Originally Posted by
The Golden Boy
If you're looking for something with recognizable cachet- you might want to try one of the top of the line Grand Touring bikes from the mid 80s- the Trek 620, 720, Specialized Expedition, Schwinn Voyageur SP, Miyata 610, 1000 or 1000 LT, Centurion Pro Tour... Those bikes- again long chainstays- 45-47cm, with premium tube sets- give that 1972 Cadillac Eldorado ride, cantilevers, and beautiful classic lines really make for a really special bike.
I'll second that whole list. Good suggestions. In addition, look for a Univega Specialissima. They are the same frame as a Miyata 1000 and made in the same factory, but are often available for much less $ due to lower perceived cachet.
Also, a lot of 70s road racing bikes can take 32c tires at least, as has been mentioned. My PX10 can. At one time I was going to set it up as a gravel grinder, but then I got a Rivendell Clem. The Peugeot even with no mods rides pretty well on fire trails. The geometry of early racing bikes is often more touring-like than later road bikes. This is because the pro races used go over some gravel roads.