Old Targa 10

Welcome to the forums. The Targa 10 was made only in 1977 and was CCM's bottom of the line, adult lighweight model.  These models are relatively common and inexpensive to acquire.

As noted, the Targa 10 was available in an extra small (19") frame, yet still used the 27" wheelset. Numerous manufacturers offered frames in this size but typically not at the Targa 10's price point. Generally, you'd be looking at a mid-range model to get sizing this small. Unfortunately, bicycles this size are in big demand with female riders, so most buyers ask and get a premium price. However, with the increase in price will be a notable decrease in weight and increase in performance. Personally, I'd be investing my money in a better bicycle than a restoration, if you ride regularly.

As for the colour, I've only seen Targa 10 in white and a medium metallic blue, though there was a sky blue on earlier Targa. The 1977 catalogue mentiions only "pearlescent blue for the 19" men's model and only "acrylic white" for the 19" female model.

Hi, and welcome. As for value, there isn't much, if any, money to be had in restoring old bicycles. For example, I bought a 1941 Ladies CCM for $70. Buying the cheapest tires and tubes from Canadian Tire, that adds $61 with the tax. It had a crappy repaint, so ad $6 for oven cleaner to strip the paint, $5 for sandpaper, and $7 for a can of brake cleaner (degreaser). Then $15 for 2 spray cans: Tremclad primer and Tremclad "Wild Raspberry" to reproduce the CCM maroon that used to be there. $10 for new (modern) handgrips? So we're up to $174, and this doesn't include labour. Disassembling the bike, stripping the paint, sanding, priming, sanding again, painting, mounting tires and tubes, degreasing and cleaning the bearings, and reassembly. How many hours is that? What is all that labour worth? Then you have to find someone who wants to buy a used bike with slightly rusty handlebars and pedals, etc.. How much will they pay? $200? - I've made $26 not including labour. $150? I've lost $24.

That said, I plan to follow through with this work because it's a labour of love. It's a hobby. Hobbies usually don't make money. And I plan to sell it not because I want the money but because I already have a 1947 original paint ladies that still has its original pinstriping, hand painted in the factory.

So, in my humble opinion, if you like the Targa 10, fix it up for the satisfaction it gives you and enjoy the scenery as you ride it, and don't worry about the money. One of the biggest kicks I get from this hobby is when I find a bike with rock hard tires from another era, because as I'm cleaning it up I know I will be the first person to ride it in maybe 50 or 60 years - how many decades of sitting does it take tires to turn to stone? I've taken something that many others would have thrown in the garbage and made it useful again. It feels nice.

Never seen one in red or blue. However, i have on in white...How much did you paid for it ?

you can polish the paint and the chrome and it will look pretty good IMO, degrease it and regrease it and maybe new tires and tube and your off

I would only do that to it if you like the bike.

If your looking to resell, then it's another story...

Now that pictures have been posted, I'm curious as to why new decals are being made? The decals and paint look to be in very good condition. The frame itself doesn't appear to need much more than a good cleaning.

It also looks more like the small, 21" frame than the extra small, 19" frame. If so, bicycles with 21" frames are not difficult to find. Good  condition, vintage, mid-range models that will be about 5 lbs lighter than the Targa and out perform it in just about every category can be obtained for very reasonable prices.

Thanks so much for all the replies, for how much I paid, the guy was asking 75, but I paid 60, and I did clean the bike up and found quite a bit of rust and the paint is very faded, it almost looks pink.  Another thing is as you said the decals are in pretty good shape, it's just if I repaint the frame I'm gonna need new ones.  As for the tires I'm still looking into them, as I got new tubes, the tires on it now I got from a friend, they really only meet 2 requirements, being black and round, any tires you guys would recommend? and after measuring it I belive it's the 21'' frame.

Thanks again for all the information, I've learned much more then I ever knew about the Targa.

If you guys got anymore questions, I'd be more then happy to anwser them. 

okay  mrracine...$60 is the max to pay.. for Targ, it exists , at least, 2 models,, yes i had the two models.. now, just one... TARGA and TARGA 10.. I don't know why it exists these two models, because they are the same frame and components...positron derailer..same wheels etc etc....If someone can tell the difference between a Targa and a Targa 10.........

I also would like to know why there was the name change from the Targa to the Targa 10, is the only difference the decal?, I hope someone out there could help us, and another question I have that might be almost impossible to answer is how much would have the Targa have sold for back in it's day?

Thanks again, you guys have been a great help

The reason that it was renamed the Targa 10 was because CCM produced both 5 and 10 speed versions of the Targa. This caused some confusion and dealers started calling them Targa 10 or Targa 5 to differenetiate between the models. CCM finally clued in and formally changed the model description for the final year.

Thanks so much, it makes sense now, I never realized that CCM made a 5 speed version of the Targa. 

Hey guys, 

The Positron is not very hard to set up, once you know how. Refer to the the 2nd to last post in thew following thread, for my instructions on Positron set up. However, be aware that by switching the freewheel, you may have inadvertently selected one with different cog to cog spacing. If so, the Positron rear derailleur may not function properly no matter how carefully you try to adjust it. 

http://www.vintageccm.com/content/hello-montreal

A wheelset with aluminum rims will improve the braking vastly, particulalry in wet conditions. So will a set of good, modern brake pads. I assume the crank upgrade was to some  form of aluminum, cotterless design? If so, you have upgraded the bicycle to near Mistral status. The Mistral  sat between the Targa 10 and Silver Ghost. In 1977, it used the same frame as the Targa 10, with the exception of chromed fork tips. The differences were largely slightly better grade aluminum components with the crankset and rims being the two biggest improvements. 

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying the bicycle. 

Hey thanks T-Mar I was able to set up the position correctly after reading your post, it really helped a lot.  Also here are the pictures I meant to post earlier, sadly I'm still rocking a set of cottered cranks which I weighed for fun and turned out to be 7 pounds. . . So I plan on getting some aluminum cotterless cranks at some point and a new wheelset but until then all seems working well.  Do you guys think the targa would be an alright as a touring/commuting bike? I've got a set of panniers and a rack cause I planning on commuting back and forth from school once I get a good bike lock but I'm not sure about the touring idea.