Prestige? USA?
09-06-23, 10:19 AM
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Prestige? USA?
Is this an English Raleigh sent to be marketed in the USA? I am wondering why it says USA on it. Interestingly, the fork blades are missing the vertical RALEIGH decals. I haven't seen the head-badge, but it looks like one of the rather thick, plastic ones from the mid-late '80's that Raleigh USA used. The tubing is 531c and the drops are Campy. This does not appear to be U.S.-made. Is it? Owner says it is a Prestige.
Violet with Red does not look as heinous as Red and Black.
Violet with Red does not look as heinous as Red and Black.
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09-06-23, 10:32 AM
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Huffman had some made in Japan Raleigh of America products manufactured which have Reynolds 531 frame tubing
have had an example done with 531 plain gauge snoozing in me racks for about forty yar
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Huffman had some made in Japan Raleigh of America products manufactured which have Reynolds 531 frame tubing
have had an example done with 531 plain gauge snoozing in me racks for about forty yar
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09-06-23, 10:41 AM
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09-06-23, 10:48 AM
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Bikes are okay, I guess.
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I built a Trek 520 for my then-girlfriend many years ago and had some brazing and paint done by Marinoni. She chose purple with red panels and it turned out looking pretty good with red cable housing. Had her Chiorda MTB done at the same time and she chose pink with turquoise panels. Also not bad.
09-06-23, 10:53 AM
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Ask the seller for the serial number. Some of the better 531 frames were made in England for Raleigh USA. There may be a decal on the seat tube saying the same.
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09-06-23, 10:53 AM
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Check out the following links:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...eigh-531c.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...1c-racing.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ame-forks.html
Below is a 1987 catalog, yours is either from a different year or has custom paint. Regardless, It's a 'good bike', buy it if the price is right.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...eigh-531c.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...1c-racing.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ame-forks.html
Below is a 1987 catalog, yours is either from a different year or has custom paint. Regardless, It's a 'good bike', buy it if the price is right.
Last edited by Piff; 09-06-23 at 10:57 AM.
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09-06-23, 11:11 AM
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Looks like a 1986 Prestige. The Headbadge should have the catalog.
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72+76 Super Course, 74 P-10+ 79 Tandem Paramounts, 84 Raleigh Alyeska, 84 Voyageur SP, 85 Miyata Sport 10 mixte and a queue
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09-06-23, 03:41 PM
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Yes, it is of the Japanese Raleigh era, and the font on the down-tube is reminiscent of that. The Campy dropouts be-fuddled me, though.
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09-06-23, 03:43 PM
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Thanks. I did just that, and asked to see the marquis on the front. The frame is, in-fact, in England. It looks top-flite, it fits, and is reasonably-priced.
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"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game!"
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09-06-23, 03:54 PM
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Kurt has the U.S.1986 catalogue, and the bike with this frame is listed, but it does not say where it was built. I know that in 1986, Raleigh U.S.A. was heavily-invested in their Technium line, and don't think that they were building brazed-lugged steel in Kent, WA. Raleigh in England had the identical bike in the same scheme (without U.S.A., of course), and RALEIGH decals on the fork blade fronts.
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09-06-23, 04:11 PM
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The 86 USA line ditched the chrome that made the 84 and 85 models so distinctive. With the exception of Grand Prix, I find the 86 models pretty rare to come by. 86 also introduced Reynolds tubing over the Raleigh-branded mystery tubing. The 86 USA catalog does specifically state the Prestige is handcrafted in England. I personally love the Crimson with Burgundy trim even though these two colors really dont work together at all. There is an 86 Super Course for sale locally that sports an interesting combo of Iris and Boysenberry. Keeping an eye on that one.
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09-07-23, 07:51 AM
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I think they should have just done the whole bike in the "Burgundy". The seller is going to get back to me in a few days on the serial number and a photo of the head-badge. Not sure what a "USA" Raleigh is doing in England. Kind of interesting. I'll have to ask him about that.
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09-08-23, 01:24 PM
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wb6000387. I had not before seen this type of plastic Raleigh Nottingham badge:
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"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game!"
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