PSA: chrome Raleigh Grand Sports frame on eBay
09-29-17, 04:27 PM
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PSA: chrome Raleigh Grand Sports frame on eBay
No relation to seller, just found it. And I THINK it's a Grand Sports - @nlerner has seen enough to authenticate
Best guess is that it's a 1971 model based on the headbadge. Dropouts are stamped, no derailleur hanger, old 531 decal. Sky at Velocult says there were only a few made fully chromed to show dealers. He has one in his shop:
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09-29-17, 04:44 PM
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That's funky! Nervex lugs, stamped dropouts, and the bit of bronze green at the BB say super Course to me more than Grand Sports.
09-29-17, 05:31 PM
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It looks like it used to be green over the chrome. It's probably just had the original paint stripped, similar to my Montello.
I'm just glad it's a 59. I don't have that filter set up to block eBay content yet.
I'm just glad it's a 59. I don't have that filter set up to block eBay content yet.
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09-29-17, 05:42 PM
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very intriguing!
As a guy who rode a lagoon-blue-with-white-panels Gran Sport for 14 years, I have a mental block when I try to imagine one in any other color scheme.
Still, with Nervex lugs, chrome, etc., it's very attractive and enticing!
Any thoughts on why we don't see more of this (and earlier) versions of the Raleigh bikes? Is it just the lower production volumes in the pre-bike-boom years?
Steve in Peoria
(happy with his International and Raleigh Team)
As a guy who rode a lagoon-blue-with-white-panels Gran Sport for 14 years, I have a mental block when I try to imagine one in any other color scheme.
Still, with Nervex lugs, chrome, etc., it's very attractive and enticing!
Any thoughts on why we don't see more of this (and earlier) versions of the Raleigh bikes? Is it just the lower production volumes in the pre-bike-boom years?
Steve in Peoria
(happy with his International and Raleigh Team)
09-29-17, 05:48 PM
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-----
1969-70 Gran Sports.
Original chainset Zeus Competition.
Original gear ensemble Huret Luxe Touring.
Two finishes were offered: chrome w/green trim and chrome w/coffee trim.
-----
1969-70 Gran Sports.
Original chainset Zeus Competition.
Original gear ensemble Huret Luxe Touring.
Two finishes were offered: chrome w/green trim and chrome w/coffee trim.
-----
09-29-17, 06:43 PM
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Okay very cool, but is it butted tubing?
09-30-17, 09:59 AM
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Here's the 531 sticker:
Based on this Classic Rendezvous thread, I'm guessing straight gauge, I'm now leaning towards a fully chromed Super Course. But the fact that there's green paint around the BB, but decals directly on the chrome make me wonder what's going on here. Perhaps the paint was added later. Perhaps the paint was stripped, and new decals applied. They look pretty weathered, however.
Where Super Course's fully chromed underneath? I seem to remember that the one I bought when I was 15 was not. But who knows? The decals directly on the chrome make me wonder what's going on. Maybe the decals were replaced.
We know that there wasn't much consistency from the Raleigh factory from model to model, year to year, even batch to batch. This one has a serial number stamped on the non-drive side dropout - 62346. This is odd, since according to this guy, there's always a leading zero, and it was most likely a 1973 model. I don't see a zero.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
09-30-17, 10:57 AM
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09-30-17, 03:33 PM
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
09-30-17, 03:38 PM
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Reading comprehension fail (for me):
"This bid is for a used 59cm to top of seat lug, Chrome Raleigh road bicycle frameset, with 531 Butted main tubing frame. Made in Nottingham England, Carlton with Nervex lugs. This Raleigh is factory chromed. In its original scheme, it was originally poly-transparent-Green paint over most of the frame. (see BB area). Probably just showing chrome stays & lower fork blades, as well as head lugs & crown. The owner stripped the poly-Green paint. The frame shows typical pitting to chrome from age, especially in the low area near the bottom bracket. . Frame is apox., early 1970s?? 56.5cm top tube length center to center. English thread bottom bracket 1,370 x 24tpi. 27.2m.m. seatpost size. Rear is 123m.m. OLN."
The only thing that's blatantly untrue about this is the 56.6cm top tube CTC claim. Everyone knows that this vintage Raleigh TT was ALWAYS 57cm.
