[CR]Gitane "Professional Super Corsa"

(Example: Framebuilders:Alberto Masi)

Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 12:38:59 -0500
From: "Martin O. Walsh" <mowalsh@erols.com>
To: "Roy H. Drinkwater" <roydrink@mac.com>
Cc: classic list <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <143.a2b6656.29ad7c56@cs.com> <a05100373b8a1d625af23@[192.168.1.1]>
Subject: [CR]Gitane "Professional Super Corsa"

Hi Roy and CR List, The top Gitane from sometime in the 60's - early 70's was/is called "PROFESSIONAL SUPER CORSA". Mel Pinto Imports (M.P.I. of Falls Church,Va.) was the U.S. Importer during the bike boom years for Gitane. A full Campagnola equipped PROFESSIONAL SUPER CORSA was definitely available by 1970(with French threads and optional Campy Record sidepull brakeset).Dropouts were also Campagnola on the Reynolds 531 frameset with Reynolds decal in French. Brooks Professional leather saddle with Campagnola seatpin, and Pivo bars and stem.The Gitane "Professional" frame has a brazed fitting for center-pull brakes on the rear seat stays since the side pull brakes were only an OPTION. The foil decal that says PROFESSIONAL SUPER CORSA is often missing or removed from many Gitanes of this time frame. The foil decal only measures 1/4'' X 3 1/2" which says PROFESSIONAL SUPER CORSA. I would love to get a copy of a Gitane catalog late 60's - early 70's. Yours truly, Martin Walsh in Vienna,Va. USA

"Roy H. Drinkwater" wrote:
> >I had several Gitane Tour de France bikes. They all came equiped with 531
> >frames, Stronglight, Mafac and Simplex components--no Campy. There was
> >another, more expensive, model in their product line ( I don't recall it's
> >name) that had Campy components.
>
> John Quigley told me that it was the "Super Corsa" model that
> had the Campagnolo parts.
>
> Roy wanted one in '72" Drinkwater
> Lititz, PA