grant40

T-Mar

Just in case any of the other members are wondering, grant40's bicycle in the previous post is an almost totally rebuilt CCM Concorde from 1973 or 1974. The frame uses Reynolds 531 plain gauge for the main tubes, while the stays and blades are hi-tensile steel. The only items which are OEM are the frame. forks, headset and possibly the seat post, brake levers, brake quick release and handlebars. This frameset performed quadruple duty, also be used on the Torino (1975-1976) Mistral (1973-1976) and Silver Ghost (1973-1977) models

grant40

The only things that are original are the headset cups, the seatpost binder bolt, the brake levers, and the front brake. It was made in 1973 and originally had cottered cranks and simplex shifting.

T-Mar

Oops, I didn't notice that it stil had the centre-pull caliper on the front. If it had a steel, cottered crankset, then it is a 1973 model, as opposed to a 1974 model manufactured in late 1973. The 1974 version was upgraded to a cotterless, Sugino Maxy crankset.

grant40

Here's a picture of the bike when I 1st brought it home.

GordonP

Here is my CCM Silver Ghost which I picked up this autumn. I was planning on keeping it original but I may replace the wonky cranks and change the colour of the cable housing, handlebar tape and change out the saddle. Need to figure out tubular tires for it as well.

markk900

Nice score - the one bike I have with a Maxy crank shifts pretty nicely so unless you hate the cranks why change them? It gives off the "I really want to race but have no money" vibe, which I am personally very familiar with having started my "illustrious" race career in 1973 on a Peugeot AO-8 that I upgraded as my part time job and holiday money allowed - definitely NOT a high end bike but it served.....(BTW gave up racing when I found out a) it was hard work and b) I got a driver's licence.....)

T-Mar

The Silver Ghost, in it's original tubular wheelset version (1973-1976) is a fairly rare bicycle because it did not sell well. It was yet another case of CCM not having their finger on the market. If you look at the specs it seems like a decent lower mid range club racer (tubular wheelset with Fiamme red label rims and Shimano large flange quick release hubs, Titlist derailleurs with bar end shift contols, Maxy cotterless crankset, Weinmann centre-pull brakes and a plain gauge Reynolds 531 main triangle). The trouble was that it used the same recreational geometry as the lower CCM lightweights. Club racer wannabes were unlikley to buy a CCM in the 1st place but that geometry totally killed the deal. CCM finally wised up and converted it to a wired-on wheelset for 1977.

The drawback of the Maxy crankset is that the large chain ring is swaged to the crankarm, making it impossible to change for alternate gearing or when it wears out. Still, it is historically signifcant as the unit that brought cotterless, aluminum crankset to the upper entry level market.

My most disliked component on this version of the Silver Ghost was the uncovered, hard, plastic saddle. It may have been the most uncomfortable saddle that I've ever ridden.

My favourite component of the Silver Ghost were the d'Alessandro Extra tubular tyres. They were my favourite tubular tyre of the era, even preferring them over the big name silks.

The Silver Ghost story may have different had CCM decided to design it around competition geometry. Then it might have stole some sales from the likes of the Peugeot PA10, Gitane Interclub and Raleigh Super Course TT, though the owners would probably have peeled off the decals before arriving at the start line, in a feeble attempt to disguise it's CCM origin.

old's'cool

Oh Gawd, a center stand WTF!!

GamblerGORD53

OH Gawd .... Bar ends. I sure won't trade my 1973 Elan 3 speed for this. LOL

browngw 

Riding the Turismo a bit this past summer brought back lots of nostalgia. I'm sure its happy to be back on the road.

C.C.M

Oh my Lord! I would gladly exchange an Élan 3 speed for this 'Silver Ghost' for several reasons, one of which, Your Élan is not rare at all, there are quite a few everywhere, but a 'Silver Ghost' is much rarer than your Elan. Guaranteed

Skeptic333

I have one very similar with SN#E995509 it has a 5 speed Shimano rear derailleur with a downtube Shimano 2 lever shifter.

Fat Tire Trader 

1942 CCM Rambler More here 1942 CCM Rambler

Fat Tire Trader 

1939 CCM Red Bird More Here 1939 CCM Red Bird

SoCaled 

Found this CCM on craigslist $50.00 (Helendale, CA) - In researching the bike I found this thread - thought I would share
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...508496497.html

markk900

Not enough of an expert to tell the model but decently appointed for a low end model. And the stuff that comes with it is worth $50....

T-Mar

Even though it is non-drive side photo, I can tell that it's a 1973 -1976 CCM Mistral. This one has been substantially rebuilt over the years. It was a lower mid-range model, 3rd in the 5 model, lightweight line. The frame is plain gauge Reynolds 531 with hi-tensile fork and stays. MSRP was around $175 CDN, depending on the exact year. It's direct competition was the Raleigh Super Course. The serial number should be on the lower, non-drive side of the seat tube and should allow us to narrow down the timeframe to a year or two.

Aminhotep

That's a beauty. Good to know it still gets ridden. I have a similar one but it takes 24" 1 3/8 tires and it has a chain guard. I wonder if its the same year.

grant40

Why? Why does a pretty low end looking bike come with tubular wheels?

T-Mar

Well, you have to put it into that mid-1970s context that was applicable. Most manufacturers, offered (relatively) inexpensive models for beginning racers. The box section, lighter weight, higher pressure, high performance, wired-on wheelsets were still a few years way when the Silver Ghost was introduced for the 1973 model year. So, if you wanted a performance wheelset, tubulars were the only way to go. A typical novice racing model of the era closely resembled the upper entry level model of the line (i.e hi-tensile frame, steel cottered crankset, Simplex Prestige or Campagnolo Valentino Extra derailleurs, MAFAC Racer or Universal 68 brakes, etc). The major identifiers for it being a competition model was the presence of a tighter geometry, tubular wheelset and narrower range gearing. The novice racing models usually carried about a 10-15% premium over the similar, upper entry level model, primarily due to the tubular wheelset.

T-Mar

Welcome to the forum. We should be able to determine the manufacturing year based on the serial number and its location, which should be the rear dropout. lower non-drive side of the seat tube or the seat lug. Once we know the year, we may be able to determine the model. CCM typically categorized models with 24: wheelsets as "Junior" bicycles.

grant40

I remember there being one Huffy bike for sale that was a cheap Huffy frameset with 1 peice cranks, but it had a 1st gen Dura Ace groupset and tubular wheels.

markk900

First thing I did when I wanted to go racing (not very successfully) back in the 70s was upgrade wheel set to tubulars. Doubt anything else would have made a difference at my skill level so those “entry” racers had a ready audience like me.