miamibeachcg

I found this beautiful, near mint, 1974 (took date from serial number at bottom of frame: WE4001057) Raleigh International Carlton 10 speed today at my favorite thrift store where it had a $34.95 price tag - "because it's missing the seat". I grabbed it!

But while looking it over at home I noticed it has front & rear Suntour deraillleurs when everything I read on it today said it was the #2 bike in Raleigh's line-up and came with Campagnolo Nuovo Record derailleurs - is this true?

I've also seen these bikes going for $1,000+ - is this a true value? Besides the obvious, I'm asking so I know if it's worth spending the money on an original seat.

Finally, at the rear of the frame below the seat, the is a ring or 1/2 circle of metal connecting the 2 frame arms going to the rear wheel - what is that for?

As always, I appreciate the help I get from you guys!

miamibeachcg

Here is the half circle connecting the 2 frame arms (legs?)
Also, what are the triangular metal ...things under the brakes?
Thanks again

Kactus

Originally, the bike would have had Weinmann center pull brakes. The 'half circle' is for the brake cable guide. The bike came with Campy Nuovo Record derailleurs and cranks originally, as well as a NR two-bolt seat post; the current derailleurs are a replacement. With all original components, you could get $750 - $1000 for the bike; Internationals generally go for more than the higher in the line-up Professional for some reason.

For what you paid, you could restore it to original equipment and still come out fine. If you are just wanting to flip it, strip it down and sell the frame; you should be able to get $300 - $400 for it alone if you are patient.

oddjob2

Deal of the year, well at least for October. I'd overhaul it, change out the parts as your budget allows and enjoy the ride.

sail

The piece on the seat stays is for the original center pull brakes. You have a very nice frame there. Looks like the Campi stuff is gone. Still a nice bike with decent parts, looks like it probably needs an overhaul and tires. Those brake lever extensions do not work well and are dangerous. It deserves a good saddle. Good find.

miamibeachcg

It has DIA-COMPE brakes front & back?
Can I ask if these changes that were made were for the better? - or was someone just putting whatever the could find on the bike for whatever reason they had to change these parts out?

3alarmer 

...it was not completely unheard of to exchange Campy derailleurs of that era for Suntour, because the Suntour shifts a little better. That said, yoiur bike does look like someone bought it and sold off the Campy stuff, or used it on something else. A lot of Internationals suffered that fate, because they went through a period where everyone wanted a more aggressive race geometry, and they were readily available at reduced prices as donor bikes. The Suntour stuff that's on there is quite nice, shifts well, and was, IIRC, about the top of their line at the time.

I don't understand your question about "worth spending the money to get an original seat" ? If your intention is to ride it, I'd say use what's there and find something in a saddle you find comfortable. If your intention is resale, trying to come up with the original stuff and putting it back on the bike rarely pays off when you sell. Anyway, killer deal on a popular size and color for that frame.....looks rideable, but those safety arm brake levers have got to go.

Kactus

The components on there are decent parts. A lot of Internationals and Professionals of that era had the Campy parts taken off as that was the easiest and cheapest way to get a Campy group. What to do with the bike depends a lot on your intentions; sell it, ride it or restore it. Whatever you decide to do, you have a quality and desirable frame.

howsteepisit

The components are a downgrade. And the guides on the bottom of the brake pads are to make it quicker/easier to put the wheel back in after a quick flat repair - has absolutely nothing to do with keeping anything out of the spokes.

Still a great deal for 35, cleaned up i'd say 350-400 range.

miamibeachcg

Thanks all - my intention is to sell it. I'm thinking I'll list it at $350 obo as is?
Again, I greatly appreciate the help

daf1009

If you want to maximize your return, take the parts off and sell everything separately...it is more work, but it yields more. If you take the parts off and clean up the frame/fork, you could probably get $300 for the frame/fork combo...and then sell the parts off (they are nice enough to sell)...and come up with even more...

oddjob2

We have an American Picker in the making!

miamibeachcg

lol I own Joy's House (www.joyshouse.info); a sober house for girls I opened in my daughter's memory, and we sell things we find at thrift stores, estate sales, storage auctions, etc.. to help support it in my eBay store 'MIAMI PICKER'!

I would love to be a full time picker & get to go through old barns, storage sheds, attics, etc.. full time! When you get access to a large garage or attic and are surrounded by the past; it's like stepping through a time machine.

PS - Here is a one of our bike collections found picking thrift stores & yard sales from a past yard sale we held at Joy's House! (the better bikes we sell on eBay)

zukahn1 

I would consider most of the parts fine from a functional standpoint but basically downgrades from what was on the bike originally. It looks like someone likely got the frame set for a good price and built it up with whatever good parts they could get cheap or had on hand.

3alarmer 

...#waycool

rootboy 

For twelve dollars you can get a membership here and use the For Sale section. I'll bet someone here would give you 350 for it in a heart beat,and you'd save the ebay fees. Of course, then it has to be shipped.

3alarmer 

...IME, you need to be able to reach a fairly wide range market group of guys who 1. Appreciate and value what an older steel bike of this sort is, and 2. Might find it to be their correct size in a frame. So yes, either here or E-bay are probably your best bets, but there might be others. The whole listing and shipping to someone who has not had a the chance to personally inspect the bike is a nightmare (for me, anyway). Probably the main reason I don't usually sell long distance.

I honestly do not know your local market there, but if @miamijim is still around, he probably does.

TireLever-07

Too bad about the original parts being long gone. These higher end bikes weren't usually sold with kickstands either. The side pull brakes. quick release, when in the closed position, (the lever) usually points down. Was probably just considered a "used bike" when it got its components swapped.

lostarchitect 

Given that you are not an experienced mechanic, I think the impulse to sell it whole as-is is a good one. Let someone else deal with it, you will have made a huge profit with no work.

FastJake

And avoid screwing something up and actually lowering the value.