Charliekeet

Hi
Picked up a beat Grand Prix and I'm trying to square what I've read on Kurt's site, Sheldon's, the copy of that document that shows location code/ year code of 70s production... Still not making sense to me what year this thing is!

It's got the old style script Raleigh and Grand Prix logos, a Made in Republic of Ireland decal on the seat tube, the heron head badge has no location (which I understand makes sense for Dublin-factory Raleighs) but the serial # is on the left dropout and is not all digits...
** Very clearly (I think) 'AH' and then 5 numbers.

Will try to attach pics. From what I've read, I'd expect all #s , or a location letter of D for Ireland bikes. There's nothing on top tube seat lug or bottom bracket. Only other marking is on left side of headtube lug, says either 50 or 60...
So what year is this??

nlerner

Need pics to give useful input. What's the color scheme? Those changed a bit from year to year as described in the catalogs. I don't think the serial #s will tell you much for the road bikes that weren't Carlton built.

Charliekeet

It's that white with black sections on the 3 main tubes. I'll figure out where I want to host pics....

Charliekeet

Well, there should be a couple of photos of the bike accessible here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/11382...COOj9bizr_vlJg

CuttersRidge

I've nothing to add except it looks very nice.

nlerner

I'd guess 1970 or 1971 based on the cursive font and the components. It's possible you might be able to find a date code on that crankset or the Simplex RD.

Here are the specs from the '71 Raleigh catalog:

Charliekeet

Thanks, guys! It's a first for me to have a pretty old thing like this. All my other road bikes have been kind of plain. This has got lots of charm, but is going to be some work too.

I'm undecided on this one: might keep it and fix it up, actually ride it this Spring, might sell it on. And gotta figure out how to handle the rusted sections and where the white paint might be too far gone to leave that way... Opinions welcome!

Charliekeet

Also seems like I'm gonna have to ditch that AVA open-backed stem... Or at least keep an eye on it if I do keep this.

Murray Missile 

Looks just like my '71 except mine was red.

Charliekeet

Hmm. Based on the chart above for the 71, mine shouldn't have alloy bars (Murray, did yours?) and it shouldn't have an AVA stem. Also, I think my brakes say GB.? Will doublecheck

CuttersRidge

Tall bike and this one seems similar to yours though the blue one must indeed be Carlton. Tall bike and that's why it is for $50 dollars, nice parts nonetheless, as my friend says for this blue raleigh GP, if one wants to have children, you pass on this. https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/an...365465539.html lots of photos though.

You know, I have seen "R" nuts and I have seen "C" nuts, I guess maybe Carltons were made in Worksop but if made in Holland or Ireland?

Does the headbadge actually say Ireland (or similar), I think I have seen those.

Cool, I see this number on both bikes starts with AH.

LARGE FRAME Raleigh 10 Spd Bike

Charliekeet

Interesting! Yeah, mine is tall- I assume it's the 25 frame, but I'll spend some time with it and measure tonight.

No, the headbadge does not say a location at all. Underneath "The Raleigh" it has two horizontal silver lines where Nottingham and England would usually be. So if one didn't know what the typical Nottingham badge looked like, you wouldn't think there's anything unusual about this badge; it just looks like some fancy underlining of the company name.

noglider 

I'm pretty sure Raleigh also used that script font in 1972. What are your ultimate plans or hopes? You should know this was a decent but nothing-special model. I would hate to see you trying to get silk from a sow's ear.

trailangel

I had the same bike, same color, 21 inch frame. It was a really good rider.
Leather saddle on mine, I think it said "Wright" on it.. can't remember. Around 1970, but can't remember exactly.
I don't remember (too long ago!) the turkey lever brake levers on mine, or I took them off. Everything else the same.
I'd restore and ride it.

T-Mar

It's interesting that the format appears to match the "standard" format established in reportedly 1973. However, it would appear to predate it by a year and indicate the bicycle is a 1972 model. There certainly aren't any real differences in the specs between 1971 & 1972, so I wouldn't rule out 1972.

The Simplex rear derailleur may have a date code stamped on the back of the cage's inside plate and the front derailleur on the bottom, drive side of the Delrin housing. The format appears to be m-yy (see pics). If you find either is from about 7-71 to 6-72, it would almost certainly be a 1972 model. Older doesn't necessarily rule out 1972, as it could be poor stock rotation practices (ie. they just dumped a new shipment of deailleurs on top of the older lot in the bin). .

1972 was the year that bicycle sales really went though the roof and you saw all kinds of anomalies, as manufacturers tried to keep up with demand.

Charliekeet

Thanks, it's certainly no lightweight. I'm undecided, but I think I'll try to reduce the surface rust and if anyone has any cheap suggestions for cleaning the yellowed/oxidized white paint without actually stripping it, I'm all ears. I'll probably just sell it locally, but who knows- once I get it running and take a first ride, maybe I'll love the feel and keep it!
At the moment I have this, which has some grace, but is in rough shape, and a lower-end 80s Centurion, which is solid but unexciting.

Murray Missile 

IIRC mine did have alloy bars but Weinmann 999 brakes, I pretty sure my stem was like yours but it's been a long time and I only have one really low quality black and white picture of it in my HS yearbook from my Sr. year. Mine was Irish built and had the black band on the top tube like yours, also had a Wright saddle. Charts are nice for a baseline but they're not etched in stone. Try some 3M Micro Polish on the paint, can't hurt. My sister and Brother-In_Law still have their all original '72 Grand Prixs, if I get a chance I'll give them a look.

Charliekeet

Micro Polish, thanks I'll look into it.

CuttersRidge

An interesting question would be, what years were the Carlton brake hoods on the GPs. Of course, I can see there might not be a consistency in this.


And if I have this correct, Raleigh USA had a Super Grand Prix, I've seen a few of those, I think that was an upscale model with some nice tubing.



1986, looks like a 531 sticker; those bikes are worth keeping an eye out for.

Raleigh Gran Prixs I'd say were the most popular (prolific) foreign bike as far as sales numbers go, there seems to be very many but separating them by color is the fun part. I read one gent who said they were $120 back in the day. Then, about '77 or so, a new paint scheme and though nice, it loses a bit of the mystique of the originals.

Just my opinion.

And last week in the Craig's list thread, we were looking at a green Raleigh Gran Prix, early '70s type and it had a stronglight crank on it. Pretty nice though the bike itself was tremendously beat up and was being sold as a project bike.

Oh, and a nice white Mixte Raleigh Gran Prix. Nice, the Carlton "wraparound" seat stays at the seat cluster. https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bik/5360035874.html

Mine must have been to small, I rode a friend's once, blue and it was a very smooth enjoyable ride.

nlerner

Here's the price list for 1973:

CuttersRidge

Excellent, I never saw this before.

CuttersRidge

Adding another number in, "AH 15076"


1970'S Raleigh Grand Prix

Made in Republic of Ireland but has the Raleigh Nottingham headbadge.

redneckwes

As far as I know, before the split (1980's) all GP's had the Nottingham Headbadge. I have Carlton, Canadian (R-code) Nottingham and Gazelle built examples.

3speedslow

These were just Grand Prix. Nice and indeed 531 frame. I have that model yr in that colour scheme.