vintage GITANE frame & fork Reynolds 531 tubing Nervex lugs



Looks like some of the decals could be newer than the rest of the frame.



The semi-hammered look of the seat tube decal is interesting.



I've seen older 531 decals like this one before, but, never one exactly like this one - the 531 is light colored on what appears to be a blue background.

The picture is Jacques Anquetil not Jean Stablinski.

Anquetil




Stablinski




The frame is probably a 1962-64 Gitane Tour de France also called "Model 102".



Gitanes with diagonal stripes on the seat tube are pretty rare.


Your frame has butted Reynolds 531 main tubes with Durifort forks and stays. Many French bike manufacturers used that combination on their better quality frames up through the early 70's.

Old water slide Reynolds 531 decals faded especially ones in french. It probably looked like this one.



All Reynolds 531 frames were not very common on French production bikes from that era. The were top of the line models and usually came with some if not all Campy components (except for MAFAC brakes).


Looks like a great frame. I'd build it up with classic French components like Stronglight 49 or TA cranks, MAFAC brakes and maybe Campy NR derailleurs.

The seat tube decal isn't hammered, it's deteriorating - it's over 50 years old. Be careful with all of the decals they're fragile.

verktyg

Chas.

Chas.,

The frameset is not mine, I spotted it on the internet and thought others might be interested.

Thanks for the clarifications, I was not sure who the portrait was, hence the question mark.

Since the frame was only 3-tubes 531, I thought it might be a mid-level frame not knowing it could be a precursor of the TdF.

Is that what the "102" that was cut off of the later TdF fork decals refers to?

Yes. In 1968 Gitane changed the model number for their Tour de France bikes from 102 to 585.

The French were infamous for frugality. Instead of creating new fork stickers for TdF bikes, they cut the 102 number off with scissors!



https://www.gitaneusa.com/images/cata...8/1968_pg3.jpg

BTW, on the European market TdF frames, only the 3 main tubes were butted Reynolds 531. This continued up to the 1976 models when they went to all Reynolds tubing. Only the forks were 1/2 chrome plated. The rear triangles were painted. They came with either Simplex or Huret rear dropouts depending on the brand of derailleurs the bike was equipped with.

The French thought very highly of Huret derailleurs - they were their answer to all metal Campagnolo derailleurs!


The TdF bikes imported into the US by Mel Pinto Imports had all Reynolds 531 frames (except for the steerer, head tube and brake bridge). The rear triangle was 1/2 chromed and they all came with Simplex Criterium derailleurs. They weren't available until the spring of 1969.

In 1974 importation and distribution of Gitanes in the US switched to Gitane Pacific. The few Tour de France bikes that they imported came with 27" wheels rather than sewups. Otherwise they were the same as the European market bikes and had Huret honeycomb rear dropouts.

verktyg

Chas.