;-)
"This bid is for a used 59cm to top of seat lug, Chrome Raleigh road bicycle frameset, with 531 Butted main tubing frame. Made in Nottingham England, Carlton with Nervex lugs. This Raleigh is factory chromed. In its original scheme, it was originally poly-transparent-Green paint over most of the frame. (see BB area). Probably just showing chrome stays & lower fork blades, as well as head lugs & crown. The owner stripped the poly-Green paint. The frame shows typical pitting to chrome from age, especially in the low area near the bottom bracket. . Frame is apox., early 1970s?? 56.5cm top tube length center to center. English thread bottom bracket 1,370 x 24tpi. 27.2m.m. seatpost size. Rear is 123m.m. OLN."
The only thing that's blatantly untrue about this is the 56.6cm top tube CTC claim. Everyone knows that this vintage Raleigh TT was ALWAYS 57cm.
;-)
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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09-30-17, 07:27 PM
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Looks like what's in the 1970 catalog - (possibly missing the derailleur hanger) - and evidently made in Nottingham, vice Worksop.
It is certainly different and "interesting". I have eight Raleighs downstairs - seven of them from the 70's. I've done some pretty wild things to a few of them, but not really digging the aesthetics (original, current or potential) of this one.
edit - including link to the VCC hosted catalog showing the original (page 6 of the catalog, page 3 of the pdf)
It is certainly different and "interesting". I have eight Raleighs downstairs - seven of them from the 70's. I've done some pretty wild things to a few of them, but not really digging the aesthetics (original, current or potential) of this one.
edit - including link to the VCC hosted catalog showing the original (page 6 of the catalog, page 3 of the pdf)
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Last edited by USAZorro; 09-30-17 at 07:30 PM.
10-01-17, 11:44 AM
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...but not really digging the aesthetics (original, current or potential) of this one.
edit - including link to the VCC hosted catalog showing the original (page 6 of the catalog, page 3 of the pdf)
edit - including link to the VCC hosted catalog showing the original (page 6 of the catalog, page 3 of the pdf)
Thanks for the link, I think that's the definitive money shot. 1970 Gran Sport it is. Always seemed odd to me that later years they were Grand Sports.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
10-01-17, 11:54 AM
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Oh, yeah, I always forget about the catalog pic (and I even have a hard copy of that 1970 catalog). The few of those that have surfaced over the years usually do have the paint peeling off the chrome, so I guess a previous owner of this one accelerated that process.
Also funny that someone had wrote "no make" next to that Gran Sport caption in the catalog when the other models have prices added. Well, I guess they made a few.
Also funny that someone had wrote "no make" next to that Gran Sport caption in the catalog when the other models have prices added. Well, I guess they made a few.
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01-11-21, 06:08 PM
#16
GranSport70
I have TWO 1968 Grand Sport, (Gran Sport), Raleigh Bikes. One of each decal color scheme as you described.
The first, which I purchased in 1971, is Chromed with the Coffee and Green Trim, the last of which had all fallen off within a few months after I purchased her. The second, all Chromed Grand Sport, that I purchased this last year is in almost mint, original, condition. She is all Chromed with Coffee and Black Trim. The Black Trim is solid paint with hand painted Red Pin Striping on the ends of the Black Paint and beautifully outlining each of the Lugs. The Coffee colored decal which is on both, and the Green Trim, which was on the first one, are/were Translucent Decals that can/did peel off. The Coffee Decals located on the Vertical Tubing of both Bikes and the Green Decal on the one and the Black Paint on the other Bike's Horizontal and Diagonal Tubing.
Interesting Note. The Bike pictured in this Original Post has a large Rear Hub Shell with what appears to be a Sprocket on both sides. You need to look very closely.
On my first Grand Sport, I had replaced her original Huret Derailleurs with Campagnolo before my cross country trip, (Miami to San Francisco, via Boulder/Milner Pass), in 1972.
The first, which I purchased in 1971, is Chromed with the Coffee and Green Trim, the last of which had all fallen off within a few months after I purchased her. The second, all Chromed Grand Sport, that I purchased this last year is in almost mint, original, condition. She is all Chromed with Coffee and Black Trim. The Black Trim is solid paint with hand painted Red Pin Striping on the ends of the Black Paint and beautifully outlining each of the Lugs. The Coffee colored decal which is on both, and the Green Trim, which was on the first one, are/were Translucent Decals that can/did peel off. The Coffee Decals located on the Vertical Tubing of both Bikes and the Green Decal on the one and the Black Paint on the other Bike's Horizontal and Diagonal Tubing.
Interesting Note. The Bike pictured in this Original Post has a large Rear Hub Shell with what appears to be a Sprocket on both sides. You need to look very closely.
