From: Starstryke25@netscape.net (Bryon Wright)
"I have a 1974 Raleigh Gran Sport and I've accumulated all data except
for it's worth. It has 100% original equipment except for the bar tape
and the tires.
It is very similar to the 1976 model picture at
http://www.retroraleighs.com/
Any help is greatly appreciated."
The March 1976 price for a Gran Sport was $300 (a nice, round number, eh?). The current price depends on the usual factors of supply and demand. Remarkably, one of my LBS's unboxed a NOS Gran Sport last winter. Looked like a '73 or '74, perhaps. It was white with the Lagoon Blue panels. A lovely bike, but it was too small for me (fortunately!). I think it had a price of a few hundred dollars or so.
As Don Gillies, the components left something to be desired. Even back in the mid 70's, when I bought a Gran Sport, I sold all the parts back to the shop except for the Stronglight crankset and Weinmann brakes. In retrospect, I shoulda kept the B.17 saddle and bars and stem too. When equipped with Sun Tour derailleurs, Shimano 600 hubs, Super Champion rims, SR bar & stem & seatpost, and a Brooks Pro saddle, it was a great bike! I rode it exclusively for 14 years before deciding to replace it. It was replaced with a custom frame, whose dimensions were a development of the Gran Sport's dimensions, and my second and most recent custom frame were a development of the first, meaning that it also carries the heritage of the Gran Sport. In addition to having dimensions derived from the Gran Sport, the new frame has a paint job with the same arrangement of contrasting color panels as the Gran Sport. People often assume that it is a well preserved bike from the 70's. :-)
Steve "a sucker for Raleigh's marketing" Kurt Peoria, IL