For those of you who felt disappointed at not winning last week's world-price-beating auction for the light blue Helyett Speciale....here's another and possibly better amchine...or at least it has that potential.
The bike is currently on French eBay with something a little over two days to run.
*ITEM No 280410458517*
The seller who is the grandson of the original owner, a cycle shop in Orleans (not very far from my place in Sancerre...and the bike IS my size!!!), says that the bike has NEVER been ridden, but simply put in a store when his grandad sold up the business in the late 50s.
The bike is very traditional Helyett flam green ..immaculate in every respect..possibly late 50s. Now for the bad news..his grandfather updated the machine from time to time...!!!
The Mafac brakes, Stronglight 49D, Belleri bars and stem, Ideale saddle are all brand-spanking new...but the original Simplex gears (possibly even JUY 543) have been replaced with a Huret Jubilee set. The wheels are now Maillard 700 L/F on Super Champion rims (all new).
The frame has the usual specially cut Nervex lugs and that delightful twin-plate (?) fork crown. The paintwork, transfers and chrome-work are all immaculate
The current bid stands at $1525 dollars..but has not reached the reserve. The seller will ship worldwide and quotes 300 dollars by UPS to the States.
The non-original parts on this bike must be worth quite a lot of money...the original unused Ideal saddle must be worth a bit too.
It is unlikely that there is another Helyett in the world as fine as this one...just as though it's fresh out of the box.
Happy bidding
Norris Lockley, Settle UK..where I have four of these models..all too big for me..but all fully original..but not one with that fork crown!