Zaphod Beeblebrox 

From what I gather the SLE is a higher model than the SL. Its got one more letter so it must be better.

I've just acquired an SLE and looking forward to doing some back to back comparisons against my Inter-10.

I've always assumed the SLE was at least as good as an Inter-10 seeing how they did it in smoke chrome and I figure they wouldn't do that to just any frame.


Good Article Chuck - Good reading.

lueckebw

I didn't know they offered the SLE in smoke chrome - I thought that was only the Vent Noir. My 1981 sales brochure lists Saltzburg Blue as the only color option for the SLE . Maybe you really have a Vent Noir, or perhaps they offered other color choices later.

ScottRyder 

I've never seen the VN referred to as black chrome, just smoked. Matt black, the painted model, I've seen.

Scott

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I'm with ya.....I thought that too, but here it sits and the top tube appears to say SLE.

Same here, Never heard A-D call it Black Chrome.... Smoked Chrome yes.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Now there's a strange bird.

Austro-Daimler on the downtube, Puch on the seatstay caps and a TA Half-Step plus Granny crankset.

I'd ride the heck outta that!

I'm convinced that nearly every color Austro Daimler comes up with is impossible to accurately photograph.

ScottRyder 

Chuckk, thanks for that link, a good reference point. I've never seen a line of bikes that has so many inconsistencies in it's branding, coloring and components as Austro-Daimler/Puch. Even in a A-D catalog you can see models with Puch head badges ..

Scott

lueckebw

Wow, that Vent Noir is a LOT darker than any other I've seen. Looks like that was from '82, so maybe they made them darker then. I like it. A LOT!

Drummerboy1975

Can anyone tell me what I have here? The word Royal and something else on the TT.

lueckebw

That looks just like my 1980 AD SLE, except mine has 531 main tubing. Mine has "AD - SLE" on the TT. I have no idea what the "Royal" would be.

Wildwood 

Zaphod - any success determining a serial number coding scheme?

Anamnesis

A-D serial numbers? I'm trying to identify my recently purchased steel frame set. Based on recent forum help it looks closest to an Austro-Daimler (though a bicycle fiend friend with three decades of experience suggested that it may be a Pinarello). The frame has been re-painted and hence no badge or decals. Gipiemme dropouts. Serial number on the bottom bracket, toward the front is 7114455 F. On the opposite side, toward the rear of the frame, is 6 457. Does that sound right? The few databases I've seen only have the initial numbers with no mention of the numbers on the rear of the BB. Any ideas?

juls

Just got an AD Inter 10 mixte/10 speed-shimano 600 equipped. Serial is 5661565 or 5681565 hard to tell if an 8 or 6 in the third position number. It is a 10 speed with concave weinman wheels. Apex crank-SR stem-old school rat trap peds. The slanted 531 sticker on the frame and 531 on the forks. Dark dark red. Being a ten speed-I'm thinking 70's? Have to get the component date codes to check I think. Some one upgraded the hubs to 'Phils" (My guess) Need to get this database going! LOL

jblake183

My Puch Austro-Daimler Pathfinder A-D, I'm guessing early 80's vintage.


Serial # 7273716, I think.


I'm considering a resto-mod if you want to check that thread out:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post16879260

non-fixie 

My Inter-10. Number 5728106. I recently bought it, but the PO couldn't tell me much about its history. Someone brought it over to Holland at some point, as these bikes were never sold here, AFIK. It has a shop sticker from the Patio Bike Shop in Hales Corners, WI. So it must be '72 or later.

Apart from the cables, housing and bar tape, it's pretty much as I bought it. I've done about 50 mls on it, and so far I'm liking it a lot. A very comfy bike.

Wildwood 

I'm glad to see this thread pop up. Here's how mine turned out. And good to see a comment about the riding of the bike. The thing I like most about my '81 Olympian is how well it rides. I've had 531 frames that didn't ride like this one. Maybe it just hits my body fit, maybe the tubulars, I dunno. Then, at the recent Seattle C&V ride another forum member rode it briefly, and wrote that he was surprised at how the AD was 'dial-in'. So here it is, un-restored, dialed-in, in full 'wet bike' regalia.

serial #6 8 3 6 8 8 5. Catalogs @ Bulgier show this color as the 1981 model. I bought it as a frameset in Chehalis (WA), history unknown other than a California registration tag that expired 1991 and another from a store in Olympia, WA.

teambhultima

Thanks to everyone for your continued interest in these wonderful old steel bikes. Mine is an Austro Daimler Ultima, serial # 5694722, Reynolds 531 frame and fork, purple with gold pin striping, probably 1976. It was delivered new to the bicycle dealer with a full Campagnolo Super Record group, which he cannibalized to outfit an Exxon Graftek (super cool graphite frame) and the AD was left in storage. I bought the Ultima frame, with the Campy SR crank, chainrings, shifters and headset some years later and built up a fun bike that I still enjoy today. It rides great, is very responsive, accelerates quickly and is a great hill-climber. Thanks for everyone's posts!

Fidusa

That is mine,early 80's I think.Puch.Unfortunately I don't recognise the model.It was given to me in that situation...

juls

https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1472763363
2 years and a few upgrades later, a picture

Andy_K 

I may as well add mine here too, although trying to correlate these numbers to dates seems a bit hopeless as almost no one appears to be certain what year theirs was made.



I'm not even sure of which model mine is. Based on the lack of any model identification I think it's a "Team". That's the only model (sold as a frameset, I believe) that I've found evidence of that isn't labeled. Otherwise, it looks a good bit like some of the Ultimas I've seen.

My serial number is 6052430.

I've been calling it a 1979, but squinting at the catalog scans from that year it looks like all three models pictured had the top tube cable guides brazed on by then, so it may be earlier. The tubes, including stays and forks, are butted Reynolds 531. The dropouts are Campagnolo. The chrome strip on the chain stay is at a lower level than the paint, so who know how much chrome there is under the paint. Where the Bordeaux Red paint has chipped (everywhere!) you can see a gold undercoating.


The components I have on it now are not original and the jumble of parts it came with didn't seem to be either (Shimano Sport LX shifters, 105SC rear derailleur, SunTour XCD front derailleur, Sugino Super Mighty crankset, Modolo Equipe brakes, Shimano 1051 brake levers, mismatched singlespeed wheelset).


I think the bottom bracket and headset it had when I got it were both Nuovo Record, so those may have been original, or at least installed near the time of original sale, but I don't think that helps narrow it down much (late 1960's to mid 1980's according to VeloBase).

Fidusa

Wildwood 

Very true.
In the case of my '81/82, it has decals from 81, but drop-outs & geometry from 82. Altho no signs of Puch.

Wildwood 

Is that a Nervar crankset?

Fidusa

No,it's an SR crankset.

[

Fidusa

Oh,i sent it twice!

Louis Roth

Acquired this bicycle in a pile of parts from a guy here that was a rep for Puch, Giant & Panasonic.
have not been able to learn much from him other than this was his own bike. Frame is large, about 25", and has stickers showing it to be made of 531 tubing. Dura Ace crankset, with Sun Tour f & r deraileurs. 27" Rigida wheelset.
frame number 5614464.
Would love some help in identifying the model and year of manufacture.

thanks
Louis