Just picked this up, any idea of year and quality? It's Super Vitus 983 frame. Thanks

The white on the head tube is dried wax, should clean up nice.

Circa 1984, 3rd from the top of the range. Same frame as the one step higher Super Corsa, but with mostly Italian, Ofmega components, as opposed to the mainly French components on the Super Corsa. Nice acquisition. Enjoy.

Edit: Forgot to mention that SV983 is roughly equivalent to Columbus SL or Reynolds 531C.

Thank you!

Nice find! I love the quirkyness of the Mistral parts. I want one of those RD's in pink.

Nice looking bike..except for those crappy Mavic MA40 rims. You may send those my way!

This version of Gitane's TDF was quirky, in that a bike that pays homage to the great French bike race, will be equipped with an Italian component gruppo, from what most consider a second tier manufacturer, none-the-less....
Th Mistral was itself quirky especially how the crankset design did not really relate that we'll with the plastic bodied front and rear derailleurs. The company's all aluminum Premier model derailleur set, was obviously designed with the Mistral crankset in mind, but I guess somebody at the top of the Ofmega product food chain decided otherwise.
That is why the Mistral gruppo (except for the crankset, which generated a big following mostly after they were not being sold anymore) was pretty much a flop....
Don't get me wrong, I love this bike, and had seriously considered buying it, in lieu of the Peugeot PSV that I still have now, bit it's just interesting to really look over this bike now and try to figure out what Gitane was thinking when they put it together.....

Possible reasons:

1. The traditional French component suppliers were in a bad state at the time.
2. The French groups were a mix and match from different suppliers with no uniform cosmetics.
3. Ofmega offered a reasonably price alternative and offered a range of cohesive groups.
4. Ofmega wasn't German based, like Sachs, which by this time owned Huret.
5. Ofmega, being European would appeal more to competition segment of the market than SunTour or Shimano
6. The plastic Ofmega Mistral derailleurs, would appeal to the French market, who favoured light weight and offered some continuity for Simplex users.

By getting Ofmega on board with at least one bicycle, Gitane, they were establishing a relationship in case there other sources disappeared or became less popular. Double sourcing is a common ploy. You give the 2nd source just enough business to keep them on board, in case you primary supplier can't supply you, loses market popularity etc. The American brands used to do this with their Japanese sources. When SunTour was popular they'd offer at least one model with Shimano. When the market shifted to Shimano, they offered at least one SunTour model, in case the market shifted again. It's the cycling equivalent of not putting all your eggs in one basket.

Some great info, thanks.

Soooo...... maybe they should have thought twice about naming this bike the TDF?...... maybe if should be the "Super Corsa" instead.... and vice versa?......
I guess after all, Gitane is French, so they can be excused for being different about things.....

Here's some fun, recommended reading: Disraeli Gears - a derailleur collection