Originally Posted by
verktyg
......
So, back to auchencrow's bike, its a 1974 Champion du Monde model. I wasn't aware of the CdM model until I bought a 1974 bare frame a few years back.
The reason why its a 1974 is the old style Reynolds decals. At the end of 1973 Reynolds introduced new decals with a gold "address" block at the bottom of the frame decals and top of the fork decals. There were probably some of the old style decals left over a were used through maybe mid 1974. After that all of the French Reynolds bikes had he new decals.
I'd never seen any US listing or advertisements for the Olympic and Super Olympic models. Gitane Pacific may have brought a few into the country as special orders. Others could have been imported by individuals. Same goes for the Champion du Monde.
The Olympic (MAFAC brakes) and Super Olympic (Campy brakes) used lighter gage Reynolds tubing and 26.6mm seat posts. The Champion du Monde used the same frame except with a short stack 33mm Stronglight P3 headset. The Olympic models had 41mm high Campy headsets. The Campy headset on auchencrow's bike is missing the spacer/washer plus font brakes cable hanger. It also may be only locking on to a few turns of threads on the steerer.
BTW, auchencrow, nice job.... ;-)
Chas. verktyg
Thanks Chas, for even more salient information on my CdM. It's kind'a cool to know it's a relatively rare and distinct model.
The Campy headset is fully engaged on the steerer though, and so I am pretty certain it is original to the bike.
I even had
to ADD a spacer to keep the top nut from bottoming on the tube. Based on your remark about short-stacks being used on the CdM, I have to wonder if my Gitane is an Olympic.
