Scored another 'Goose.. A "team".. Please help Options

[Hand Grenade]

I scored a complete Team Mongoose, blue plastic coating, over MINT chrome. Not one speck of rust or corrosion. 100% Chromoly, as the decal would indicate, but this one is WEIRD. Instead of the "step down" dropouts, it has the seat stay, factory "flattened" (that's the only way I can describe it) where the chain rub would normally occur in the Mongoose frames. It's got some of the blue plastic coating missing, but really nice shape for a survivor. I have the matching fork, which is painted instead of coated over chrome. Original decals, but a little chewed. Drops are real good. Overall, it's great.

Here's the dilemma:
What year is it and what in the heck is the story with that seat stay? It was done by the manufacturer, because the blue color is perfect in this area.
Serial # T-CBO
and under that:
283927

So could any of you Mongoose PROS help me ID this baby?

I can post pictures if neccesary.
It has Mint Lester mags on it.. Plus some other Goodies...

[SoCal1982]

Sounds awesome, post the pics!

If I'm reading your description correctly, there's nothing really weird about it, it sounds like the standard seat stay that many Team Mongooses have (1981 and earlier).

Nice score!

[SoCal1982]

This is not the greatest pic I know but if you look at the chainstay, it's flattened and it's not the "stepdown" dropouts. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question?

(IMG:http://images.vintagebmx.com/web_pages/SoCal1982/TeamMongoose.jpg)

[ January 22, 2006, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: SoCal1982 ]

[AussieRampar]

Yep, February 1980. I've got two with the pinched/flattened seatstay (both T-CC0 - march 1980).

-Pete.

[BenOr]

Step down was at the very end of this frame type and just before the Californian frames. You have a classic Team frame there. The Full cromoly frames pinch so the chain would not rub when running a (slightly wider than coaster brake) freewheel.

[Randy]

It's transparent powder over nickel plating, not plastic over chrome.

[ January 23, 2006, 01:20 AM: Message edited by: Randy ]

[Hand Grenade]

Really? It's powder over nickle?
hahaha... I always thought it was some kind of plastic by the way it peeled off. And underneath looked so much like chrome, because of the color.
The nickle goose that I had as a kid, had a slightly darker color to the finish, but you guys know better than I would.
Maybey because the powder kept the nickle so clean, that it looks more like a chrome finish.

No need to post a pic, because SoCal1982's F&F, is EXACTLY like the one I scored. His is near mint compared to the one I got. Mine has a much poorer finish and the forks are painted, whereas his seem to be again, powder over nickle.
"Plastic over chrome" hahaha I'm a dolt.....

[BenOr]

I actually thought it was chrome that was not polished under the powder.

Welcome to the dolt club!

[SoCal1982]

I think it's chrome too, at least on the frame that I have... the spots where the paint is peeling I can see there's chrome underneath. Also, didn't Skip Hess himself say it was chrome in that vbmx interview?

But what do I know? I'm practically the president of the dolt club.

-aq

[COASTY]

My Team frame is definately chrome underneath. It has all the pinches and the red powder is still inside the BB shell. I have 3 other nickel frames as well. It's a 80 model as well.