Panasonic Bicycles

Panasonic bikes were sold in the United States until the early 1990s. My first true racing bike was a 1985 DX4000, purchased for me as a birthday present from my father at the Pedallers in Henriatta, New York. The company sold a full line of bikes that year, ranging from a mountain, recreation and tourist bikes to serious racing bikes with high end Shimano and Campagnolo components. It was quite a diverse selection, given the limited offerings seen from contemporary manufacturers.

1985 Panasonic Team Europe I

Panasonic's top of the line road racing machine, constructed with Columbus sp/sl frame with lostwax lugs. The bike sported a Campagnolo Super Record group, with 32 hole Araya aero tubular wheels.
1985 Team America

The Team America had the same frame and wheelset as the Team Europe I, but was outfitted with Shimano Dura Ace components.
1985 Team Europe 2

This midrange model had Columbus SL frame, Araya aero tubular wheels and Campagnolo Victory components.

A friend owned one of these, and took quite a ribbing over his "purple" bike. The Victory compnents proved to be troublesome, a biproduct of some of Campy's darker days.
1985 Panasonic DX4000

My first road racing machine. This model was among the first to boast the aero brake levers off the shelf. The frame was made from Tange #2 steel, and fitted with Shimano 600 EX components.