Classic & Vintage - What model of fuji is this?

I bought this fuji ? at a local bike sale. Nobody was showing much interest in it and I passed it by the first time I glanced at it.The frame was painted with ugly gold paint,even the head badge had been painted. Upon a closer look I saw it had campy high flange record hubs,Weinman concave rims, TA chainrings, suntour dropouts, dura ace front derailleur, 105 aero levers,suntour dropouts.I do not think any of the components are original to the frame.I suspected the lugs were chromed and upon getting it home I find they are.Other areas on the frame also look to be chrome such as the upper flat portion of the seat stay.I removed the paint from the badge and it is a fuji badge so I assume it is a fuji. The bike rides nicely so I suspect this is a decent frame.I think I have seen these lugs before but I do not think it was on a fuji. Anyone know what model of fuji this is and what year it might be.

I recall seeing a high-end Fuji with those pierced lugs (commonly seen on Cinellis and the Windsor Pros that copied Cinelli) and was kind of surprised that here was another bike with that lug treatment...but can't recall the model. Might have been "the Finest", definitely a good one. Search the archives and I bet you can find more about it.

I predict it's a nice high end frame that someone painted ugly on purpose to camoflage it. I would assume that the serial # should offer some additional clues, as well...

I bought and sold an identical frame a little while ago, but never was able to pin down just what it was. Is there a Fuji headbadge on yours? Some Fuji-ites I asked seemed to think mine was a Fuji Newest from the 70s. As you can see from the pics below, it was all chrome underneath the paint. That's a very nice catch.

Neal

Does anyone know of a web site to help find the date of manufacture for Fuji's, like the great sites for Schwinn? I have a couple Fujis that i believe are from the mid 70's. A 3 speed Cambridge that fits me which i will keep, and a 6 speed Cambridge whose 18" frame is too small for me. Another question for the Fuji gurus - do you have any info on the camelback frames? When and why were they made. TIA

Those lugs were not on the Finest (at least not through about '76 or so). I'm pretty sure I've seen them on the Newest. The '76 Newest on the Classic Rendezvous site has cutout lugs, but they're a single triangle. Doesn't mean earlier or later years wouldn't have the three circles.

I have a Fuji Dynamic 10, and it's a '74-ish model. I was told by someone that in order to date a Fuji, you have to date the components instead. I think T-Mar knows of a web site that allows you to do that. I just can't remember what it is. Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

My vote is for a very early The Newest. The head tube angle appears steeper than the seat tube, which I believe indicates The Newest, as opposed to The Finest. Dating the components won't help in this case, as all those mentioned are non-original.

I've never found even so much as a site with Fuji catalogs. I've had to use the Vintage Trek components database to date the three I have.

My vote is for a very early The Newest. The head tube angle appears steeper than the seat tube, which I believe indicates The Newest, as opposed to The Finest. Dating the components won't help in this case, as all those mentioned are non-original.

T-Mar - presuming you're right (almost a given :) ), and that the Newest pictured on the CR website really is a 1976, that would really narrow it down. I seem to recall that the Finest came out in '72 or '73, and that for a year or two, it was Fuji's top of the line bike - until the Newest was offered. That would mean the OP's Newest would be a '73, '74, or '75. I'll see if I can't track down the article I found somewhere that discussed Fuji's dilemma in coming up with a name for their bicycle that was better than "The Finest", to see if there's a date on it.

The Finest and The Newest were both available in 1973. Not sure how far they go back. The pics I have from that year don't show the lugwork. Typically, for the era, the literature doesn't spec the angles but The Finest looks like parallel angles of about 73 degrees. Being more race oriented, The Newest has a steeper head tube. 1973-1975 sounds about right.

Thanks to everyone who responded with info on my bike especially nlerner for the pictures of what is certainly the same bike.Yes mine does have a fuji badge.I am not able to find a serial number on the bike.

The one I sold had serial #K7B02902 on the underside of the bottom bracket.

Neal