Raleigh Professional
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Raleigh Professional
Serial # WD1000261, additionally the bottom bracket is marked with a 4 for hopefully size 54
Reynolds 531, pearlescent white with blue accents. Seatstay caps with Carlton engravings. Frame only, though no visible damage to the front of the bike.
Will need some work though with plenty of damage to the paint.
Any ideas as to age and value?
Reynolds 531, pearlescent white with blue accents. Seatstay caps with Carlton engravings. Frame only, though no visible damage to the front of the bike.
Will need some work though with plenty of damage to the paint.
Any ideas as to age and value?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,504
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 586 Post(s)
Liked 612 Times
in
447 Posts
My best guess is that it is a 1981 and produced in the Worksop England plant. Raleigh began the longer serial numbers with the 2 letter prefix in 1973 from what I've read. The format on your bike matches that change. So it is no older than 1973, however the first number after the two letters is a "1" and it can't be 1971 because that serial number format wasn't in use yet. So that leaves 1981. The first number is the year of manufacture according to this and other resources I've read.
https://raleigh-sb4059.com/2018/08/3...ucts-division/
There is a lot of speculation about what the rest of the numbers mean. The article indicates there is no 100% reliable way to determine their exact meaning. There are "best guesses" but apparently they are only guesses.
We really need to see the bike before offering much in the way of value. The Professional was their top-of-the line for the average consumer. They did manufacture special frames for racing teams in a different unit, but I doubt this one is an example.
https://raleigh-sb4059.com/2018/08/3...ucts-division/
There is a lot of speculation about what the rest of the numbers mean. The article indicates there is no 100% reliable way to determine their exact meaning. There are "best guesses" but apparently they are only guesses.
We really need to see the bike before offering much in the way of value. The Professional was their top-of-the line for the average consumer. They did manufacture special frames for racing teams in a different unit, but I doubt this one is an example.
Likes For Mackers:
#4
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,524
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
And the fork is? Without original fork, I would cut value in half.
__________________
Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,504
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 586 Post(s)
Liked 612 Times
in
447 Posts
Found a thread about a similar bike. It shows what style fork came on the frameset. According to the thread this may have been a bike sold in Europe and not the U.S. It certainly isn't in the U.S. catalog.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...fessional.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...fessional.html
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
The graphics on this look a lot like the graphics on a 1980 Raleigh Record Ace I picked up recently. It too was sold in Europe and not the US.
Likes For bikemig:
#9
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Upper third of the central USA
Posts: 492
Bikes: N+1
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 229 Post(s)
Liked 651 Times
in
319 Posts
Where are you? That will likely make some difference in value. I would expect a frame similar to this (condition issues, some rust, poor paint) without fork in the USA in a major metro area or on eBay to sell for about $75-$150. With fork perhaps as much as $250. Your local market may be and/or is likely different. Are you buying or selling? What happened to the fork? If buying I'd want to check the frame VERY carefully for any signs of crash damage -- no fork raises questions.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,504
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 586 Post(s)
Liked 612 Times
in
447 Posts
As it sits it is incomplete. Finding a matching fork is possible but could be a lengthy search and will likely be a different color. That would pretty much eliminate any ideas of leaving the patina of the frame I would think. I guess you could paint the fork and hope it matches.
So what I'm saying is unless you were to get really lucky it is going to be more work.
As far as value, the way I would approach it is to first determine what you want to do with it. Were you looking to repaint it anyway? Then the fork issue is more amenable. Or were you going to leave the original paint? If so, what about the top tube? That looks pretty bad compared to the rest. I guess there was considerable rust there and someone painted it. That's what it looks like anyways.
On the plus side, you don't see many of them and it was a quality build. I love window lugs so there's that.
At the end of the day what really matters is what it is worth to you and only you know the vision you have for it, so you will need to assess that.
Personally, if I were going for a repaint I probably wouldn't offer much more than $100.00 for the frame. If it had the fork, then I might go higher, but still, not much more. A quality repaint, to put it back the way it is, with pinstriping, decals, etc, will be expensive.
Sorry I couldn't be more help, but good luck whatever you decide.
So what I'm saying is unless you were to get really lucky it is going to be more work.
As far as value, the way I would approach it is to first determine what you want to do with it. Were you looking to repaint it anyway? Then the fork issue is more amenable. Or were you going to leave the original paint? If so, what about the top tube? That looks pretty bad compared to the rest. I guess there was considerable rust there and someone painted it. That's what it looks like anyways.
On the plus side, you don't see many of them and it was a quality build. I love window lugs so there's that.
At the end of the day what really matters is what it is worth to you and only you know the vision you have for it, so you will need to assess that.
Personally, if I were going for a repaint I probably wouldn't offer much more than $100.00 for the frame. If it had the fork, then I might go higher, but still, not much more. A quality repaint, to put it back the way it is, with pinstriping, decals, etc, will be expensive.
Sorry I couldn't be more help, but good luck whatever you decide.
Likes For TugaDude:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,448
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 874 Post(s)
Liked 2,287 Times
in
1,278 Posts
I know it isn’t apples to apples , but for a baseline, I bought a 1978 Raleigh Pro that needs a paint job. Last year I saw an ad for it on CL for $150 and it was frame, fork with Campagnolo headset, and BB. I inspected the frame and it was in good shape except of course for the paint. I bought it and am still in the build process . I will ride it for a while and if I like it , will have it repainted.
As purchased 1978 Raleigh Professional
As purchased 1978 Raleigh Professional
Likes For Kabuki12:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,504
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 586 Post(s)
Liked 612 Times
in
447 Posts
I know it isn’t apples to apples , but for a baseline, I bought a 1978 Raleigh Pro that needs a paint job. Last year I saw an ad for it on CL for $150 and it was frame, fork with Campagnolo headset, and BB. I inspected the frame and it was in good shape except of course for the paint. I bought it and am still in the build process . I will ride it for a while and if I like it , will have it repainted.
As purchased 1978 Raleigh Professional
As purchased 1978 Raleigh Professional
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,448
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 874 Post(s)
Liked 2,287 Times
in
1,278 Posts
^^^ Yea, it kind of reminds me of my Electric Blue Mini Cooper I had years ago!
#14
Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
25 years ago, I found one of these for sale with full Campy Record for $75. The frame was dirty, but nice, and way too big for me, I stripped it down cleaned up the frame and components, sold the frame for $50, and then used the Campy to build up a nice $120 used Serotta frame (too small for me) that I sold for around $400.