Originally Posted by
jonwvara
I stumbled onto this fellow while looking for a cheap replacement frame for my trashed winter singlespeed.
It seems to be a Gitane Tour de France from 1973 or so. Not too many original parts left but the frame and fork seem to be in good shape, the chrome is good, and the paint has some damage but is generally sound.
Winter project! For now I'm going to strip it to the frame, clean it up and maybe do some touch-up of the paint--although that's something that I have little experience with--then work on gradually building it back up with correct (or at least age-appropriate) components.
jonwvara, nice finds!
You're right on the money on the year... 1972-73.
Here's several starting places for original components... Read my posts under
"verktyg":
The Definitive Gitane Tour de France bikes: Late 1960s to 1974
gitaneusa.com :: View topic - How to identify my bike - read first
gitaneusa.com :: View topic - Gitane TdF or Super Corsa?
For starters, that "TriBar" setup in the front has to
GO... Reminds me of a radar array on the nose of a WWII German Heinkel night fighter!
I bought a 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert with one of those rigs... Could never figure out how to get the radar detector to work!
The paint is going to be tough to match. The 1970-73 US Gitane catalog calls it Champion Blue (I call it Turquoise Blue). Red, Champion Blue, Gold, Green and Violet were "Flamboyant" colors, also called Candy Apple Colors in the US. They're dyed transparent lacquers applied over top of a white, silver or gold base layer which gives depth to the color. They tend to fade over time in direct sunlight.
Gitane used a darker blue up until ~1967 and then again after 1974. Some European models came in the dark blue during those years - what I call the foil decal era. The US models where "Champion Blue". In the late 70's Gitane switched from flamboyant to metallic colors. Match Blue was a light solid color that ranged all over the place.
What kind of crank is that? Shimano?
I wont comment much on the kludged mounting of the bottom end Shimano rear derailleur.
Simplex Super LJ would look nice on your bike, Those rear derailleurs would look nice on your bike. The rear derailleur will fit with no modification.
They're getting quite "spendy" these days, so the SX410 or SX610 derailleurs are still reasonably priced and work very well. If you go that way, be sure to get one that's direct mount without a claw hanger.
verktyg
Chas.