Originally Posted by
albrt
What are the telltale differences between 71 and 72-73 without looking at the dropout numbers? I have some 71s and they look pretty similar (except for the component changes you noted).
The GitaneUSA site has a thread about dating the Tour de France, but you'll have to access it through the wayback machine (internet archive). Here is a post by verktyg that mentions a few of those threads:
Gitane TdF
Things that changed over time (old to new) include long point to short point lugs, capped to swaged seat stay tops, brazed rear brake cable hanger to binder bolt-mounted MAFAC hanger, Stronglight 93 to Sugino Mighty Competition chainset.
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72 Fuji Finest 72+76 Super Course, 72 Gitane Tour de France, 74 P-10 & 79 Tandem Paramounts, 76 Grand Jubile,84 Raleigh Alyeska, 84 Voyageur SP, 85 Miyata Sport 10 mixte 89 Cannondale ST400 and a queue