orcas island 

Thank you for the lead on that nail polish color!

Schreck83 

The original RD would have been a SImplex Criterium that mounted to the hanger as pictured below. It appears the original Simplex hanger may have been sawn off your frame. The Cyclone with claw would be an add-on.

jonwvara 

Well, it's certainly possible that an original hanger was sawed off. But many TdFs also came with plain dropouts (that is, no integral hanger) and a claw. If the OP removes claw that's on there now and take a photo of the bare dropout, we might be able to tell whether it's been modified or not--in the photos that have been posted so far, the claw is in the way, making it impossible to tell.

KenNC

Nice find, and replacing handlebar/stem/levers shouldn't be a problem. FWIW, Simplex did make a forged rear dropout that did not have a derailleur hanger--I have one like that on a Jeunet, that came with a Simplex derailleur, and I switched to a Huret. So while yes that one was probably cut down, you can still feel authentic. NICE saddle, aren't those quite expensive all by themselves? I have a similar Gitane from a different model year--the one with the honeycomb huret dropouts--but it is otherwise very similar (fishmouth treatment at dropouts) and rides very nice....

oneclick 

Sawn - look at the curved edge of the hanger just starting to go down for the mech mount, at the back of the claw:

Schreck83 

From eBane:

jonwvara 

Yeah, it sort of looks like it was sawn. Hard to tell, though--a photo without the hanger in the way would probably provide a definite answer

Markeologist

I always find myself passing on the Gitanes with the swagged seat stay ends, nothing functionally wrong with them but when compared with the much more elegant seat stay caps seen previously, whether they are the earlier fitted cap (seemingly always tri-color) or the Carre-style willow leaf that followed, the swagging just looks expedient and cheap.

francophile 

And some with Campy rear dropouts, while typically only on the SC frames, it's not exclusively true depending on the years.

jonwvara 

It was expedient and cheap. That was the point. For sure, the capped seat stays are beautiful. I had to buy a Lejeune frame last year because it had those caps (and because it was my size and a great frame in all other respects).

Whose face is that on the seat tube on those first two images? I don't think I've ever seen that on a Gitane.

Markeologist

That's Jacques Anquetil, who last rode for Gitane in 1965...thus these two frames with his face date to no later than 65. I have a CdM with the fitted cap painted in tri-color too BUT with foil decals instead and no Jacques. I figure my frame is 1966...maybe 67.

francophile 

The geometry on that one!

Markeologist

...there is also an earlier style of swagged seat stay finish seen on Gitanes and Geminianis (both MICMO brands prior to 1966) where the metal flap after swag was cut was crimped and a diamond-shaped finish was created that emulated the higher end fitted cap pretty well. I've seen them in tri-color as well as with a pin-stripe design. They are a bit better looking than the later swagged finish where the remaining metal flap after swag was cut was simply folder over and brazed shut.

Wildwood 

There has been a large Gitane on local CL.......
Maybe time......but quite a distance for me.

jonwvara 

Wow, learning a lot about pre-bike-boom Gitanes here....

Murray Missile 

I found someone I know and trust that will do a pro paint job on bike frames for me. He's doing my Peugeot PXN10 this Spring in Pearl White and if it turns out as nice as the other stuff he's done your old TdF may just get a new paint job in as close to the original color as I can get. I got decals for my Interclub and they look really good so it's getting repainted too but since it's a solid color I may do it myself.

orcas island 

I have a bottle of that “Sulfur Blaze” nail polish on order and will give it a try once it arrives. Decals from Greg Softley will follow that up.

Andy_K 

I had nearly convinced myself it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. I didn't make a resolution like @orcas island but I had been planning to stick to sprucing up the bikes I have this year and not buy any new ones. Tthen today I bought a Gitane (the one from the "Are you looking for one of these?" thread -- that thread is dangerous). The one I got isn't as classic or vintage as the TdF in this thread, but I'm excited about it, so I thought it just my current obsession making it seem like Gitanes were coming out of the woodwork.

merziac

That's the money shot there, corner of hacked off hanger.

francophile 

Ok, cough it up! https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ds-thread.html

Andy_K 

I know a guy who could fix that.

Andy_K 

Will do, as soon as it gets here.

jonwvara 

Yes, agreed.

orcas island 

I think I know that fella too!

orcas island 

A major “thank you” to forum member Obrentharris for providing me with an entire French cockpit to replace the one that was missing from this Gitane
Pivo stem, unmarked (but French) bars and a very nice set of Mafac brake levers and half- hoods. Everything that had been removed by a previous owner was provided by Brent from his parts stash.
Very kind, and very generous! Saved me a ton of work trying to track those bits down. Thanks again Brent!