Classic & Vintage - "Classic/Vintage rides" w/ question

A "newbie" here... Really enjoyed Lotek's thread on classic/vintage rides and will try to attach photos of mine (thanks for posting the directions, luker). I would like to know when my Austro Daimler Ultima (Reynolds 531 DB) frame was built. I purchased it in Feb 1983 and it had been in storage in the back of the local bike shop for some years. The shop owner ordered it to cannabolize the Campy SR parts for his Exxon Graftek frame and then just tossed it in back until I learned about it while in college. I bought the frame w/ Campy SR crank & headset and built the bike up from there. Have enjoyed it immensely ever since - very responsive and fast. I've rebuilt it, swapped components and built different wheelsets over the years, but it's always been a great ride.

Serial # is 5694722, and I think it is probably 1979 or 1980 as a best guess. Any info would be appreciated.

I'm also including a pic of my "vintage" (mid '70's?) Raleigh Grand Prix that is the neighborhood cruiser for riding around with the kids. Very original except the lovely new WalMart tires. (Hey, you gotta get 'em road worthy somehow.)

I think you got the better end of the deal with the bike shop. A graftek is a very interesting, but not a particularly rideable bike, while the Ultima will be a good rider for the rest of your life (and your grandkids, if it stays dry).

Austro Daimler/Puch were originally built in Austria.
Distinctly remember their Vent Noir (Black Wind) model of the mid-70s. Nice!

My college buddy had the black Vent Noir w/ the silver and black Shimano Dura Ace components ("drilled for lightness") that was a beautiful bike. I expect he still has it to this day (Hi Andy, if you are out there!).
I have really enjoyed mine, although I don't ride as much as I used to. I'm trying to get back into it more often. Got in a short ride yesterday.

Also, a comment/challenge to any vintage riders out there... If you've never tried building your own wheels, I highly recommend it! I've built all of mine over the years and it's really rewarding. Start with a good book on the topic and have fun! I like using bladed spokes on the front and straight gauge to handle the torque of hill climbs on the back. A rim swap is a good way to start learning.

Have fun!

I built one or two wheels as a teenager working in a bike shop, and recently have built two sets of wheels. One is a nice pair of Campy NR high flange hubs and Weinmann concave rims which is presently on my Paramount, and the other is a set of Campy NR low flange hubs with Mavic anodized rims, now hanging in my garage but recently on my Raleigh Pro.

I just wanted to see if I could. I think it is kind of fun, though I am not ready to quit my day job to do it!

The Austro Daimler Ultima is lovely, but I really lust after the Raleigh. I know it's not an especially unusual bike, but a Raleigh Grand Prix was my first real bike. One was bought new as a gift for me when I was in ninth grade, and I had it for years and years. I can't really remember what happened to it -- I know I took it off to college with me, and I think it was stolen sometime during my college years. I've always wanted to find another, in completely original condition.

Austrian bikes are great. :)

i would contact puch in austria (see if they have a website). provide them the serial number and ask for the year of manufacture. most manufacturers are very accommodating . good luck.

i would contact puch in austria (see if they have a website). provide them the serial number and ask for the year of manufacture. most manufacturers are very accommodating . good luck. When I tried that with Bianchi (both in Italy and U.S.), I got nowhere. As for Austrian bicycle manufacturers, Capo is still in the bike biz, but SDP is not.

My first 10-speed as a kid was a Raleigh Record (white with orange). It was my first new bike, all the others being hand-me-downs from my big brother. I put enough miles on that bike to ride to the moon and back, but I don't recall what happened to it - seems it was stolen from my parents carport.

Somebody out there has some hot vintage Raleighs!

The GP appears to be circa 1977.