Mark, et al,
I ran across this bike last Saturday at Witt's Bicycle Shop in Hayward, CA. Clarence Witt and his wife are retiring. They're really nice folks, too bad that I just met them now.
Clarence told me that he took the Gitane Super Corsa out of the box new in 1971 and gave to a fellow to decorate. When I first saw the Craigslist photos the bike looked like a lot of other Berkeley/San Francisco bikes that were painted to deter theft.
The paint job is very well done. The painter masked the Reynolds 531 decals (replacements were unavailable at the time). It looks like it's hardly ever been ridden.
Clarence had several other new bikes for sale with frames that he built in the early 70s too.
Chas. Colerich
Oakland, CA USA
> Marc St. Martin wrote;
>
>> http://sfbay.craigslist.org/
>>
>> Well, it is era-specific; probably painted in the Haight with a
>> little "creative influence."
>
> Nice! Photos aren't real hi-res but it looks gorgeous from what I can
> tell. Seems to have an alloy-cog freewheel and a drillium read
> derailleur cage. Ditch the modern saddle and plastic toe clips for
> proper classic bits and it could be a sweet & stylish ride.
>
> Mark Bulgier
> Seattle, WA
> USA