Originally Posted by
rootboy
A few months ago I sold a bare frame lilac 1974 Motobecane Le Champion for the eBay starting bid on the whole eBay bike... It was in mint condition, 9.5 out of 10.
So the $395 starting price is not out of line. The bike will probably go for at least $800.
BTW, from 1974 through 1976 the Le Champion frames were exactly the same as the Team Champion/Champion Team frames except for the 1/2 chrome fork and lilac or silver paint.
Most 1973 and early 1974 Team Champions had the chrome forks. 1974 catalog page:
Originally the bikes made for the US market were marked Team Champion on the top tube while the French market bikes said Champion Team.
BITD they were rare bikes in the US. In the 1970's I was only aware of two of them in the Southwest and Colorado area.
They're more common now than back in the 70's. I think that a lot of the ones seen here in the US were French market models marked Champion Team brought in from Europe in recent years.
I have 1978, 1980 and 1982 Team Champions but a 56cm BIC orange TC is still on my bucket list. I also have a number of Le Champions including a 1974 lilac one.
verktyg
Chas.