Rare Raleigh chrome
 

So I'm minding my own business, checking the forums when a PM pops up from [MENTION=333224]juvela[/MENTION]. Turns out there's a 1970 chrome Raleigh Grand Sports frame for sale on Craigslist in LA. Yeah, that's pretty damn interesting, but it's an inch too big and an inch too high in price. The description made me believe that the guy selling it knew what he had and knew vintage bikes a bit, so I emailed him to tell him that it was quite a frame, and wondered if he was active on BF, just to make conversation, see. Turns out he isn't, but does have a Centurion Semi Pro and Pro Tour, so he has good taste. We go back and forth, and he tells me he's a reasonable guy, and would really like to make sure the frame went to a good home. Yada-yada, I rode an inch too high Super Course when I was a teenager, and french fit is a thing, so...

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0b67bb7333.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f0b31361c5.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c5d59b6abb.jpg

I'm seeing this with a Sturmey Archer IGH, a nice Carradice saddle bag, and some upright handlebars.

Oh, and more pix.

H**Y CRAP!

This gives new meaning to Grander AND Sportier, absolutely fabulous AND shiny. :love:

...that's a pimpin' ride.

Beautiful!

unicorns DO exist. :eek:

Dang. That's something.

Wow, that bike is a show-stopper. Purdy. I'd be afraid to ride it, I would probably would cry the first time it got splashed by mud (or tried to straddle to top tube).

It couldn't be in better hands, or with more copacetic bike company.

Waiting for the thread. Does a dozen Raleighs make you a Grandier Sport(s)?

Does Guiness have a record for most Gran(d) Sport(s) in one household?? ;)

Congrats, and kudos for giving a home to a deserving frame! Definitely a cool frame and rather uncommon! Based on poking through the few Raleigh catalogs floating around the interwebs, it looks a lot like the 1970 Gran Sport...

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6eae202239.jpg

It looks like yours could be the version described as "black with gold trim".
The choice to leave the BB shell and seat tube junction black is quite prudent... no need to polish around the tight spaces where the tubes gather.
Are the painted sections opaque, or are they similar to cromovelato, and probably quite fragile?

Steve in Peoria
(and by chance, quite fond of the 24 1/2" Raleighs... just sayin'. :) )
edit: just noticed that the catalog says it came in 23 1/2 and 25 1/2... no 24 1/2". A shame! 25 1/2" would be beyond my comfort zone.

if it is a 1970 and came with a Zeus crank, there's a replacement close (very close) to you!

Beautiful bike do post as the build proceeds.

"With great bikes, comes great responsibility."

Now I know why you need a publicist.

Unless you're just using him/her for the bike rack....

[MENTION=113466]steelbikeguy[/MENTION], yeah, 1970 model. Sky at Velocult (which closed down recently) had one, but the paint and decals was all stripped off. He knew of 2 others in existence stateside. [MENTION=45088]nlerner[/MENTION] probably owned one of them. The chrome is completely smooth where some of the paint chipped off, so there's little to hold it on. What I've heard is that they made a very short run for the catalog and to show off to dealers, but never went to production with them. The few that were made were snapped up by dealers.

Interesting thing about the seller, he bought a Bianchi track bike from Billy Nye the Science Guy.
[MENTION=108582]RobbieTunes[/MENTION], I do abuse [MENTION=111144]Andy_K[/MENTION] for bike hauling privileges. Or maybe he has been in my pickup once and was scared of my driving...

Maybe, maybe...let's talk. Steel, cottered?

Check with your publicist/chauffeur.

Any more titles and he'll want a raise...

Pretty frame. The contrast is very nice.