Is this a Raleigh Professional?
 

I am having problems verifying that this bike I am looking at buying is actually a 70's Raleigh Professional as advertised. The pictures aren't to good, but you can see the serial number doesn't appear to be in a Raleigh format. The seat cluster appears similar to the 1977 version, however it comes with Campy Record 5 speed components. It should be 6 speed if it was made after Raleigh went to that seat cluster. Can anyone shed any light on this?
http://i6.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/bc/6a/ee27_12.JPG

http://i14.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/bc/6a/e5b3_12.JPG

http://i14.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/bc/6a/ea27_12.JPG

http://i24.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/bc/6a/ef59_12.JPG

http://i6.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/bc/6a/f3d8_12.JPG

http://i3.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/bc/6a/f835_12.JPG

I don't think so. The serial number doesn't seem to be Raleigh. The seat stays are about right for a 1969/1970 Raleigh Professional, but the color of the frame and the chromed lugs are evidence against that possibility.

Can you post a head-on of the head tube? Closer shots of some of the lugs?

Looks Ital-Vega to me. my bet is BB threads are 36 x 24, Columbus tubing probably too.

I have asked the seller in California for better pictures and clarification of the serial number problem. I am also concerned that the headtube doesn't look right, but I am by no means an expert.

I have a 1970 that I spent many hours handling as I sanded it down to bare metal (Dr. Deltron has it now). I see similarities, but also differences. Can you ask the seller if there are any other markings on the bottom bracket? If it's a Raleigh Professional (or possibly one of the other models), it will have three letters on another part of the shell.

I also noticed the seller lists the frame material as Columbus tubing. Wouldn't all Raleigh Professionals have Reynolds 531?

You're right, I didn't even notice that.
Here is the link to Ebay if anyone wants to look at it. I think I am going to pass.

CardiacKid it seems that we like the same bikes. I bid on the Hetchins that you won. This is not a Raleigh. I'm not saying that to deceive you as I considered placing a bid. This bike failed to sell earlier at about $520. I emailed the seller yesterday asking to confirm the serial no. but have yet to hear back. He also failed to respond to my questions on another auction. Yet he maintains a 100% positive feedback! Go figure. I believe that it's an Italvega also. Save your hard earned money for the real deal!

Great minds think alike:)

No, looks like an Italvega. Nice bike too though.

It does look exactly like the Italvega on Classic Rendezvous. It is a pretty nice bike with good components, if that is what I was in the market for.

It's an Italvega Super Speciale

It looks like an Italvega to me, as well. Let us know what the seller tells you regarding bottom bracket cup diameter.

I concur, it is an Italvega SS. And I would take it over a Raleigh Pro in a heartbeat. Go Italia!

Why?

This is just my opinion but I've owned a mid 70's Pro and a early 70's top model Italvega. I never liked the way the Raleigh handled. It did not feel balanced fore/aft to me and I did not like the clunky way it "turned in" to corners. The Vega on the other hand had a sweet well balanced ride like a proper Italian race bike. Both were about 21"/54cm frames and fit me well.

The bikes have what I would consider equal build quality, equal quality tubesets, and the same Campy NR group. So between the two I vote Vega.

betcha a cookie it is an Italvega. A sweet bike, but not a Raleigh Pro.

I sent him an ebay message giving him the opinion that it is not a Raleigh yesterday. So far no response and no change to the ebay listing.