I bought mine used also, so the build date is not locked in. Notice the alloy fenders, I'm pretty sure made by Weinmann and really nice. The rims were Weinmann for sure, also nice..
Jim Merz Big Sur CA
On Sun, Jun 13, 2010 at 6:59 PM, Harvey Sachs <hmsachs@verizon.net> wrote:
> Wow, Jim!
> I have the clone (except for cranks) of that bike, and showed it at Cirque
> this year! I bought mine in 62, used, just after graduating from high
> school. It was stolen a year later.
>
> Time fuzzes all, and I thought the transition from JC Higgins to Ted
> williams was a couple of years earlier, so thanks for helping me with that,
> too. Yup, gran sport rear and the old plunger front.
>
> regards,
> harvey
>
> oroboyz@aol.com wrote:
>
>
>>
>>
>> http://picasaweb.google.com/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Jim, that's not such a bad bike at all for a youngster!
>> Heck, you were into that Randonneur-thang early!
>>
>> Dale Brown
>> Greensboro, North Carolina USA
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Jim Merz <jameshmerz@gmail.com>
>> To: hsachs@alumni.rice.edu
>> Cc: seatown7@aol.com; classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>> Sent: Sun, Jun 13, 2010 9:35 pm
>> Subject: Re: [CR] Bill Koonce's plated Raleigh Gran Prix...
>>
>> You reminded my of my first "10 speed", 1963 J C Higgins. I finished high
>>
>>
>> school in 1964 and took the Puch made bike on a ill fated ride across the
>>
>>
>> USA. Made it to Denver and ran out of money. Came home to be drafted into
>>
>>
>> the Army. Not a bad bike for $50. The bike, and a shot of me on the ride.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> http://picasaweb.google.com/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Jim Merz
>>
>>
>> Big Sur CA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Jun 13, 2010 at 6:08 PM, Harvey Sachs <hmsachs@verizon.net<mailto:
>> hmsachs@verizon.net>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
>> Bill-
>>>
>>
>>
>> If what you have is the Gran Prix that slotted between the Record and the
>>>
>>
>>
>> SuperCourse way back when (60s and 70s), then you have an interesting
>>>
>>
>>
>> novelty and curiosity, in my opinion. As I recall that Gran Prix, it was
>>>
>>
>>
>> pretty heavy (seamed steel tubing) with pretty low-end parts. So, if it
>>> were
>>>
>>
>>
>> mine I might hang it on a wall as a conversation-starter.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
>> In some respects it reminds me of the novelty bikes in my fleet,
>>>
>>
>>
>> particularly the '59 JC Higgins and almost identical 60s Sears Ted
>>> Williams
>>>
>>
>>
>> Sport Racing. decent but not exceptional seamed tubing, but some nice
>>>
>>
>>
>> components for the day: Campy Gran Sport and Record derailleurs,
>>>
>>
>>
>> respectively, with excellent Weinmann components. If one of them hadn't
>>> been
>>>
>>
>>
>> my first 10-speed, I'm sure I wouldn't keep either of them. For me, it's
>>>
>>
>>
>> about the nostalgia value.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
>> In this sense, you're totally free to entertain yourself with this 'un.
>>> As
>>>
>>
>>
>> with all the others, really. Have fun with it, and ignore this message if
>>>
>>
>>
>> you have a different Gran Prix, about which I am ignoramabus.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
>> harvey sachs
>>>
>>
>>
>> mcLean va
>>>
>>
>>
>> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>>>
>>
>>
>> Bill Koonce wrote:
>>>
>>
>>
>> My nickel or chrome plated frame was identified as a Raleigh Grand Prix
>>>
>>
>>
>> thanks to Don Gilles. The Bocama lugs are spot on as is the fork rake,
>>> frame
>>>
>>
>>
>> geometry and wrap around seat lug.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
>> Still, the lack of any serial number that means anything to anyone is
>>>
>>
>>
>> puzzling. I'm still curious about the bike being all plated because the
>>>
>>
>>
>> Grand Prix was never offered to the public in that finish.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
>> And now the big question? What to do with it? Should I re-plate it back
>>> to
>>>
>>
>>
>> the original finish? Keep the lugs chrome and paint the tubes? Leave it
>>> "as
>>>
>>
>>
>> is" and not bother because the Grand Prix's aren't that special? Dip it
>>>
>>
>>
>> first to get rid of any rust and then frame save it?
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
>> Those with experience with Seattle restoration sources...please chime in!
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>
>>
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>>>
>>
>>
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>>>
>>
>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
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>>
>>
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>>
>>
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