Yesterday, George "Syke" Paczolt wrote (and I've got some good info to a
dd):
>...A session on retroraleighs.com has my head spinning.
>Prior to stripping the frame, the bike was red and white tagged as a >G
ran(d? - can't remember which spelling) Sport on the top tube just >behi
nd the headset. The frame is obviously plain steel tubing, has >the orig
inal fork with chrome tips, no chrome on the rear, steel >cottered crank
, and has the original front wheel - steel rim, no >quick release. Brak
es appear to be original (at least they were a >complete set) and are GB
centerpulls, no cheater secondary brake >levers. GB bars and stem. For
get the derailleurs, there no >combination that matches these (Sun Tour
front, Campy Gran Sport >rear) in the catalog.
>I'd originally figured it was late 70s/early 80s and a renaming of >the
Grand Prix - something that came out shortly after I'd dropped >out of
the business. That thinking was totally wrong. A steel >cottered crank
was done after the 76 model year.... Then I check some >posted back cat
alogs and am reminded that the Gran Sport was the >Reynolds 531/cheaper
components model.
>Anyone got any guesses what this thing was originally? It's >definitel
y a real Raleigh, as I still have the headstock badge >sitting on the wo
rkbench.
>George R. "Syke" Paczolt
>Montpelier, VA
Dear Syke and interested parties,
I think I've got this ID pegged with an ad (full page, though it's a sma ll format magazine) from the inside cover of the September 1962 CTC Gaze tte (Cyclists' Touring Club). Within the ad, there's a perfectly front-o n view (technical drawing rather than photo, I believe, but it's hard to tell) of the Raleigh Gran Sport, and the following list of specificatio ns:
"* Cutaway lugs, simple and elegant * Fork crown, forged and machined * wrap-over seat stays * Oval-to-round fork blades and chainstays * Styled front and rear fork ends * Brazed-on fittings * Chromium plated front f ork ends * New design chain-wheel and beautifully machined cranks * Low bottom bracket, height 10 3/4" * Domed nuts * 72 degree parallel angles * Bluemel Classique guards * Campag pump clips * Campag gear with Raleig h disc protector * Campag change levers and stop * G.B. alloy Maes patte rn bend * G.B. alloy stem * G.B. 'Coureur 66' centre pull brakes, quick release * Brooks' B15 saddle, perforated * Racelite hubs, etc, etc."
I've reproduced the copy above as exactly as possible.
Pertinent stuff related to what Syke wrote: domed nuts refers to the hub s (Racelite were by the BH (British Hub) Co., and would likely be large flange with circular perforations 8mm in diameter (I have some right her e on a '58 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix, paired with Dunlop 'Special Lighwe ight' steel rims). You've got the Campagnolo Gran Sport rear derailleur, the chrome tips, the GB brakes, the GB bars and stem--all mentioned in the ad copy above. What about the wrapover stays? Botton-bracket height? Angles? Have we got a match?
Looks as if your machine reaches back much farther in time than you'd su rmised. Also seems you have a good start on a restoration if you desire, with a good 70 percent or so of the original equipment being present.
Cost as a ten speed (you could have spec'd 5-spd as well) would have bee n Sterling 30.19.3 (remember, as the Pretty Things put it in song and so ng title in '65, "L.s.d"--pounds, shillings, pence--and that *was* what they meant, that year)--and "thanks to Raleigh Easy Terms" you could hav e spread that via their hire purchase plan over 9, 12 or 18 months. "You r Raleigh dealer will be pleased to give you full details"--and--'When a nswering advertisements, PLEASE MENTION "THE CTC GAZETTE" September 1962 '.
Send me your address some time and I'll mail you a photocopy of the ad i f you like. Also try comparing your frame number with the schemes archiv ed on Sheldon's site or elsewhere, and see if your Raleigh doesn't match up with the early-to-mid-'Sixties. I feel confident this is what you've got. Congratulations on a pretty nice bike--and Campagnolo components a t any level don't seem to have been an everyday affair in England at the time (nor in the States). My '58 Lenton Grand Prix (Reg Harris Road Mod el) is made of 531, but Cyclo-equipped, of course. Your 'Campag'-equippe d model probably represented a nice step up--or step in--to the original owner and can be just as enjoyable now.
Note to self: must get out and ride, it's beautiful outside! I was bumme d out to have to miss a ride with John Pergolizzi & Co. a weekend or two ago. Wanted to see the '46 Camille-Daudon, definitely! Hope there'll be another chance.
Tom Ward
New York City