Shelby introduced the Donald Duck model in 1949 in both 20” and 24” models for both boys and girls. The boys bikes were yellow with blue trim and the girls models were blue with yellow trim. Sometime after the introduction both boys and girls 26” models were made which are very rare. These bikes were made under license from Walt Disney and would be made until 1951 with minor changes in paint pattern and equipment such as refelctors.
This bike is a 1949 24″ model and was bought in very rough condition and restored by the owner. These bikes were never big sellers but are now dual interest collectibles prized by both by classic bicycle collectors and Disney collectors alike.
As the old saying goes “never say never”! I had said I would never own any of the themed bikes such as a Hopalong Cassidy (Hoppy), Gene Autry, or a Donald Duck. I’m not sure what happened when I saw this project offered up. I can’t blame it on being intoxicated because I don’t drink but whatever it was it wound up coming home with me from Memory Lane in 2016.
So like a lot of projects this one languished because I wasn’t even sure I really wanted to restore it and thought I might just move it along. After sitting for three years I figured what the heck I had already sourced the couple of parts I needed as well as a set of decals. So in the early spring of 2019 I finally got after it.
So the first thing is to take it apart and start stripping and cleaning.
This bike was pretty rough especially the front half of the bike and it took a lot of glass beading to clean it up. So after a lot of prep I finally started shooting paint. Notice my high tech painting facility otherwise known as the basement porch! The key to this is picking a pleasant day with low humidity and no wind.
So after I got started on the paint I sent the parts out to be chromed to DeTray Plating in Independence, MO. Great service and less than a two week turn around. Keep in mind chrome is not cheap and this is what prevents a lot fo people from restoring a bike because most bikes simply aren’t worth it. I think the bill was about $600 for everything. I have spent as much as $1200 for some bikes and I’m sure something like a Phantom would go $2k easy. I also lucked out and Bob Ujsaszi hooked me up with an NOS seat.
Now comes the really fun part of a restoration for me–assembly. This is where you get to see the bike take shape and start to realize the fruits of your labor. While I was doing paint I was working at night on getting the electrics to work. The Donald Ducks have a unique horn/light set-up. When you press the horn the lights flash whether they are on or off. This requires a different wiring schematic then you typically find in a normal horn tank. The headlights mount on a special bracket which attaches to the head tube and places the lights at the eye openings.
Finally after about a year I finished the bike in time to show it at the Hurricane Coaster bike show in Charlotte. A big thanks to all who helped rescue this duck and get it rolling again. Enjoy the ride!
