[CR]Re: Vintage 1958 French Type Dauphine Fobur 10-Speed Bike on Ebay

(Example: Production Builders:Pogliaghi)

Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 13:44:27 -0400 (EDT)
From: <wheelman@nac.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Vintage 1958 French Type Dauphine Fobur 10-Speed Bike on Ebay

Okay, I hate to do this but have to go against my fellow NJ members. I stand alone here and my reputation is at stake but it was not worth much anyway.

The "Dauphine" bike here in NJ that is on ebay does not look as tantelizing to me as it does to my two collegues. They have had the advantage of seeing it in person and although I am close enough to do the same I think I see all I want to see from the photos on the site. I personally do not think it will hit reserve. The lugwork is pretty much untouched by a file. Just brazed on and then off to the paint shop. Really pretty "clunky" for my taste. Now combine that with the wrong freewheel, seat, pedals, low end Mafac levers, low end AVA stem, clamp on Huret shifter and derailleur for the front only that sits just below the braze ons for the real thing. Low end Maxi Car hubs and rims that I cannot make out but 700c none the less. Now I did not even know about the damaged rear stay but that is certainly not a plus. On the positive side, the Cyclo rear derailleur and shifter and the Stronglight crank and funky rings are interesting. I just don't think they are interesting enough to cover the reserve. I have been wrong before but really think this is a mid range bike of the day at best. Certainly nothing that I would covet at this point in my collecting career.

Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