From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos(AT)sbcglobal.net>
"Someone else has said offlist that about 1977, the Grand Sport was drastically downgraded to gaspipe tubing ala Grand Prix. Mine carries correct and evidently original 531 DB decals. So, unless the Raleigh catalogs are incorrect, which they sometimes were, the evidence is mounting that the SunTour stuff is not original. "
I bought a Gran Sport in 1976, and rode it wherever I traveled for 14 years! It brought me many wonderful memories, but that might be a result of replacing the Simplex derailleurs with SunTour Cyclone immediately after buying it.
Actually, many of the original parts were quickly replace with higher quality parts that I already owned. The Stronglight 93 cranks appealed to me quite a bit, so they stayed, albeit after getting rid of that chainguard that was fitted like a triple chainring.
My advice would be to not worry about the original parts too much. Most weren't that memorable anyway. Install some good parts that date from that era, and enjoy the bike. The big draw for me was the 531 frame, and the good value. And like a lot of Raleighs of that era, the paint scheme was pretty good too. Plus, the Lagoon Blue is the trademark color of Carlton, so it carries some of the Carlton history with it.
regards,
Steve Kurt
Peoria, IL