|
|
| Example Model: | 1986 Team America |
| Brand: | Panasonic |
| Frame Model: | Panasonic Team America |
| Category: | Road Race |
| Years: | 1985 - 1987 |
| Built In: | Japan |
| Weight: | |
| Production: | Individual Hand Built |
| Sold As: | Complete Bicycle |
| Material: | Steel |
| Construction: | Lugged |
| Drivetrain: | Derailleurs |
| Wheel Size: | 700c |
| Added By: | zeringer on 03/28/12 |
| Updated By: | zeringer on 03/28/12 |
|
| Construction | Lugged | Bottom Bracket | English/ISO: 1.370 x 24 |
| Wheel Size | 700c | Brake Mounting | |
| Rear Dropouts | | Seat Stays | |
| Main Tubing | Columbus SP | Fork Tubing | Columbus SL |
| Brake Bridge | | Fork Style | Curved Blades |
| Derailleur Cable Routing | Under Bottom Bracket | Brake Guides | 3x Double Loop style on top tube |
| Fork Crown Style | | | |
| The Team America featured here was the 2nd model from the top after the Team Europe model in 1986.
The 1986 Team America model came with a full Dura Ace component group and lovely Araya Aero 4 tubular wheels. The three color paint job is perhaps one of Panasonic’s more attractive designs.
I wanted one of these for many years… since 1986 to be exact! The only problem was that I had never actually seen one anywhere other than in the bike shop catalog back in the day. I have been watching ebay and other sites for quite some time and never saw one for sale. I sort of figured that perhaps this bike was a bit of a unicorn within the Panasonic line. You see pictures but can’t be sure they actually exist.
Well, during mid May of 2008 the unicorn bike became a reality. I spotted one on ebay and was determined to own it as long as the price didn’t go up to insane levels. As luck may have it, I won the auction and the bike is now sitting over my left shoulder. I spent several evenings going through everything in order to get it “museum clean”.
It turns out that I had in fact purchased the bike from the original owner. The bike was originally purchased from a now defunct Schwinn/Panasonic dealer in East Liberty, Pennsylvania called The Bike Barn. |
| Head Badge |
 | |
