Fred,
A good, but complex question, because it depends on which era. In the early 1970's my Grand Jubilee had 531 butted main tubes (no idea what the other tubes were) with Nervex lugs, beautiful cherry red and black contrast paint scheme with gold highlighting around the lugs. It was fitted out with a melange of French components: Stronglight 49 crank, Weinmann 999 brakes (OK, they were Swiss), Huret Jubilee derailleurs, Normandy hubs laced to Weinmann rims, Pivo bar and stem. I sold it in a moment of stupidity, and would love to have it back. The Grand Record of the same era had full 531 tubes and forks with Campagnolo Nuovo Record components, other than a TA crankset and Weinmann centerpull brakes. I really wanted one, but couldn't afford it.
Fast forward to 1982 and the Grand Jubilee was sold as a touring bike, with Vitus 172 butted tubeset, now with a Nervar crank, Mafac brakes, Simplex SX610 long cage derailleurs, SR pedals and stem, high flange Normandy hubs laced to Rigida rims. The Grand Record also had a Vitus 172 butted frameset, Nervar crank, Weinmann sidepull brakes, Simplex SX610 short cage derailleurs, Maillard pedals and hubs, and Belleri stem and bars. By the 1984 catalog the Grand Record had disappeared, and the Grand Jubilee was a low end racing model with a Columbus Crome-Moly frame, Nervar crankset, Weinmann 506 brakes, Campagnolo 980 derailleurs, Maillard pedals and hubs. Motobecane was nearly on its last gasp, Peugeot was being sold to the Canadians, and Gitane had one last effort in the US due to Greg Lemond's TdF success, but the French bicycle industry had squandered its dominance and succumbed to failure in just over a decade.
Not long ago, several of the listmembers were lamenting the shortage of components in the catalogs, with a predominance of clothing. Back when we had a choice of Simplex, Huret, Campagnolo, Gipiemme, Ofmega, Galli, Miche, Weinmann, Mafac, Stronglight, CLB, Suntour, and a variety of small suppliers, there was simply more to choose from. Now we have a choice of Shimano or Campagnolo, and not all the catalogs even bother to carry Campagnolo. No wonder they sell so many shirts and shorts. Sic transit gloriam mundi.
Galen Poole
Jackson, MS
> Hey gang,
> This is probably a dumb question, but what was the relationship between
> the Motobecane Grand Record and the Grand Jubile? What is the difference?
> Fred Durrette
> Summerville, SC