Mid-50s Automoto Champion du Monde–59ish cm–$500 OBO
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Mid-50s Automoto Champion du Monde–59ish cm–$500 OBO
I'm continuing to thin the herd. Next up is an Auotomo Champion du Monde from the mid-50s (I think most likely 1955, based on the serial number). The seat tube is about 59-60cm center-to-top. The top tube is about 53cm center-to-center. I can't explain the extremely short top tube other than that I heard that's how the French thought race bikes should be proportioned in that era. (It also has pretty extreme seat tube and head tube angles. I can measure them if you're interested, but >74º) The short top tube makes the long stem understandable (and useful).
It came to me looking like this:
It now looks like this:
More pictures are here. If there's something I've missed or that you want in more detail, let me know. Happy to take more pix.
Though it is still very much a patina pony (my made up term), it took a fair amount of work to go from A to B. The two main efforts were:
Included with the sale are a correct Automoto head badge (needs a bit of work), two rolls of black Newbaum's cloth tape and two three-speed TdF derailleurs (one of which might be incomplete, can't recall). I can also throw in a couple other Simplex skewers, but they might be worn out and only good for parts.
I'm asking $500 OBO plus actual shipping costs.
It came to me looking like this:
It now looks like this:
More pictures are here. If there's something I've missed or that you want in more detail, let me know. Happy to take more pix.
Though it is still very much a patina pony (my made up term), it took a fair amount of work to go from A to B. The two main efforts were:
- getting rid of as much rattle can black spray paint as possible without doing too much further damage to the remnants of the original paint
- sourcings parts which, while mostly not super-correct for the bike, at least look the part.
- Simplex Tour de France five-speed rear derailleur and matching frame-mounted shift lever
- Simplex Competition lever-operated front derailleur
- Stronglight steel cottered crank (model 52?, 55? w/ 50/47 rings)
- Lyotard pedals
- MAFAC Dural Forge brakes
- FB hubs laced to Fiamme red label tubular rims ("look the part"), Regina freewheel and mismatched Simplex skewers
- Ideale 90 saddle (w/Brooks clamp)
Included with the sale are a correct Automoto head badge (needs a bit of work), two rolls of black Newbaum's cloth tape and two three-speed TdF derailleurs (one of which might be incomplete, can't recall). I can also throw in a couple other Simplex skewers, but they might be worn out and only good for parts.
I'm asking $500 OBO plus actual shipping costs.
Last edited by smontanaro; 05-26-24 at 02:22 PM. Reason: got the small ring size wrong
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