Classic & Vintage - What is this Peugeot??

I just picked up a Peugeot, but I am having a hard time determing exactly which model it is. I have attached a picture so you can see what I am talking about. I know it is not a PX-10, but I think it is a 1973-1975 P-10 or PR-10, but I can't be sure. The bike is in wonderful condition and it included all the original reflectors and pump (not seen in picture). It has cottered cranks, steel wheels, simplex derailers, normandy hubs, Mafac racer brakes, Ideale saddle, and so on. It also has very elaborate lugs which give the bike great character. I am not sure if they are the Nervex lugs (how can I tell?). The bike is all original with the exeption of the schwinn tires.

Anyway, I bought the bike to build a commuter with cyclocross tires and a different handlebar brake lever combination. Maybe a single speed, I am not sure what I want to build yet. Anyway, my question is: Should I leave the bike like it is? Is it worth anything? Should I feel bad about tearing it apart and making a commuter? Does it have Nervex lugs? Does it have reyonlds tubing? (It does not have a reynolds sticker)

Thats about it. Thanks for your help and opinions. By the way, the Serial is #2484907

Ooh, she's a purty one!

I don't know anything about Peugeots, but I would feel a little guilty unless something was missing or was scratched/rusty... If I still felt the need, though, I wouldn't do anything irrepairable (keep original parts).

That's my opinion :) Hopefully a Peogeot enthusiast will come along and help with identification.

Have fun!

Well, those lugs look kinda plain, but they might still be made by Nervex.

The fact that the bike is new enough to have reflectors, but also has cottered cranks (lower-end components) kinda means that it isn't a 10. Just out of curiosity, what size are the tires/rims?

FWIW, that Ideale saddle is probably worth at least $75 if it's in good shape and not dried out.

Here is a close-up of one of the lugs

Looks like a mid to late 70's UO-8. Seat tube may say Record du Monde on decal? (not on all). Common colors were white, orange, and blue. White was the most popular.
UO-8 equipment would include: Rigida steel serated side rims, Normandy high flange quick release hubs, Simplex Prestige derailleurs with plastic frame shift levers, Ideal saddle, either Stronglight or Nervar crankset (depending on the year), 14 - 28 tooth Maillard freewheel, AVA or PIVO alloy stem, steel handlebars, and I believe most had braze-on pump pegs on the frame. This was their middle of the road bike and probably the most popular. It was just above the AO-8, which lacked the pump pegs, had nutted hubs, and usually a lesser saddle. Most AO-8 bikes came with only the lower portion of the bars taped as well. Just a note, if you plan on removing the crank cotter pins, these are usually 9 mm and have an odd taper, these can be very difficult to remove, resort to drilling them out rather than risking damage by trying to force them out. It's been my experience that more than 50% end up being drilled out. The pin itself is soft and drills easily. The bottom bracket, headset, and usually the pedals are French threaded and not interchangable with any other type threads. Trial fit the pedals before forcing, a standard 9/16" pedal will thread into a French threaded crankarm but will feel loose and only seem to tighten.
The UO-8 was a very nice riding bike, good geometry with good handling for the price.
Beware of the AVA stem if still equipped, they have a reputation of breaking. It may be replaced with any 22 mm quill stem.
Checkout http://home.wanadoo.nl/peugeotshow/
they have many of the early Peugeot catalogs posted there.
Sheldo Brown has a lot of useful info as well on French bikes at:http://www.sheldonbrown.com/velos.html
The UO-8 really doesn't have any serious collector value, at least not yet anyhow, but they are good dailly riders. Myself, I would probalby be inclined to leave it as original as posible and only change what is needed to make it a safe and reliable bike. Simply save any original parts that you may change. The fact that these use French sizing, makes many upgrades difficult. French threaded parts are somewhat hard to come by.
Good luck!

It's likely a UO 8 with the cottered cranks and steel rims. The P models would have had a sticker to indicate tubing, usually some sort of reynolds 531 (lesser p's like pr and pk would have had three main tubes 531, butted). These are notorious for wearing out/off, however. Prior to 1974, these stickers would be on the seat tube, 74 and after, on the down tube. Some P models, like my PF, have vitus tubing, and some later P's had columbus, which just about covers quality steel tubing with the exception of Tange. You might look for remenants of the tubing sticker.

Later UO's had cotterless cranks. I'm not sure when the changeover was, but I think it was around '75. I've worked on a number of UOs with sugino cranksets that I think may have been standard on some models, and my UO10 came standard with Stronglight cranks (it still has them). I think your bike is prior to 75, but I'm not sure...
As Mr. McKishen says, look for the "record du monde" sticker; but both my PXs have this on them somewhere, as well as the PK, the PF, and the UO. "Tubes special allegre" is a giveaway for UOs. PX's had "inoxydable" on them. This sticker would be on the seat tube, just above the "Peugeot" sticker.

The advice on the pedals is spot on. Most of the Peugeots sold in this country come w/English pedals, but a few French threaded ones slipped thru. Your main problem will be with the bottom bracket if you need to replace it. The best thing is to hunt for phil wood french threaded bb rings on ebay; they'll fit shimano UN72 sealed bottom brackets, along w/Phil's models. If you maintain the BB, though, it should last a long time.

Headsets can be another problem area, but the UO's had extraordinarily tough steel ones, and replacements can be found on ebay. Maintain them with new grease and bearings every six months and you'll be fine. Failing that, replace the fork with an English threaded one, bang out the french headset, and install an English headset.

Both French BBs and headsets (i think) are still made, but you'll pay more for them at a shop than you will on ebay.

Your last problem area is the seat post. 26.4 is the standard french size, and is still available in a nice SR laprade style relatively cheap. Some UO's however, used a 24.4 seatpost, which is really hard to find. Measure your post and figure out which it is.

The UO-8 was a very nice riding bike, good geometry with good handling for the price.

Checkout http://home.wanadoo.nl/peugeotshow/
they have many of the early Peugeot catalogs posted there.

Thanks for the great link! A terrific photog of the Great One in full flight to boot! Wow!