I spotted a funky looking Raleigh at a local bike shop but I'm unable to identify the model. It caught my eye because of the 531 decals on the fork. I assume that a 531 fork means a 531 frame but there is no detectable trace of a seat tube decal. The frame is black with Raleigh down tube and chainstay decals. The seat tube has a Carlton decal, gold stripes, and a ghost of triangular decal at the botton end. The headbadge is the usual Raleigh heron. The chainstays are the rapid taper variety and there is a bazed on cable hangar for the rear cp brake. The lugs are fancy but not heavily filed.
The S/N is G7299 with the G laying on it's side not vertical like the numerals. If I'm reading this correctly it should be a '72. However the '72 catalog doesn't show any black 531 bikes. When I start looking at the details it gets more confusing. The fork has a sloping crown like the pro but the dropouts are Huret with eyelets. The seat post is 28.6 or 28.8 which makes me wonder about the frame tubing.
Dearailleurs and levers are Huret, crank is TA 3 pin, and brakes are Weinman 999.
What am I looking at? Is this a legitimate model or sombody's Frankenbike?
Norm Lafleur
Ashfield, Ma.
USA