Classic & Vintage - Okay, what did I just buy?

For $20, the neighborhood thrift store yielded a Raleigh Delta 12-speed mixte, made in Canada, SunTour derailleurs, Weinmann sidepulls and levers, Selle Royale saddle, and a crankset with steel chainwheels, alloy guard and pedal arms marked 'Custom-A'. A decal on the seatpost tube reads "Raleigh Carbospec 45-11 Tubing'.

I got it mainly because I needed a bunch of the parts for another project, and partly because I can't seem to leave a Raleigh at the thrift store. Anybody know the approximate vintage of this thing?

My best wild guess puts the vintage at early-mid '80s...

For $20, the neighborhood thrift store yielded a Raleigh Delta 12-speed mixte, made in Canada, SunTour derailleurs, Weinmann sidepulls and levers, Selle Royale saddle, and a crankset with steel chainwheels, alloy guard and pedal arms marked 'Custom-A'. A decal on the seatpost tube reads "Raleigh Carbospec 45-11 Tubing'.

I got it mainly because I needed a bunch of the parts for another project, and partly because I can't seem to leave a Raleigh at the thrift store. Anybody know the approximate vintage of this thing?

If you have a serial number, we might be able to apply Sheldon's secret decoder to it.

Serial number is RN4 11396.

The serial number doesn't follow Sheldon's formula. I scanned Bulgier's catalogs for 1983 and 1984 - which seems to be when the change-over to 12 speeds occurred. I see no reference to the model Delta though. I attempted to google both the model and the tubing description - again with no success. I think we'll have to either hope that T-Mar can bail us out, or break down and ask at the LBS.

I'm on reasonably good terms with a fellow who's been selling Raleighs since the 70's and has a remarkable memory. Probably can't get over there til the weekend, but if the mystery is still unsolved by then, I'll make the inquiry.

Actually, this would seem to indicate October 1984 manufacture - even though it doesn't appear in the 1984 catalog. http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Retro-Raleighs/RaleighSerialNumbers.jpg

As long as you don't discuss this on Classic Rendezvous, your acquisition should be free of adverse repercussions. :rolleyes:

Interesting; according to that list, the Record I'm working on was made at the Handsworth, UK facility in January 1971.

The Delta's just going to be a donor, anyway. Beyond the Heron badge, it's really quite un-Raleighlike.