Hey all!
I have lurked here a long time and this is my first post so please redirect me if I'm posting in the wrong place.

I came across this Gitane on Craigslist. It has Campy drop outs, FD, BB, headset and shifters. The frame is all Reynolds 531 tubing. 3ttt stem (after market?) Rando bars. Mafac Racer center pull brakes. It also has rack and head light? braze ons on the fork and wire guides under the down tube. The left rear drop out is stamped 553042. The top head tube lug has a "72" stamped in it.

I've scoured the Internet for photos of Gitanes and this looks like it should be a Grand Tourisme based on all the original components (I think) came on it. Either that or a Super Corsa. I have emailed Gitane USA to help as well. Any help from you all would be awesome!
Here are some pictures in the link below.
https://imgur.com/a/QT5n0

531 tubing if used on the whole frame and fork, and Campy DO's will usually be a sign that it is a high line model on older Gitanes. It was on later 80's race bikes that they used Columbus tubing on their top line race replica models. The "72" on the head lug usually denotes the angle of the headstock on the frame. 72 degress is quite typical on C&V French bikes which gave them a lot of stability (IIRC, my 1984 Peugeot PSV has a "72" also stamped on its long point BCM head lugs visible under the paint.), but I had seen many Gitanes that had steeper geometries. Like the "Criterium" model that my brother had.....

Oow! That is a nice frame. Subscribing!

BTW, you're very much in the right place, as far as I'm concerned.

Based on the fork braze-ons, I'd rule out a Super Corsa. Looks like a Grand Tourisme from photos I could find online. Nice find!

Thanks for the replies everyone. Were the Grand Tourisme "rare" in the US? This one looks to be 70-72 judging by the foil decals and Reynolds stickers right?

Waiting for Chas to chime in.

Top

Yup.,that's a GT.,they were fairly scarce in the US during that time frame. The Tour De France out sold these by a long way, I would think.
Nice bike. Color was called Champion Blue if I remember correctly.

BTW, the 72 on the head lug should refer to the angle.

I figured it was the brazers mark but that makes more sense for the tube angle.

The frame is way too tall for me so I would like to clean her up and sell it. What would be a fair price range of I kept all the campy, bars, stem and brake system on there?

Touring oriented bikes were a hard sell in the USA in the seventies. We wanted race bikes because they were the fastest.

She'll be up for sale soon. Is there a classifieds here?

1972 or 73 Gitane Gran Toursime. They were all Campy except for MAFAC brakes. Some had Campy NR triple cranks. They came with chrome plated steel racks, fenders and lights running from a Soubetiz generator mounted on the bracket on the front fork.

The ones sold by Mel Pinto Imports had 27" alloy rims. They were way ahead of the curve... the touring boom in the US didn't get going strong until ~1975-76.

I had one briefly. I got a bare frame and built it up for touring. It was an odd ball 53cm size (for Gitane). The head tube was 69° and seat tube 71°. It rode and handled like a wheelbarrow! The bigger size frames should ride and handle great.

Recently there were 2 NOS Gitane GT bare frames on eBay, a 54cm and a 57cm. They didn't have decals. I think that they sold for $250 for the pair plus shipping. I watched them for a while but I'm in herd thinning mode.

verktyg

Chas.

Nice! What are your plans for it? I believe the period correct foil decals that are missing are available from Cyclomondo on eBay or direct. I restored a Gitane over the winter, but mine was 75-76 so it had the later decals, which i don't think are as nice looking as the foil decals imho. What type of derailleur is that on the back?

It is a Huret Duo Par Eco. The GT came with a Campy Gran turismo. Some one also swapped the either double or triple Campy cranks for a Shimano Bio Pace.

She is much too big for me and I have 2 projects right now already so I am going to clean her up, take off the non original parts and sell her. This would be a keeper if I could only stretch my legs permanently.

We have a "Classic and Vintage Sales" forum. You need to become a member to sell on it.