On my first Grand Sport, I had replaced her original Huret Derailleurs with Campagnolo before my cross country trip, (Miami to San Francisco, via Boulder/Milner Pass), in 1972.
Last edited by GranSport70; 01-11-21 at 07:48 PM.
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01-11-21, 07:27 PM
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I have TWO 1968 Grand Sport, (Gran Sport), Raleigh Bikes. One of each decal color scheme as you described.
The first, which I purchased in 1971, is Chromed with the Coffee and Green Trim, the last of which had all fallen off within a few months after I purchased her. The second, all Chromed Grand Sport, that I purchased this last year is in almost mint, original, condition. She is all Chromed with Coffee and Black Trim. The Black Trim is solid paint with hand painted Red Pin Striping on the ends of the Black Paint and beautifully outlining each of the Lugs. The Coffee colored decal which is on both, and the Green Trim, which was on the first one, are/were Translucent Decals that can/did peel off. The Coffee Decals located on the Vertical Tubing of both Bikes and the Green Decal on the one and the Black Paint on the other Bike's Horizontal and Diagonal Tubing.
Interesting Note. The Bike pictured in this Original Post has a large Rear Hub Shell with what appears to be a Sprocket on both sides. You need to look very closely.
On my first Grand Sport, I had replaced her original Huret Derailleurs with Campagnolo before my cross country trip, (Miami to San Francisco, via Boulder/Milner Pass), in 1972.
The first, which I purchased in 1971, is Chromed with the Coffee and Green Trim, the last of which had all fallen off within a few months after I purchased her. The second, all Chromed Grand Sport, that I purchased this last year is in almost mint, original, condition. She is all Chromed with Coffee and Black Trim. The Black Trim is solid paint with hand painted Red Pin Striping on the ends of the Black Paint and beautifully outlining each of the Lugs. The Coffee colored decal which is on both, and the Green Trim, which was on the first one, are/were Translucent Decals that can/did peel off. The Coffee Decals located on the Vertical Tubing of both Bikes and the Green Decal on the one and the Black Paint on the other Bike's Horizontal and Diagonal Tubing.
Interesting Note. The Bike pictured in this Original Post has a large Rear Hub Shell with what appears to be a Sprocket on both sides. You need to look very closely.
On my first Grand Sport, I had replaced her original Huret Derailleurs with Campagnolo before my cross country trip, (Miami to San Francisco, via Boulder/Milner Pass), in 1972.
4 yr old zombie thread, you are still likely to get some traction.
AND we need pics of your bikes, since without them, it didn't happen.
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01-11-21, 07:55 PM
#18
GranSport70
My 2 Gran/Grand Sport bicycles.
I hope you enjoy the Pics of my 2 Raleigh Grand/Gran Sport Bicycles.
S/N 182336
S/N 171232
What do you make of the 2 Sprockets, one on each side of the rear Hub, on the Bike at the beginning of these Posts?
I don’t blame you for asking for the Pics. It is pretty unbelievable that I actually have 2 of them. They are very rare.
The first one was stolen in 1974. I stopped and looked, every time I ever saw a Chrome Bike. Most all were Schwinn Paramounts. I found it, 39 years later and it took me another year and a half to buy it back.
S/N 182336
S/N 171232
What do you make of the 2 Sprockets, one on each side of the rear Hub, on the Bike at the beginning of these Posts?
I don’t blame you for asking for the Pics. It is pretty unbelievable that I actually have 2 of them. They are very rare.
The first one was stolen in 1974. I stopped and looked, every time I ever saw a Chrome Bike. Most all were Schwinn Paramounts. I found it, 39 years later and it took me another year and a half to buy it back.
Last edited by GranSport70; 01-11-21 at 08:09 PM.
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01-11-21, 10:36 PM
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02-22-21, 08:16 PM
#20
GranSport70
The Model as pictured in the 1970 catalog, Coffee and Green Trim, was not paint, but a Cellophane Type material that peeled off.
The other option, Coffee and Black, the Coffee appears to be the same Cellophane type material, the Black, clearly Painted on with Red, Hand Painted, Pin Stripping at each end additionally tracing the decorative Lugs.
The other option, Coffee and Black, the Coffee appears to be the same Cellophane type material, the Black, clearly Painted on with Red, Hand Painted, Pin Stripping at each end additionally tracing the decorative Lugs.
Last edited by GranSport70; 07-11-21 at 08:38 AM.
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