The singlespeed and three-speed Free Spirit Brittany models may be the best non-Ted Williams products ever to wear that brand name. I realize this is the derailer-equipped model - which I'm less favorable to only as I'm partial to IGHs on city bikes - but as a 3-speed, they're extremely capable.
They're easily on par with any Raleigh Sports - in both the good and the bad - and can be upgraded as such. About the only downsides are the cheap chainguard and the Shimano 333 hubs spec'ed on them, but who hasn't wanted to upgrade those on a Sports either?
I also had this absolute beater of a Brittany at one time. Best will-never-get-stolen-ever bike I've ever had. It's also the bike that taught me that the bastardization of a coasterbrake on drop bars
is actually a really ridiculously fun combination, if you don't mind wearing out tires.
Little 500 FTW!
-Kurt