I now have a 1974 raleigh pro. The Serial Number is "A 6963", and it lays in the direction of travel of the bike (unlike my other 1974 raleighs, which go the width of the shell, perpendicular to travel direction.)
Checking the retroraleighs site, this would suggest a 1966 bike. However, it has date-coded 1974 derailleur, and 1973 crank, and i haven't looked inside the hubs. It has no signs of braze-ons for centerpulls, or even removed braze-ons. It uses a campy downtube cable guide and has no "C C" cut-out in the B.B. shell. It has the distinctive victor seatstays so i know its a raleigh pro. no head badge, and the holes are filled in. Otherwise, i'd check it against old and new head badge geometries.
The owner swears that his dad purchased it in 1974, it was blue mink/silver in color before the repaint which implies a mid 1970's bike.
Is there something wrong with the date-coding on the retro raleighs catalogue ? Is it possible that the bottom bracket shell was replaced by another raleigh bottom bracket shell ??? can anyone else with a similar model-year pro (or 1966/67 model) tell me their serial number and B.B. braze-ons ?? Thanx.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA