mattouli

I've a Raleigh "Rapide" which I'm guessing is late 50's. Derailleurs and levers are 'Benelux'.

Has quite nice lugs and a slightly strange oval shaped headbadge; I'm initially trying to figure out whether the colour is correct. Seems a bit too heavy to be reynolds but don't really know...

Anybody out there have any info on this bike?

kind regards
Matt

David Newton

Excellent bike, looks to be all original, you think?

ColonelJLloyd 

That bike is awesome. The Anglo experts will chime in shortly.

rhm

Looks mid 60's to me. The front hub should have a date on it that will nail it for you.

The Rapide was the top of the line Norman bike in the 50's and Raleigh took over the model along with the rest of the line in 1961. By the time they made this one, they were no longer working with 531 at the Nottingham plant. Is it Carlton (Worksop) made? If so, maybe it's 531; but I'd guess it's from Nottingham and hi-ten steel.

I don't think they were ever marketed in the US; must be for the domestic market. Very nice, though.

noglider 

Very nice bike in very good condition considering the age.

rhm

Another forum member pointed out to me that the colorful headbadge is a late 60's thing, so about 1968-70. The date on the front hub should confirm that (if it's original).

David Newton

Are the lugs chrome, or just polished metal? I don't recall chrome lugs on any other Raleigh but the International.
Internationals were Carltons too, so I guess that explains it.

clubman 

Why would the bike have a circa 59 drivetrain on it? Coureur 66 centrepulls and Hideminium stem? It does look very similar to the Lentons and Gran Sports of the late 50's/early 60's except the lugwork. The crankset looks like a Williams...is there a date code on the back? Maybe the badge was added?

sailorbenjamin

Hey, I've been looking for another one of these!. I think I have one. Mine's about 1966 judging by the serial number. Mine's not 531, you can see welded seems in the seat tube and head tube. I'm pretty sure it's a Carlton. There's a Carlton model from that era that's just about identical. The double crank and derailler were optional. I forget the name now.

Mine was loved to death, rebuilt and loved to death again. It didn't have many original parts when it came to me, nor any decals left. Can I see some good pictures of your decals? Are there any seat tube decals?
As purchased;

Cleaned up, built up and partially obscured;

Really really clean;

Note serial number.

And currently (I just had to work over that wraparound seat stay area);

But enough about my bike. Everyone's already seen it before. Tell us more about yours.

sailorbenjamin

There were a few models but that was in the 60s before the boom. The early Competitions had them and so did the Professionals and such. Going way back, there were Carlton Supercourses that had them. Golly, I'd love to track one of those down with the polychromatic green paint.

pastorbobnlnh 

Last winter I restored a friend's '68 Raleigh Record. He was the original owner. It had the same version of a headbadge.

sailorbenjamin

Yeah, that headbadge commemorated an anniversary at Raleigh, I forget which one. It seems to show up on bikes from about '66 to '68 but I've heard rumors of them as late as '70 and early as '65.
Late 50s would be a record (not a Record).

mattouli

Cool! Thanks for all the info guys! It does all seem to be chromed at the front (hence the already-repainted pale blue. scrapes off so easily!) There was the remains of another oval raleigh logo on the seat tube overlayed on the black/white bands... I pulled off the bits and will send away for a new waterslide transfer-hopefully. On the hunt for replacement forks, as the Chrome is pretty horrific! I'll look on the hubs tonight see if i can see any meaningful-looking numbers : thanks again dudes!

bibliobob

Lust!

sailorbenjamin

What'll you do with that fork then?

mattouli

I'll have a closer look, if the rust is only surface deep i'd consider re-chroming it (although it's toooo expensive to do that here ) If i find a replacement, anyone here can have the old one for the price of postage...

The bike in general seems to match the groovy old illustration you posted earlier. The Dynohub has "64" on it so we'll assume it's the original one/correct date... I'm planning to reproduce the logos/lettering on my PC (I'm a graphic designer by trade so I'm used to it!) which i can then send to a guy i know locally who will make waterslide 'decals'. If it seems to work out well - ie convincingly, I can get a second set made up for your machine if you want?

First off; I'll have a go with some "rubbing compound" or scratch-remover and see if i can avoid major repainting - I'm not going to do any re-spray job here; been there; nightmare!

Chopper Gav

Hi,
i can't see your photos & I would like to compare them with my latest find, please repost.