Western Flyer brand bicycles started all the way back in 1931 by Western Auto stores. They never made bicycles but had them made by several great US manufacturers including Shelby, Cleveland, Huffy, Murray, and Columbia. Many of their bikes are nice and collectible, but they also have so very average bikes. The best ones I have seen are their tank bikes.
Here are a couple of nice reproduction models:
Models
Buzz – muscle bike.
Coventry Flyer – Raleigh made cruiser.
Crown Supreme – road bike.
Deluxe – 10-speed bike.
Deluxe Tank Model – nice tank cruiser.
Fairway Flyer – ladies cruiser.
Freedom – BMX bike.
Galaxy Flyer – cruiser bike.
Golden Flyer – tank cruiser.
Invader – BMX bike.
Nightmare – BMX bike.
Regent – cruiser bike.
Sonic Flyer – tank cruiser.
Speedline Airflo – very stylish cruiser.
Stylemaster – BMX bike.
Wild One – muscle bike.
X-53 Super Deluxe Cruiser – nice tank cruiser bike, best one I have seen from them.
Value
Original tank bikes hold some pretty good value. The more basic models won’t have much value though they may be nice rides. Western Flyer is an old brand, but it is still a retail store brand, so these won’t be as valuable as say a good Schwinn. Like other vintage bikes, ladies/girls bikes have the least value.
Reproduction bikes
Back in the 80s through 1991 Columbia Manufacturing made reproduction bikes that looked like the old tank bikes. Beautiful bikes that seem to hold a good value, but not as valuable as the older model tank bikes.
List of companies who made Western Flyers
AMF
Cleveland
Columbia
Huffy
Murray
Raleigh
Shelby
Who was Western Auto?
Western Auto Supply Company started in 1909 in Kansas City, Missouri as a mail order business for auto supplies. Then in 1921 they moved to becoming a retail chain with stores. The company was sold to Advanced Auto in 1998 and by 2003 the brand disappeared. I don’t believe anyone own the Western Flyer brand now.
Looking for more pictures and info. If you have some you can donate to this blog please email to bikerjima@gmail.com
Some photos donated by South Shore Cyclery
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