Schwinn produced the Phantom from 1949 until 1959. It was the top of the line model from America’s premier bicycle company. Now, 70 years later, Phantoms have become icons of the 1950s suburban baby boomer dream and are valuable collector’s items. They were offered in several colors but the black phantom was the most coveted.
Mark never got a Phantom when he was a kid. He bought this 1953 phantom over 30 years ago in poor condition. He asked Nomad to make it like new. The bike was complete but most of the components were heavily corroded and or damaged. Jack Trimble at Franklin Frame did a over the top repaint. He even got the pinstripes on the red diamonds curved like the original, a feat. Rick at V Twins Cycle Shop re- chromed all of the chrome components, even the rims. We laced up the wheels with original rims and hubs and correct NOS Torrington spokes in the original 4x lacing pattern. We replaced all of the hardware with NOS cadmium plated components. Several components are reproductions; fenders, saddle, fork spring, tires. Everything else is factory Schwinn.