Kevindale

This is more in the realm of window shopping/killing time with a bad head cold, but I saw this Peugeot on the local Craigslist:


I had to look up Carbo Profil 103 - it's the aero-shaped version of Carbolite 103, and was used in model PH12, which in 1982 was the special edition bike celebrating 100 years of Peugeot. It appears that the PH12 was made for a couple more years, and in the US catalogs it's listed as being in metallic silver in 1982 (though the photos I've found make it appear pearl white) and then pearl white in 1983 and 1984.

I think this is a decent but nothing-too-special bike (I had a 1983 PH10s as my second road bike, and while it was fine transportation, it never got me to jazzed), but what got me intrigued is the dark grey color, which doesn't fit. It's being sold in the middle-of-nowhere, Texas, in a color that doesn't make sense. Then I looked closely at the bike shop sticker -- from Mainz, Germany! The German Peugeot catalog from 1982 doesn't show a photo of the Anniversary Edition (Jubilaums Modell), but it's in the price list for that year. It was 870 DM at the time (compared to 1515 DM for a PX10E, 2875 DM for a PZ10D, and 3650 for a PRO10). In subsequent German catalogs it's shown as sporting pearl white paint.

Oh, and can someone explain to me why this model doesn't seem to show up at all in the French catalogs?

Interestingly, this bike also doesn't have the special head badge that the US anniversary versions got. Anyway, I'm thinking this is a 1982 German PH12. It's priced right, at $69. Am I wrong about this bike not being anything too special?

Chombi1 

The Peugeot PH12 Centennial Commemorative bike was issued by Peugeot as a mostly just a marketing exercise to spread the word in the cycling world that Peugeot had made it to its hundredth year as a bike manufacturer.
The bike was made to a budget that assured they sold a lot of them, thus the not so special squashed Carbo Profil tubing and just enough special touches like the nice pearl white finish, impressive looking Centennial graphics, internal cable routing, aero bottle and cage, and the ultra lightweight CLB brakeset. enough stuff on it to attract the then aero fad fans of that time.
Lots of them were sold and lots of them still survive, because many owners stashed them away hardly ridden, thinking that they could be worth a lot of money in the future. They do sell for decent money in VGC these days, but nowhere near what some speculative owners thought they would be worth..... Now if only Peugeot at least used squashed Supervitus 980 tubing on the bike, it would be a whole different story, IMO......

T-Mar

It was typical for full range manufacturers to base special editions on entry level models. This way, it appealed to the largest market segment and could make them more money than if it was based on a high end model, which only appealed to a small market segment.

A PH12 with aero profile Carbolite 103 does appear in the 1983 French catalogue. While there is none in the 1982 French catalogue, neither is there one in the 1982 British or German catalogues. The French and British markets may have been in the same situation as Germany, where the model appeared after the catalogues were printed. It's possible that the protoype wasn't ready by the time that the pictures had to be taken for catalogue layout and printing. Initial printing of the price list would almost certainly have happened later, to ensure prices were accurate.

The other possibility is that they conscientiously decided not to include it. The exclusivity of a non-catalogued item can be used as marketing tool to promote sales. This would be especially attractive to first buyers when combined with a limited anniversary edition and novel (i.e aero) styling.

Kevindale

Ah, I missed the French entry in the 1983 cat. It's interesting to me that this seems to have all it original components (except the aero bottle and bottle cage), but lacks the anniversary head badge and is in grey. I'm guessing even the original saddle is under that lumpy aftermarket padded sleeve. This example would probably clean up well and be a good rider for someone, but it's too big a drive for me consider.

zukahn1 

While not real special a somewhat interesting bike entry level Aero bikes were short lived fad basically 82-85 or so and this is one of the nicer examples. Looks to not have a lot of were but has been neglected for some time rusted spokes flat tires so it will need a full overhaul and maybe wheels. Still a fairly good deal at $69 for a taller rider who wants nice basic road bike that's a little different.

Chombi

To add, around the same time, Motobecane produced and sold their "Profil I & II series aero bikes using mostly the same design formula as Peugeot did for the PH12.
Hi ten carbon steel (1020 and 2040) frame with tubes shaped and seam welded to quite impressively deep aero profiles. Aero components that look very interesting (for the time) but entry level (Base level Shimano Adamas and FFS).
The Motobecane looked very much the part of a "serious" aero race bike with radical, tight and steep looking frame geometry and frame tubing profiles (I still remeber how my brother had to deflate the rear tire to remove the rear wheel from the frame and how he complained all the time that the bike was overly stiff in the vertical plane, making it very unconfortable to ride for even a a few miles.).....that is until you lift the bike and realize it weighs like a boat anchor, and the Adamas components , especially the brakeset, were mostly untunable, poorly engineered junk with plastic bits that literally fell off after just a few miles......but dang, the Profils sure did turn a lot of heads on the road.
In the end, the PH12 was a much better bike on the road because it did not try and stretch the aero theme as the Motorola Profil did with a very limited budget, but the Moto and Peugeot aero bikes were definitely good representatives for that era of cycling and marketing trends......

Kevindale

It's funny how these trends wash in and out, and then back in. Lots of money being spent currently developing and selling aero CF frames/forks. Given the very small gains in aerodynamics from the frame (compared to rider position, clothing, handlebars, wheels...), it seems a bit much. Anyway, I like these little windows into the past.

T-Mar

When you're competing, every little bit helps and the market is full of wannabes willing to pay for equipment that looks like a top line pro bicycle. That's why companies can make YOU pay extravagant prices to own gear that promotes sponsors, when the sponsors should be paying you to advertise for them. These days, for most people, it's all about image, not substance. A former teammate had a saying which summed things up nicely for the current generation, "It's not how good you are, it's how good you look doing it."

mzr

I've been looking for a Peugeot in Dallas, but they're all overpriced. Let me know if you pass on this one, my only problem is its three hours away.

Kevindale

I'm definitely passing. Too far for me. Before I realized how far away it was, I did call the number in the ad, got a voicemail and left a message. No call back, at least yet. I also sent an email through CL, asking a couple of questions, and haven't gotten a response to that, either.

If they respond I suppose there's a chance they head into Dallas periodically, or you could try to arrange an intermediate meeting. Good luck.

mzr

I decided to get it. I like projects, and not liking anything around Dallas/Fort Worth Peugeot-wise I took a three-hour drive. The seller was wonderful, and I mentioned to her how I heard about it and she told me somebody named Kevin asked a lot of questions. Heh. The seat is not the original, but its a nice WTB Speed V that will go on a '92 Marin Eldridge Grade that I'm building up. I think the seat post is stuck, and it is missing the binder bolt but at least its at the right height for me until I get it unstuck. The last time it was cabled somebody put the cables outside of the guides.




Edit: Seat post no longer stuck. Sprayed some PB Blaster in the channels of the post and then clamped it in a vise, one good turn with the frame and it popped free.

Kevindale

I'm so glad you got it! Yes, once the seller connected with me, she was really super sweet. I was going to post the additional photos she sent me, but they were frankly pretty blurry and didn't add much. It's a handsome bike, and the grey with orange trim looks great. I could see you going with some subtle orange cables (not the super neon safety orange). I look forward to a ride report.