Re: [CR] Mystery-Year Raleigh Gransport

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2004)

Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 00:04:02 -0700
In-Reply-To: <20100511062415.6257019D8D@ug6.ece.ubc.ca>
Thread-Topic: [CR] Mystery-Year Raleigh Gransport
thread-index: Acrw0pipudmNm4AqQHe2/h00aav5UQAA3jeA
References: <20100511062415.6257019D8D@ug6.ece.ubc.ca>
From: "Mark Bulgier" <Mark@bulgier.net>
To: "donald gillies" <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] Mystery-Year Raleigh Gransport


Don Gillies wrote:
> http://ebay.com/<blah>
>
> Can someone with shop experience speculate on the year? I'll start
> it off by estimating 1970, because I have an all-original Raleigh
> international with the 1970 'E' serial number, same reynolds 531
> decal, same headbadge.

Looks like you nailed the year if this catalog (scan given to me by Ray Chong, possibly from Larry Osborn originally) really is from 1970: http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Retro-Raleighs/70-Catalog.pdf

It matches the ebay bike in just about every detail. The bike pictured in the catalog is a different color but they mention it also comes in chrome with black and gold trim.

One big difference is the catalog calls it a "Gran Sport", but this ebay bike's toptube decal clearly says "Grand Sports". The catalog photo isn't near good enough to see if the bike's name matches what the catalog title says.

Also the ebay bike has the extra-long Huret downtube shift levers, like the Super Course. Catalog shows the normal-length shifters.

That's the US catalog, and offerings in the UK and elsewhere were often different.

Mark Bulgier
Seattle, WA USA