- What in the world
This is an old Shelby bicycle.
Shelby bicycle with a Sears motor.
Correct.
It hadn't been used for 40 years.
So tell me, where'd you get it?
I found this at a flea market.
You found it in a flea market?
What state? - Ohio.
Ohio. I can tell by the rust.
I brought in an early 1900s Shelby bicycle.
I think there's bicycle is in real good shape.
The motor runs.
It'll be something different that people don't see anymore.
I can live with $2,500 I'll probably take the money
and reinvest it in more antiques.
It's definitely cool.
Yeah, Shelby is a pretty interesting company.
They were doing $3 million a year in sales in the 1920s.
I mean, you can imagine that's a lot of money.
But they are mainly just making bicycle frames.
They sold them to Schwinn, they sold them to Sears,
they sold to everybody.
Does it run? - Yes, it does.
It does? OK.
It's obviously got Sears motor kit on it, right?
Yeah, I mean the Sears motor kit--
I mean, every kid, as soon as he got a bicycle,
wanted to turn it into a motorcycle somehow.
I used to put playing cards in the spokes of my bicycle
when I was a kid so it sounded like a motorcycle.
In the early 1900s, the Shelby Cycle
Company was one of America's most
respected bicycle builders.
This could be a really good buy for the shop,
but it all depends on how much it costs to restore.
So what are you looking to do with it, my man?
I want to sell.
You want to sell it?
What are you trying to get out of it?
$2,500.
Yeah, that sounds like a lot of money, my man.
But we've got some condition issues, for sure, man.
The rust, the motor doesn't look that well.
I mean, it needs to be rechromed.
There's a lot of work that needs to be done here.
I'll tell you what, do you mind if I have a buddy come down
and tell me what it's going to cost to restore this thing?
Sure.
Why don't you hang out and I'll be right back?
If you're going to restore it, there's a few things
that has to be done.
He would probably find some faults on it,
but overall, the bicycle is in shape, and the motor,
it runs good.
So this is what I called you about.
It's a Shelby bike.
It's got one of the Sears motors on it.
Are you looking to get a paper route?
Shelby was a great bicycle because they
had a lot of styling.
If you look at, the fenders are bobbed.
Nice head badges.
Just overall, it's just a cool bicycle.
So what are we looking at to restore this thing?
Well, true story, you're talking a lot of work.
Most of it is in chrome plating.
The rims have to be chrome plated, the handlebars.
These grips are off a '70s bicycle or something.
This back here, you could see somebody drilled
all kinds of holes in it.
I'm going to have to weld them up.
It's not only Sears motor, it's a Tecumseh motor.
Back in my minibike days, those motors rocked.
It turns over-- yeah, these things never die.
It will never die.
They're cool.
But to restore it because of all the chrome work,
probably talking about $1,700.
If you get the right collector, I think you get 4 grand for it.
OK.
Well, Bob, I appreciate it. - Thank you.
- Thank you. - Nice to meet you.
I think this would be a great buy for the shop
because it's rare.
If he gets it at the right price,
there are serious collectors out there that
will pay good money for it.
You know I can't pay you $2,500 for it, right?
Probably.
I'm not in the business of breaking even.
What's the least you'll take?
How about two grand?
Two grand ain't going to happen, buddy.
I'll walk away and not shake your hands for two grand.
I'm in the $500 range.
That's way too low.
He was talking about a $4,000 bike.
$4,000 bike, yeah, after I pay him $1,700 to restore it.
That's a lot of work, man.
- Would you do six? - $600?
You brought it all the way down here, it is pretty cool.
I'll do $600.
All right.
Come with me, let's do some paperwork.
I didn't get as much money as I wanted,
but I'm right now here $600 richer.