Yeah, it's early 70s. I have one just like it. Not the worst workmanship you'll find on a full 531 DB frame but close to it. I like the Nervex fork crown a lot. Note the rear dropout can be modified to fit a Campy or other compatible derailleur, but as it sits it'll take Simplex only.
Mark Bulgier
Seattle, Wa USA
> -----Original Message-----
> From: KCTOMMY [mailto:KCTOMMY@email.msn.com]
> Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 1:04 PM
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]Mystery Gitane
>
>
> Say, it's a pretty nice frame on eBay that I know nothing
> about! Time to
> put the CR Suerte on the job. Anyone with info on the Gitane Service
> Course? The only thing I deduce from the picture are all
> Reynolds 531 db,
> smooth point lugs, probably had centerpulls originally.
>
> Questions I'd like to answer would be: probable year of
> manufacture (seller
> says 70's), was the frame used by pros, and if so who
> (assuming Masi didn't
> build the pro team bikes:>), likely original componentry, probable BB
> threading, and any riding impressions of these frames. The
> only thing I can
> tell is that it doesn't look like Greg Lemond's Gitane.
> Thanks for the
> help, Inspector.
>
> The URL is one of those stupendous tutorial ones that doesn't
> fit in emails,
> but item number is Item #1127131624.
>
> Tom Adams in chilly Kansas City