In addition to Marten's comments: A-frame had long dropouts/fender eyelets and a c.10 mm longer wheelbase. From what i can see with the naked eye, geometry was in essence the same. To make it more complicated, i have seen A-frame's with short dropouts ... I believe this is because customers could always order what they wanted from the factory. Until the late 70s there only was a choice of A-frame and AA-frame, then (78? 79?) came the 753-frame.
In the 1980 brochure the models were: A-frame AB-frame AA-frame 531-SL frame 753-frame
1982: A-frame AB-frame AA-frame AA special-frame 753-frame
1984: A-frame AB-frame AA-frame AA special-frame AA Super-frame (ultra short chainstays, dented seattube, gearleverbosses on top of dt) 753-frame
Diversification!
Freek Faro Rotterdam Netherlands
2008/9/17 M-gineering <info@m-gineering.nl>
> Hugh Thornton wrote:
>
>> With reference to these Gazelle Champion Mondial frames, does anybody know
>> the difference between an "AA - Special Frame" and an "AB - Frame" like the
>> one on offer here. They seem to be all the same spec with 531c tubin
>> g. Was it a difference in quality or in geometry? The amount of
>> chrome doesn't seem to be dependent on which it is and I can't imagine
>> tha
>> t Gazelle would offer frames in different qualities - most manufacturers
>> wa
>> nt all their products to be considered top quality. I have seen the A
>> A frames advertised as "race" frames on ebay, which makes me think it
>> might
>> be geometry that is different, but does anybody know for sure?
>> Hugh Thornton
>> Cheshire, England
>>
>
> It varies a bit from year to year, but typically:
> A-frame: the standard frame, 531 tubing, long Campa dropouts, BCM lugs and
> Super Vitus crown. 120mm wide
> AA: short Campa dropouts, eyelets on toptube, Roto bracket, sloping crown.
> 126mm wide! Possibly shorter chainstays but geometry was not discussed in
> those days ;) We all knew a AA was 'better' but no clue as to why ;)
> AB frame: short campa dropouts BCM sloping crown
> AA special: AB with brakecable thru toptube, FD braze on, Cinelli bracket
> AA super: extra short with vertical dropouts and dented seattube
>
> chrome and two tone paint was always extra. There were also track, stayer,
> cross and touring versions
>
> Some years had Columbus tubing options and there was also a 753
>
>
> --
> mvg
>
> Marten Gerritsen
> Kiel Windeweer
> Netherlands
> _______________________________________________
> Classicrendezvous mailing list
> Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> http://www.bikelist.org/