high end raleigh
 

hey,
i have a raleigh grand prix, teal and purple. its very nice and light, lugged, reynolds 531 tubing, good condition mechanically. the paint job doesnt look so hot. its 57cm c-c.
im wondering if its worth more as just a frame? or with all the parts. im thinking about parting it out, or selling it whole, but im not sure because i like this bike so much? whats it worth?
it has shimano 105 levers, brakes, DT shifters, derailleurs. biopace rings, shimano cranks. sealed BB,
i built the wheels- suzue hubs velocity razor rear, velocity deep V front. wheels are like new (it could use a good cleanup.
oh, and i know the saddle and stem dont look good.. i would switch them out if i were to sell. thanks

oh, i meant to add one more thing. there are no dents or dings, and i have never seen this quality lugwork on a raleigh before. hope that helps. anyone know what year this was made?

Looks mid 80's. You should be able to figure out what year it was made here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/raleigh.html.
It might be difficult with that hodgepodge of parts though. I built up a similar grand prix with mismatched parts from my parts bin and sold it to a friend for $60.
If you clean it up, change the front wheel, and change the stem, it would be a lot more desirable.
The long reach brake levers are a plus, so are the levers.

The same Grand Prix, with original components and better condition, was listed twice, maybe three times, by a local shop for $250, so it sold for at most that amount.

Dunno if it was just tuned or overhauled by the shop.

The wheels might be newish, but the mismatched components, the dirt and the scratched up paint really hurt the value.

1985 Grand Prix had Raleigh 555 tubing, not Reynolds 531. Can you take a picture of the tubing sticker? The Grand Prix was their entry road sport model, was 24 pounds, which by the mid 1980s, was a mid range weight (not high end). Unfortunately, the private labeled tubing gets a lot less respect, even though it is good, compared to recognized brands.

Needs matching wheels and tires, new stem, raise the seat, full service, to get maximum value. In present condition, it is a project, and people buying projects (like me) look for hefty discounts to cover the cost and time of the rehab. Really depends on your market. In a red hot market, any vintage road bike, even one needing some TLC, will do well. Around here, not so.

In building wheels, my advice is to always match the rims, as they are eye catchers. As a minimum, match the rim finish and profile. If you don't match hubs, its not so noticable (assuming hubs have the same finish and flange size). Buyers see a different rim on the front, and assume the bike has been crashed, even if it hasn't.

1986 Grand Prix had 531 main tubes.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/1986raleighcat_usa_05_lg.jpg

Isn't that an old Schwinn stem? I'm surprised it even fits in there.