended wheelies. One day riding it to work, after all the wheelies I used to do, the front axle broke as I was pedaling hard through an intersection to beat the yellow light. The forks dug in the asphalt and I went over the handle bars. Somehow, I did a perfect forward roll and came up on my feet, grabbed the front wheel and rest of the bike and ran out of the intersection. Never had a scratch on me from that crash. People in cars gave me a thumbs up as they drove off. Ahh good times!
Lots of neat comments about this bike and how it’s jogged the memories of our youth. My first two wheeler was made by J.C. Higgins. I rode it until I outgrew it and got an “English Racer” style bike from some no name manufacturer for Christmas. I was not thrilled that it was a one speed with a coaster brake. Nonetheless I rode the thing into the ground. It didn’t take long for it to cry uncle. I’ll never forget the day the coaster brake fell apart when I was going down a steep hill. Fortunately my legs were long enough to use my feet as brakes. Did some serious damage to my Monkey Wards knock off P. J. Flyers. While in college I bought a ten speed bike made by a French company, Sutter. I put hundreds of miles on that bike. Inevitably it ended up hanging in my shed as I got older and there it still resides. I’m an E-bike guy now.
I still have my Campus Green varsity 10 speed I bought in 68. Sold my 64 Stingray to the Schwinn dealer for 15 bucks it was in beautiful condition ,which now was a mistake. The Stingray is worth a lot more than the 10 speed with the nut cracker seat.
Funny… we all rode our bikes, dreaming of that “someday” we’d be driving.
Now, we all drive, but dream about our old bikes.
Well said.
I have an orange Varsity that I have had for 45 years. Rode it 1 year.
Had the same one in brown back in the ’70s in Chicago … pedaled up and down the bike path along Lake Michigan, even taking Irving Park Drive out to where it turned into a country road … got stolen from my garage by thieves using a generic garage door opener and just “clicking” to see if any doors opened … got a green 10-speed after that but it just wasn’t the same – the theft “took the wind out of my sails” …
My neighbor wanted to sell his 15sp Schwinn back in the late 60’s, sorry don’t remember the model. My dad wouldn’t loan me the 80 or 120 bucks he wanted for it. I was stuck with my JC Higgins 3speed….sigh!