hobbyhorse

Got a new-to-me 58cm Centurion Elite GT that is super-light: it's missing wheels!

Interestingly, it appears to be a 1983, bucking the "introduced in 1984" or "only made in 1984" claims I've seen about the Elite GT.

Reasons I think it's a 1983:
* Headbadge is the round stamped metal "C" one marked "1979-1982" on the Vintage Centurion site.
* Serial N3P5862 = August-ish 1983
* Different paint scheme from the 1984 catalog and all the other Elite GTs out there; this one's a charming champagne gold (which my wife informs me is very "in" for weddings this year)
* Downtube logo ('CENTURION') has the U and R entirely separated instead of the UR 'ligature' present in all the 1984 ones

Other interesting attributes:
* Tange Champion #4 tubing (touring-specific?)

Some parts on it that I think are OEM:
* Suntour Symmetric shifters (or "shifter", since it's just one unit)
* Suntour Mountech FD
* Dia Compe cantilever brakes (they look like the 960s I see online, but I can't find a model number; they've got date codes "10 83" "09 83" and "06 83")
* Sugino RT triple cranks (code GC)

RD (Shimano RSX) and brake levers (Dia Compe VX) are of newer vintage. Wheels are... nonexistent.

I found one other presumably-1983 Centurion Elite GT like mine pictured on the Internet, in this old eBay posting: Vintage Centurion Elite GT Touring Bicycle Made in Japan Needs Nothing | eBay (That one's in much better condition than mine.)

My plans with it:
* Try and touch up the paint on this one to prevent (further) rusting
* Maybe replace the headset (races look a little rough, and the lower headtube race is ugly on the outside)
* Slap on some 700c wheels (the brakes look like they'll fit) and some racks (considering Specialized's Pizza Rack for the front)
* Use it for my daily commuter and touring machine!

Pictures:

Whole frame.jpg

Seat tube and Tange decal.jpg

Bottom bracket and crank.jpg

Fork.jpg