Classic & Vintage - Raleigh Super Course MKII Year?

hi.

i was thinking of restoring my super course mk II frame for a while, but I'd like to know a bit more about it first. unfortunately nothing i found in catalog scans or online helped me identify the year.

this is what i know:

frame/fork: reynolds 531 (probably main tubes only) with 1/2 chrome ends, riveted headbage, seatpost diameter about 26,0

paint: champagne - pewter with brownish headtube contrast and two stripes on the seattube.

serial: WD8004447

thanks.

ok so i remember there being some sort of raleigh serial database and well... i found it again. thanks cudak888.

looks to be a 1978. is that an accurate assumption?

I believe the MkII designation was only true from 1974 to 1976. Catalogs for those years are on Mark Bulgier's site: http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/

Neal

+1 to Neal, looks like a 74-76 Nottingham made Super Course MKII...only it doesn't look like they offered it in that color those years.

Could it be a respray?

+1 to Neal, looks like a 74-76 Nottingham made Super Course MKII...only it doesn't look like they offered it in that color those years.

Could it be a respray?

yeah, i considered that. i guess anything is possible. i mean it could even be a competition for all i know. i bought it used from the UK. i am wondering if the export raleighs were offered in different colors. the stickers and paint are pretty original, showing their age. perhaps this is the so called "gold" from 78 with a MKII decal set? anyone have some images of the a golden 78 super course?

a curious thing to note is that the downtube RALEIGH decal and Super Course MKII are only on the left hand side of the frame. the catalogs show most MKIIs from the right. Other notable stickers are smallish Rs on the fork blades below the crown, same R on the middle of seat tube, Raleigh on the lower chainstays and a Made in England sticker above the BB.

Funny you should ask... there's an active thread in this forum right now about one

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=108839&d=1245701529

see the thread "Super Course...Lucky Me" for more pics and discussion. They're saying its a '78

here, that's my bike !!!!! :D

+1 to Neal, looks like a 74-76 Nottingham made Super Course MKII...only it doesn't look like they offered it in that color those years.

Could it be a respray?

I too thought the MK11 was made in '74 through '76, and finished in either Emerald Green/Flam Red and White. However, I'm no expert, just a proud owner of a '74 finished in the EG/White...:)

here, that's my bike !!!!! :D


Thats a great color.:thumb:

Thats a great color.:thumb:

Thanks! it was the luck of the draw really, but it is a really nice colour IMHO. I need to take another pic or two now assembly is progressing. I managed to fix the wonky seat tube decals you can see above. With care, it peeled off and I reattached it with a thin layer of contact cement. :)

hey. don't hijack my thread! you have your own! :)

sorry :innocent:

so i managed to find another pic of the same frame, same color. i guess this rules out a respray. this one is built up so maybe someone can ID the year better than i can. btw finding a suitable match for the paint is PITA. :(

"W" in the serial number indicates a Worksop produced bike. Worksop is the town where the Carlton plant was located. Nottingham never made S.C.'s that I know of, Nottingham frames have an "N" serial.

Can't believe I didn't send you this link earlier:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/TH_raleigh_serials.html

Although it seems you found a database. It would confirm your 1978 dating, based on the frame number you gave us in the OP. I've learned that there were 2 colours available: gold (as yours seems to be), and a copper bronze (mine)

Keep us posted!

Ed

it is all so mysterious. Yours is not an MK II, nor does it have the chrome ends, but yet a '78. The new picture and mine both have the MK II on the top tube. Albeit mine had the stickers on the other side. I'm not sure if both sides of the frame had stickers. The right side of my frame is scratched badly. it appears like a failed attempt at removing the decals or something with a boxcutter. thus on the hunt for some matching paint!