Spaghetti Legs 

I've found one with original Campy components, including Brooks saddle. Owner says he got it in '78 but the single grainy pic looks like a fastback seat cluster, so maybe 77?

The bike is a 3 hr drive from me, but about 20 miles from my elderly Mom. If I talk to the guy, I'm going to ask for a few more pics to verify components. One option would be to ask him to drop the bike at my Mom's house, but assuming this can't be done, and assuming bike is in good condition, what price would induce the more zealous among you to make the drive for this bike?

BTW owner is just asking best offer now, no asking price.

big chainring 

That best offer approach is bothersome. I always think whatever I offer its going to be to low. And most sellers refuse to even ballpark what they are looking for. Condition and originality is everything on Raleigh Pro's. Anywhere from $500 on up.

TugaDude

Not enough information for a proper valuation. Post pics when you can. For some this is a grail bike. I have lusted over a mink blue Raleigh Pro for a long while.

Theres's one in my size at a dealer I know, but he wants about a grand for it. It is all original and mint, probably worth close to his desired price but well above what I would pay.

daf1009

Need a lot more information, including pictures...and so do you...this is a very desirable bike...but, as others said, condition is EVERYTHING!

I did the 3 hour drive to get mine...it is in "good" condition...more of a good rider than a real collectible...but I like the patina on it. I paid $300 for it...and that was in the Charlotte, NC area...I provide this...just as reference...

CliffordK

Why don't you plan on just going to visit your mother.
And perhaps picking up a bicycle on the way

Spaghetti Legs 

Oh yes that thought has occurred. "Really wanted to see you Mom and oh yeah - this cool bike too"

CroMo Mike 

3 hours each way or round trip?

You can bet that whatever you offer he will see as an opening for him to ask 50% to 100% more. So he can bargain to something in between. So don't make your best offer first thing. How much is it worth? "That all depends."

Number_6

The first thing to do is to figure what it is really worth to you and come up with a realistic range. Stick to it. Take cash- real money usually has a softening affect. When you show the cash (don't show all of it now...) remind then how loopy and unreliable CL shoppers and ebay bidders can be. You're there with the dough and ready to buy. That can work wonders. Walk and let them know you'll walk if your final isn't accepted. This can work nicely in an "OBO" situation.... Be strong and powerful!

...with the cash always be mindful of the possibility of getting robbed. No dark parking lots on the wrong side of town. Meet at Target in the daytime. And have change- don't get bled for that last $5 or $10 after settling on a price because "I don't have change for a twenty...".I usually take out $20 extra and buy a lottery ticket beforehand- but that's just me.

Oh, and only do "OBO"s if it something you really really, really, want and/or the asking price is reasonable.. As has been said here, if someone wants a bidding war- there is eBay.

If it's a steal, just hand over the money and thank them profusely. Why not make everyone happy if you can?

The asking price on my Super Sport was $140- pretty fair for what it was. When I got there and saw two garages full of old Schwinns and Schwinn NOS parts I just paid him. He knew.

3alarmer 

...you cannot really date these by the seat cluster. they made MK 2's and Mk 4's in the same model years, IIRC.

Do some research, if the date is important to you. I have a frame that I'm restoring that appears, from the frame numbers,
to be from the first model year in 1966. It has a fastback seat stay attachment.


Raleigh Serial Numbers & Charts

Retro Raleighs: Professionals

I hope you are way too smart to buy a bike based on grainy photos and the owner's description.
But I've driven two hours each way to find a bike that was two inches shorter than the guy told me it was.

Spaghetti Legs 

Update!

Spoke to the owner today via phone. Really nice guy, original owner of the bike. The bike was repainted in the past, and braze on shifter bosses and cable guides were added. No decals added after the repaint and the head badge is either gone or painted over - I didn't clarify. No pics, sorry. He floated a number of $500, which is probably fair if the bike is in good shape. We had a nice chat, he used to race back in the day, and left the whole deal open, saying I would try to get down some time soon to take a look at it.

CliffordK

Personally I'm not a real big Raleigh fan. Repainted with no decals, logos, or badge.
35 year old bike. Not 100% original (although I would consider internal cable routing of the top tube, and water bottle mounts on my Colnago if I ever repainted it).

There seem to be a few Raleigh Professionals on E-Bay for "wishful-thinking prices" that aren't selling very quickly.

Is the bike in a large city, or a small town (might determine how quickly it will move).

Anyway, try to get some good photos before you make the trek to see it. Then, perhaps hit him back with an offer for $300. It may be worth $500, but personally I think that it a bit on the high side.

Maybe it also depends on what you have in mind for the bike.

3alarmer 

...you can buy a set of decent decals for about 5o bucks from Velo Cals, if that's important to you. I just bought some for the frame I mentioned.
the set comes with a headbadge decal, but the originals are pretty easy to get off almost any scrapped Raleigh.

If repainted, with those add on upgrades, in decent shape mechanically, it's worth 500 bucks where I am, even as a repaint.

Spaghetti Legs 

I'm not going to make a special trip for the bike, but plan on being in that neighborhood within the next month or two. @CliffordK,, being an Italophile, Raleigh's haven't really been on my radar. I have been shopping for Campy NR and SR groups for another bike and seeing selling prices of > $400 for complete sets, so worse come to worse, if the frame doesn't do it for me, I could cannibalize the bike and make a Raleigh fan happy with a good deal on the frame.

Thanks to all for the advice. I'll post pics if I ever end up with this one.