Actually, I have a late 70's Team Champion in metalic blue. And I have an early 70's LeChampion in metallic silver with gold lug lining. This was a very common paint scheme on LeChampion at the time. My favorite of my LeChampions, though, is a rather strange one in the black, gold and red scheme usually associated with Grand Record. The Le Champion in these colors was once reviewed by Bicycling! In The Day, the test bike being mostly Huret equipped IIRC. My example is even more unusual in that it has very large brake clearances and geometry more sports/touring than racing. Yet the original decals, the 531 DB throughout and the use of chrome all support this as a LeChampion. This bike was originally sold in Canada, so maybe they had different model specs there.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX
Mark Ritz <ritzmon@sbcglobal.net> wrote: John Redmond wrote:
I hear that there are a few Moto experts here. I would really like help in choosing the color my frame will (soon) be. I'm not fond of orange.
Well John, if it's a Team Champion, that's the only color that I have ever seen. But, if it's a Le Champion, I've seen them in Turquoise w/white lugs (c. '71), all Turqoise ('72), all Lilac ('75). I can't remember the other years. I always thought the Lilac was pretty elegant with Motobecane's understated graphics.
Cheers, Mark (wouldn't call me an expert) Ritz Arcata, CA http://www.kinetic-koffee.com Hoping to see some CR folks at Veloswap on Saturday (booth 246)