Carlton Corsair questions
11-12-20, 10:20 PM
#1
WGB
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Carlton Corsair questions
I saw two Carlton Corsairs for sale this summer (2 for $400) and posted them on the Ebay sale thread. Later they were reduced to 2 for $200. Pictures on line are terrible, some repeats, one bike only shown with the other or just it's headtube.
I noted that they have Brooks seats, back racks, one has a fake leather saddle bag and both have those clamp on Reg Italia water bottle cages. They have band-on shifters and both bikes have cottered cranks so I'm guessing very early 70's?
I'm not hungry, just confused. I can't seem to find anything of the Corsairs. Odd references on here to people finding them at dumps/thrift stores, etc. They look like a contemporary of the Raleigh Super Course or the early Grand Prix. Carlton's have a good name in general, so why don't these show up?
** Edit: Forgot to add that I thought that Corsairs were 531?
Were they just not popular, were they junk, '70's boom bikes?
What did they have for a groupset? I found a listing for one in the UK but there, the RD was a Huret Svelto and not here. Bikes are near Buffalo in E. Aurora, NY.
https://offerup.com/item/detail/960995790/
Ad photos
I noted that they have Brooks seats, back racks, one has a fake leather saddle bag and both have those clamp on Reg Italia water bottle cages. They have band-on shifters and both bikes have cottered cranks so I'm guessing very early 70's?
I'm not hungry, just confused. I can't seem to find anything of the Corsairs. Odd references on here to people finding them at dumps/thrift stores, etc. They look like a contemporary of the Raleigh Super Course or the early Grand Prix. Carlton's have a good name in general, so why don't these show up?
** Edit: Forgot to add that I thought that Corsairs were 531?
Were they just not popular, were they junk, '70's boom bikes?
What did they have for a groupset? I found a listing for one in the UK but there, the RD was a Huret Svelto and not here. Bikes are near Buffalo in E. Aurora, NY.
https://offerup.com/item/detail/960995790/
Ad photos
Last edited by WGB; 11-12-20 at 10:52 PM.
11-12-20, 10:41 PM
#2
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The lugs and seat stay treatment look like those of the Raleigh Grand Prix. The location of the headlight mounting boss on the drive-side fork leg may indicate a bike optimized for a locale where they drive on the left - like the home market in Britain.
I'm not certain, but I think the fork on the green one may be bent.
I'm not certain, but I think the fork on the green one may be bent.
Last edited by daka; 11-12-20 at 10:45 PM. Reason: added observation of bent fork
11-13-20, 12:52 AM
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Corsairs do have Reynolds 531 main tubes but the green one is not a Corsair at all, so the seller is incorrect. It’s a Corsa, which is altogether different. It can be seen if you google the 1973 Carlton catalog. I believe It’s all gas pipe, but still, it’s rather handsome. I agree that the fork does look suspect. The lavender one may be a Corsair but it’s not highlighted well at all in the photos. Tough to say either way on that one.
Last edited by Pcampeau; 11-13-20 at 02:14 PM.
11-13-20, 06:41 AM
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Bad camera angles but the green bike most likely has a bent fork - can most probably be repaired- check the frame for trauma
carlton version of the Grand Prix and a tad better.
carlton version of the Grand Prix and a tad better.
11-13-20, 02:00 PM
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Personally I’d pass, and I’ll add myself to the fork looks bent group.
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11-13-20, 02:26 PM
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WGB-
Basically these are the British home market version of what we in NA saw as the Grand Prix. Either Tru-wel 205 or Raleigh 20-30 seamed hi-tensile. Later, actual Corsairs were 531 main frame with more touring based angles. These Worksop built bikes were imported into Canada for a short time along with Criteriums at the very end of the 1970s up till about 1980. After Worksop closed, there was a Canadian built, down spec'd "Corsair" which was cosmetically similar to the UK builds but not really a Carlton.
Basically these are the British home market version of what we in NA saw as the Grand Prix. Either Tru-wel 205 or Raleigh 20-30 seamed hi-tensile. Later, actual Corsairs were 531 main frame with more touring based angles. These Worksop built bikes were imported into Canada for a short time along with Criteriums at the very end of the 1970s up till about 1980. After Worksop closed, there was a Canadian built, down spec'd "Corsair" which was cosmetically similar to the UK builds but not really a Carlton.
11-13-20, 03:52 PM
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Thank you all.
With the border shut I wasn't getting them anyway but it was more that I was puzzled why they weren't moving even with the Carlton name. Now I know.
With the border shut I wasn't getting them anyway but it was more that I was puzzled why they weren't moving even with the Carlton name. Now I know.
