WTH is this?!
 

Well, I made it almost 6 months without buying a bike but "this" popped up on FB this morning for $20 and it was only about a mile from work. The pictures weren't very good but it had barcons and a Sugino Maxy crankset I thought I could use on one of my projects. I have NO idea what it was originally, I suspect it's a parts bin build. 23" frame, feels very light but has stamped dropouts, forks are bent slightly, small dimple in side of head tube but no other apparent damage and no signs it ever had a kickstand. Trashed Brooks saddle, tire wipers, RFG high flange QR hubs laced to Ambrosia clincher rims. Intact Simplex FD, Suntour "U" RD and Weinmann 999 brake levers and calipers, GB stem and bars. It's been painted but the paint underneath appears to be white also, no sign of any decals and 3 holes from a head badge. There's a SN in the LH rear DO I believe is either "U6845" or "O6845" with the top chopped off the O. I didn't get a good picture but the seat binder bolt has a red insert with a gold colored "C" although it very well came from something else. I can get the dent out of the head tube and I'll take a stab at straightening the forks, they aren't too bad. It needs some serious TLC but it might be worth it.

OK, guys, make me proud! WTH did I buy besides a hodge podge of parts LOL?

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b01fee7df.jpeg
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It looks a little bit like a rattle canned raleigh super course to me.

I saw this on Facebook marketplace. I would have bought it at $20. Looks British for sure and may well be a Raleigh Supercourse.

That's my gut feeling too, which would be cool since I don't have one LOL.

It’s a mid 60s Raleigh Carlton, which in 1968 did change into the Super Course. The latter Super Course model had a few differences including chrome stay ends and seat stays with a different wrap around, Crespera lugs, and a different GB stem. That drilled stem you have is original and kind of a tough find. Here are some photos of a 1965 Raleigh Carlton frame that I have sitting around. That’s a nice find you have!
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7f73b799e.jpeg
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Wasn’t this bike advertised as yard art? It looked too good to be left outside and the shifters are worth more than you paid for the bike.

Hey I was 50% right. That's a passing mark.

Definitely a passing mark. I think anyone who wants an early Super Course would be really happy to find a Raleigh Carlton.

Yeah, yard art or parts. No way was it becoming yard art! I initially bought it for the shifters and they aren't even stuck in the bars! Can you believe it? :D


REAL, REAL happy!!!! :thumb::thumb:

The OP's bike is very similar to this mid to late sixties Carlton Corsair that was rebadged, by Raleigh, for sale in the North American market...

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...827354d6c0.jpg
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The head tube and seat tube lugs are considerably different, mine match the bike Pcampeau posted to a tee. The difference between mine and the frame he posted pics of is that his had forged dropouts and mine are stamped but from what I've read over the past hour or so many of the Carlton's did have stamped DO's. Given that only the main triangle was 531 it wouldn't be all that odd. I'm going to see if there are remnants of decals under the repaint but I'm not optimistic I'll find any.

Decals are available through Velocals, let me know if you’d like any decal photos or measurements for placement.

I definitely will. Since it's been repainted and has had so much changed I will probably do a factory "themed" paint scheme although not necessarily in original colors. I may do it in the same red as my '71 Grand Prix I had as a kid with the black bands and gold script. I'll polish up the bars and stem and keep those. Probably the brakes as well. From there I'm not sure. The Suntour RD is twisted and while the Simplex FD isn't broken now I don't feel like tempting fate. The Maxy crankset has to go as well, I have a home for it as it was half the reason I bought the bike in the first place. I have a set of Campy NR derailleurs and DT shifers I could use. I have boxes of vintage Suntour but as much as I like Suntour this one will be all European components. I guess I'll see what pops up. Maybe another $20 parts bike will come along with some cool 60's components.... :D

It could also be a Raleigh Nottingham, it's been a long time but I think the Nottingham used stamped rear dropouts instead of forged like the Carlton. Anyway feel free to correct my memory.

Here's a stamped dropout on a Carlton, follow the link for the full thread and pics. https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...h-carlton.html

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...196b7591ac.jpg

I think you should just fix it up and ride it.

Not this one, I have plenty of "patina" bikes to build. It's complicated but THIS one has to be built a certain way. It's not quite the Raleigh I wanted 50 years ago but it's close enough to work.

It's too small, right? It's just my size though, ;)

Sorry LOL, while I ride mostly 25" frames 24" is my sweet spot and this is a 23.5" so it's just about perfect. I've been wanting a '72 or older Raleigh, preferably Carlton built, for a long time and this one fills the bill perfectly, I can paint and build it exactly how I want.

I've been looking at several of my other projects and finished road bikes, mostly '82 to '90 vintage, since getting this and they just don't have the same allure, they're too "new" now and I think most of them will get sold. I'll keep the older bikes like the '81 Peugeot PXN10, '77 PRN10 and the '73 Gitane Tour de France and '72/'73 Interclub, the '79 Soma Prestige because I love the ride and the Nissan Cherry because it's such an oddball. I'll also keep a few 80's bikes like my '85 Raleigh Racing USA Series Prestige, Competition and Grand Prix because I'm a Raleigh guy from way back; the '82 Nishiki International because it's in such fantastic shape and the '84 Focus because it's so unique and a sweet ride but most of my other road bikes will get sold off. I need to reduce the herd significantly anyway, now is the time.

At least do this before you invest in it. You might love it.

I think you meant I "might not love it." Yah, might not be a bad idea but it will take quite a bit to put it back on the road but I'll patch it up just enough to try it out, I certainly have PLENTY of parts LOL but I have to believe the ride and handling would be comparable to an early 70's Super Course. A friend of mine had one and I took it for a spin a few times. It was a little too small for me or I would have bought it when he sold it but even being too small I LOVED the way it rode and handled.

I meant you might love it. But both are true; you might not love it. I trash-picked a 1971 Super Course and built it up cursorily and loved it far more than I expected. It's been my testbed bike, so I've rebuilt it many times, and now it's a winter/gravel/errand/all-purpose bike.

I have high expectations that I'm going to become very attached to this one for several reasons. Not the least of which is the nostalgic itch I've been harboring for my old Grand Prix. I think this could satisfy that several times over since even back then as much as I loved that GP I wanted a higher end Raleigh with aluminum wheels. A Super Course has been on the list for a long time and the older the better. This one checks off those 2 boxes. What better than a "Pre" Super Course? :D

hmm.... need to make a mental note of this. I ride 24 1/2" Raleighs, and currently have a 24 1/2" International and a 60cm Raleigh Team 753. Always good to know other folks who ride the same size, just in case. :)

Steve in Peoria

Especially when they're just up the road a bit. :)