Originally Posted by
gster
I thought they were sent as special display bikes to dealers....
That's the explanation for the chrome bikes; mostly the chrome Sports from the late 1970's. It does not explain these specific DL-1 editions
, which are absolutely
distinct from the US-market DL-1's.
Unlike US market bikes, these carry no "Tourist" badging, no Rampar logos, Sir Walter on the seattube and forks, and "RALEIGH - THE ALL STEEL BICYCLE" on the chainguard, which is mirrored by any of the secondary brand versions such as the '79 Rudge, which wears a decal in the same exact format, only bearing the Rudge slogan (RUDGE - BRITAIN'S BEST BICYCLE) from BITD. Let's not forget that Rudge was supposed to be dead after 1972, too.
Even the few US-market 1973+ DL-1s
with chaincases exhibit
none of these features. Wire stays, wide raised handlebars, Tourist badging, Rampar everywhere instead of Sir Walter, no Dynohub or DBU, and no "The All Steel Bicycle" slogans to be found.
-Kurt