Nathanael47

I've been lurking around reading and learning for years as a try to figure out what the heck I'm doing. You guys have cleared the cobwebs for me on countless issues. About six years ago, when my bike was stolen and I started looking around for a replacement I fell in love with the look of classic steel bikes. I didn't know anything about them, just that they were pretty. I'm 6'5" and when I saw an ebay listing for a 65cm lugged frame I made what seemed like a lowball offer, and before I knew it the box was in my kitchen. I wrote up the storyhere. Here's what it looked like after the guys at the LBS helped me build it up:



The seller,a bike shop, listed it as a Windsor. There were no stickers. I figure Carrera Special or Sport? no idea of the year.
Then I saw this and thought maybe Carabela https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...questions.html
Other possibly helpful info: It came with the same Universal Mod. 61 brakes as that Carabela, that DuraAce front derailleur, and a Shimano headset.

Nathanael47

The picture above is 5 years old, and when I look at it now, I'm amazed and how fresh it looked. In those years the paint started chipping all over and the chrome began rusting through and I decided to paint it. And -- I know, I know! -- some will consider this sacrilege. Mea culpa. I just wanted to explain why these close-up pics are in primer:

Any ideas? I'd love to know what those numbers signify.

juvela

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Agree that it strongly appears to be an Acer-Mex product.

For model I would think either Semi-Pro or Competition.

Have never seen a Carrera Sport model with the Cinelli style seat binder arrangement.

It looks to be a notch above that model.

The "25" is a frame size in inches, measuring C-T-T.

Here is an image of the frame's lugset bare. The seat lug is slightly different as it is Malguti style and your frame has the Cinelli style seat binder arrangement.





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zukahn1 

I'm 90 percent sure ti started out as a Windsor Carrea Sport circa 79-81.
Classic Mexico Cycles

juvela

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By 1978 the Carrera Sport model had been discontinued.

There were two other Carreras, the Super Carrera and the Carrera Special.

Here is what they looked like in '78 -







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T-Mar

I concur, it's definitely an Acer-Mex product based on the serial number format and location, Cinelli style binder bolt and lug set. The Cinelli style binder arrangement was typically used only on models with double butted frames, so I wouldn't expect anything lower than a Super Carrera. Also, the double butted models started using brazed-on top tube cable tunnels for the 1979 model year, so we know it's pre-1979. It's also pretty safe to eliminate the top of the line Pro, based on the lugs. I'd like to know the droputs, the seat post diameter and whether there are any markings on the fork steerer tube.

Wildwood 

Nathanael47

You are a treasure trove of bike arcana! how did you get so smart? Seriously thanks!

Nathanael47

All makes sense. Yes frame is double butted.

I can post pics of dropouts (in a bit - Ed is still working on the paint) - I haven't noticed markings on the fork - but I'll take another look.
Seatpost 26.8 (I think? just measuring with a ruler, and these differences are very small)

This rag is unfortunately placed. Will have to look at the actual thing. (Brazons are new)

Nathanael47

love this bike! mine didn't have the eyelets, different steatpost binder, and it looks like a different fork crown...

T-Mar

The picture Carabela Semi-Pro does not have the Cinelli style seat cluster of the OP's frame. Still, I have seen this model with the Cinelli style seat cluster, so a Semi-Pro is a possibility. SunTour changed the Compe-V front derailleur circa 1977-1978, so the pictured Semi-Pro would appear to be earlier than that. Any chance you could post the serial number and date codes from the crankset and derailleurs.

Nathanael47

Okay at long last getting pictures of dropouts and fork for T-Mar



25 E

SoreFeet

Damn you guys are good.

T-Mar

The 26.8mm seat tube, lack of the Columbus dove logo on the steerer tube and the presence SunTour dropouts would eliminate all the Windsor models, with the exception of the Tange tubed Super Carerra.

juvela

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Nathanael47 -

the forum just had a new thread begun recently on a Super Carrera

you may wish to communicate with the poster...

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ral-value.html

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Nathanael47

Thanks guys! Yeah I've been following that thread. Super Carrera seems right. Just to complicate things, frame builder Ed Litton found a Falck symbol on one of the tubes - maybe that means pre 1978?