cdaniels

I have wanted a Holdsworth Campagnolo for a long time. Recently I got the itch to get one and after looking around decided a real one would be way to expensive. It seems the brand new ones are cheaper! After browsing around the internet sites I came across a Holdsworth Elan frame with Reynolds 531 tubing for a decent price on eBay and won it. Upon receiving it I put it together with parts I had and rode it around for a while but still wanted the team bike. Well I decided to make my own version. Below is what I received from the auction.


I stripped it down to the bare frame and had it media blasted, It wasn't cheap to have done at $75 but it turned out they were charging by time rather than the job, so for the price of that frame being blasted I got four separate frames done. So for around $19 I thought it was a good deal. Here it is back from the blasters.



I removed the eyelets and primed it for paint.



I let the primer dry for several days then sanded and applied 3 coats of Porsche orange basecote.



It was then masked off for the stripes and applied 3 coats of Subaru WRX blue basecote.





I then added the reproduction decals I received from H.Lloyde in England.



Then the entire thing was clear coated with 4 coats of urethane clear.

cdaniels

Here it is with the paintwork finished. I am very happy with the way it turned out so far. I found a donor bike with all Campagnolo parts and wheels. All parts from that bike will be cleaned up and installed on the Holdsworth.

Soody

looks fantastic

jeirvine 

Nice job. How did you spray it? Gun, or rattle can? You're giving me ideas for when (if) I refinish my Holdsworth Special.

thook

yes...stunning job! why remove the eyelets, though?

CV-6 

Looks outstanding. What paint were you using?

cdaniels

I sprayed it with Dupont "shop line" automotive two stage paint.

The eyelets were removed because the team bikes don't have them, and personal choice.

qcpmsame 

Well done you, very well done. Can't wait to see the finished product. Please continue the build thread on this one.

Bill

Johno59

The original had high flange Campag hubs, English sprint 20mm tubs with piano wire soldered spokes. But the spares were too difficult and expensive.


The team bikes had no chromed socks anywhere on the frame.

francophile 

Huh. My parents used to live right around the corner from you. Small world.

Awesome job on the paint! How many coats of clear over everything? Like @jeirvine I've got a project far out in the distant wings needing some paint and I've been mulling over shooting myself (as I'm sure many here on BF have considered).

I lack a suitable compressor these days. Sold it with my welder, plasma cutter and all the other tools I was using for classic auto suspension, frame and body work.

cdaniels

Four coats of clear. Its enough to barely feel the edge of the decals.

crank_addict

Quite the looker!

(Suggest to closely inspect the top part of the seatpost clamp. Brand new including the replacement piece is concerning.)

cdaniels

I will be using a Campagnolo seatpost and clamp. They have never let me down.

aceves 

Great work cdaniels! Yes, please continue the build thread on this one! Stunning frame; I foresee a Holdsworth build for me in the future.

aceves

cdaniels

Thanks for the positive comments guys.

jetboy 

yeah very nice. I am also a fan of the team professional and have not been able to get my hands on one- cost and scarcity! building a replica is a lot of fun~ though you might want to etch Replica in the bottom if you ever sell it- it looks good enough to be real!

cdaniels

I understand what you mean by marking it as "replica" but I think it might be self defeating as the real team bikes stopped production in the 70's,,,,,I think,,,,,,, and this frame is an 83.

francophile 

If you happen to sell the bike one day, nothing stopping someone from re-selling to an unsuspecting person for a huge sum of money and said buyer would have no "easy" way of knowing...

And it would be a testament to the high quality of work you've done But also a bummer for the victim.

Johno59

The pro team Holdsworth had a wrap over single piece seat stays. Many Holdsworth have wrap over seat stays but the section of the pro version's that wrapped over the front of the seat lug was about 3/8 thick - the wrap on any non-team version was about half that thickness.

Johno59

This is a pro team Holdsworth. Note the heavy duty seat stay wrap


Big time metal going over the seatpost lug.

cdaniels

Don't forget mine is not the real deal, it's an Elan being made to look like a team bike. There are several differences between the two, seat stays, cable guides, dropouts, geometry........

Johno59

I have an irrational compassion for orange Holdsworth bikes. I think your bike looks fabulous. Git Sum!!!!

rjhammett

You are about a month ahead of me in your Holdsworth build. My Professional was built in late 1972. I have the decals and will get it in for a paint job shortly. Mine has an all chrome fork that is in pretty good shape for a 47 year old bike.

cdaniels

Polishing the shiny bits is definitely time consuming but worth it. All the aluminum parts were quite dull but now shine like new. Compare the two wheels, the front one is how it was the other is after some "Mothers" metal polishing cream and new decals.

jetboy 

I get it- I may just be reacting because there was one on ebay.uk that was being sold as a team professional, I was interested, but it turned out to be a replica. Probably all the buyers would do their homework like I did, but maybe not. and often its the sellers that don't even know: they are just flipping and listing it as whatever it says on the top tube. so a little notice somewhere is nice.

My look replica team bike has a REPLICA decal on the downtube just to let you know (comes like this) but i'd not be suggesting that! for that bike it part of the charm.