Help with ID - Gitane... Super Corsa? or TdF?
 

Saw it listed on eBay at $35 start advertised as a "French F&F". Recognized it as Gitane and figured "what the hell?" so I bid. Won it, got heavily reduced shipping after buying a high-flange Record wheelset from the buyer for $80 to combine in.

Gitane Super Corsa or Tour De France? - Album on Imgur

It was mediablasted so no definitive model and I'm waiting on the fork to arrive, seller forgot it. Prugnat lugs, Campy dropouts, nice braise joints and straight lugs, all of which made me suspect SC. Seller is also sending Campy drivetrain parts and clamps, Regina FW, Stronglight 93, and some other stuff which may have actually been SC equipment for early 70s if I recall (maybe the Campy wheelset also?!). Gut tells me it's the original components for the bike but I haven't gotten a definitive answer yes/no from the seller.

Can anyone say definitely if it's an SC or TdF?
(FYI I've seen this and this)

Any ideas what's up with the raised braise spots on the seat stays where the half-moon bridge would normally be? (see album link below for close-ups)

This is what the seller told me before and after auction close, which seems odd, but dunno:

Here are some pics of the frame next to my '72 TdF with comments. TdF came with Bocama lugs, Simplex/Campy mix on dropouts. The relation is clear.

Gitane Super Corsa or Tour De France? - Album on Imgur

This might be [MENTION=61614]verktyg[/MENTION] material. I'm open to any help with ID I can get, so please ... chip in if you have thoughts. :thumb:

Thanks for anything you may be able to share!

Francophile, when you have the fork measure the stack height, that is how to tell if it is a SC or TdF.

SC stack height is about 40/41, TdF is shorter.

edit - I see verktyg has already mentioned this at gitaneusa.

AFA the braise spots, I would say it had the bridge and it was removed. It could still be an SC with the bridge. IIRC, Campag brakes were an option at one time. Mine did not have the bridge.

You can take a look at my photos for further comparison.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cv-6en...57670398855123

The DS rear drop-out looks like it's been replaced to me. I agree with Lynn that the rear bridge appears to have been removed.

FWIW, my SC has the bridge.

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I can't say for sure whether it's a SC or a TdF, but I will say that the drive side dropout looks very hinky and I have to point out that forks never have dropouts.

it's either one or the other, in any case a bargain! I can't tell if there's anything wrong with the DS dropout other than some discoloring, maybe corrosion, maybe even paint/residue from the stripper. I'd reco you put some kind of reinforcement in the rear brake bridge to keep it from collapsing when you install a caliper...

Genuine thanks for the input, folks. Some follow-up:

:thumb: I'm anxiously anticipating the fork, and got confirmation from the seller that some of the parts he's sending along with the fork are original drivetrain.

I suspect it's the case (removed) also, and chances of finding are nil. I'll likely take the braise spots down flush before repaint.

Before I ask why, please know that those photos were taken of the inside of the dropout, so the fish-mouth on the DS dropout is actually on the other side (outward). Is there something else you're seeing that I'm missing?

I think the bridge stopped being used in '73/'74 but can't recall exact date. Would need to dig on it.

There's reinforcement inside, on either side of the hole. Not very visible from that angle. My TdF is the same way. I'd never noticed it though, hence the shot. I thought it seemed like a pretty cheap/not very pretty way to do things.

Part of it may be because it's the inside of the drop-out and I think the areas of missing chrome/discoloration may make it look a little off to me.

It will be interesting to see what the steerer tube measures out to. It sounds like that may be the only way to determine SC or TDF. But... being French, who knows if that was totally consistent or not! Either way, it sounds like you got a great deal.

Use of a rolled piece of material for brake bridge is not uncommon. Carré did it on some of his frames. I have an example of it.

There's some weird blue discoloration on it, wiped off with some 3-in-1. Unlikely it's replaced, it still has the factory stamping inside, as shown.

That said, here's a shot from the outside if it helps.