Thread: Concorde info
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Old 04-05-13 | 11:25 AM
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unworthy1
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Originally Posted by Zieleman
It is indeed a Dutch brand made in Italy, I also heared made by Ciöcc. Like Koga-Miyata, some smart guys from 'the Neitherlands' () hooked up with foreign quality framebuilders to make an interesting brand and with smart marketing - pro team sponsorship - they sold a sh*tload of bikes. Both high-end as mid-range, no low-end I
There's some info on this brand in the old CR list archives, the "smart guys" included a Belgian, a Dutchman, and a Frenchman from the Pyrenees (a Basque?), here's a very brief quote:
",,,the triumvirate was Veltec of Belguim, Weltmeister of Holland,
and Jose Alvarez, the Naploeon of the French lightweeight industry from Auch
near the Pyrenees. The first two went ahead with the venture and formed
CONCORDE,"
Because Alvarez dropped out of the venture, it can be said to be a Benelux concern. The manufacturer in Italy is a bit mysterious: early models of Columbus-tubed frames were said to have been made in the same factory as then built Ciocc, Conti and John frames (remember that video that shows the operation, with awful "pop-classical" soundtrack? that's the place) which would have been the after Pelizzoli sold off the Ciocc name and was no longer involved. Later models have been "positively" IDed as having been built by the Bonati Brothers operation, who also were making Ciocc frames at that time (and many other brands). One story is that the frames were shipped to Holland or Belgium in primer to be painted and assembled there, so they can be claimed to be "Made in Benelux", but in my book those frames are Italian-made. Similar practices were established by Ten Speed Drive and Lewis Imports in the USA (lower Customs/Duty fees).
I'm partial to this brand and congrats on a great addition to your stable!
But Concorde did sell some bikes that could be considered "lower-end" (Voyager model, Tange #5 frame with Shimano 400) but we never saw them in NorthAm, they were just for the Benelux market.

Last edited by unworthy1; 07-05-16 at 11:04 AM. Reason: Bonati not Billato, so say some...
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