Identifying Fuji (help!!)
 

Hey guys, I could really use your help. I picked up a fuji 10spd a few months back and have since fallen completely in love with it. I really would love to be able to identify the model, or year, or figure out some sort of information on it. When I purchased it, the paint was in pretty rough shape but even so had very little, if any surface rust. Someone had painted it with what looked to be house paint (shoots self). It is now solid black. I was, at one point, able to locate the serial number, but have since forgotten the location.

The bike came with a sugino crankset, suntour dropouts, bar-end shifters, cinelli stem and handlebars. There was a sticker on the down tube that read "Fuji Racer". This was the only sticker that wasn't covered in orange paint. I have some pictures, but I'm not sure how much help they would be now that the bike has been fixed (bring on the hipster jokes :).

I could care less about "value" or lack there of, I just would love to know more about this bike I have fallen in love with. Any help would be MUCH appreciated! Thanks guys and gals

A picture would help alot. I had a very nice late 80's fuji that I used as a commuter. Most of them have Ishiwata tubing, which is very good in comparison with american and european tube sets. I'd buy another if I had the chance.

Those components could describe a whole lot of Fujis. Try looking through these two threads and matching your frame's characteristics (lugs, seat stay, identifying marks, etc.) to what's shown:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=99546
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=342711

Neal

Heres a picture of it, as it is now. I doubt it'll be much help. I dont think i have any pictures from before. Aside from the wheelset, the components of the bike are origional. I even kept the 42 tooth inner chainring. The bike is lighter than my g/fs nishiki olympic12, which is like half its size. The lugs connecting the head tube to the downtube and top tube are chrome with 3 holes cut into them (i guess to add detail). The chainstays and seat stays are both chromed half of the way up. They also have a little bit of chrome just where they meet the seat tube.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9530/fuji013hl2.jpg
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5201/fuji009ps4.jpg
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7893/fuji003ml8.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1553/fuji002cf6.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5600/fuji001kk9.jpg

::edited for new pix::

good start so far....the sugino cranks are stamped "46.11" which seems as though it was made in november of 1971. Lets hope they are original!

I believe those chromed Cinelli-like lugs were used on the Fuji Finest of that era. Nice bike!

Neal

Neal, thanks for those links and the info. Everything I look at seems to point to it being a finest. I just cant find much info on pre 74-75 fujis. I just cant believe it is that old. Its older than me for peats sake.

SinVoz,

My '72 Finest has a different fork crown, plus the "shorter" Mt. Fuji head badge. My '76 Finest also has a different fork crown (even from the '72) and has the taller Mt. Fuji head badge. Both years have different head tube lugs than yours. The fork crown and might indicate an early "Newest" The Newest would have had partially chromed forks, perhaps the fork completely repainted? The Newest also has the decal "Fuji Racer" on the down tube, the Finest just says "Fuji" Look for the serial number on the bottom of the seat tube, left side, that's where it is on my '72. On my '76 it's underneath the bottom bracket. That in itself may help you date it a bit. Very sweet Fuji.

Cheers,

Scott

Scott,
Thank you, as well, for the help. What are the differences between the head badges? The fork I have WAS partially chromed, then painted. It did have the decal on the down tube that said "Fuji Racer". The chrome on the fork wasnt in the best shape at all. Do the old "Newest" have the chrome lugs? Ill go check again now to see if i can find the serial number. Thanks again.

Mike

looks like the serial begins in F7A which, from what i can tell, means it was made in january of 1972. Is there anything else i can get from the serial? such as the model? Are we pretty sure, now, that its a newest?

SV,

Where was the serial number located? I'll admit, I'm not the best one to confirm serial numbers on Fuji's. My early Finest has a number that still doesn't make sense to me. I'm unsure whether your number reflects the model, from what I've read, it doesn't. Looking thru my files I can't find any other Fuji with a Fuji Racer decal on the down tube other than the Newest.

The tall Mt. Fuji head badge shows up in my '72 catalog scans. The line up that I have is: Newest, Finest, S10-S (Special Road Racer) and the TRS (Track). The Newest appears to be the only model with the tall or skinny head badge.

Maybe someone who owns a Newest can post a photo to get a positive identity.

Scott

Scott,

the serial number is, just as you said, on the left side (opposite the drive-line), of the seat tube. it also says 02047 which seems like it may mean, mine was the 2047th fuji made in jan 1972. Could this mean it was one of the first fujis to hit our shores? Didnt they come over in 1972? Wouldnt that be cool? Where can i find more info, assuming it is a VERY early 70s Newest?

Mike

btw, i cant find anything about the newest having bar end shifters. Can you confirm this was the case?

Mike,

Even though I'm sure you have an early Newest, I don't think it came with bar end shifters. Perhaps the owner had them switched out at purchase. The catalog page shows that it has Suntour shifters on the down tube. I can't remember the model, they had white plastic lever covers. Another decal on the Newest, which I find interesting, on the chain stays it says "ever onward"

I came across a Newest last year that was for sale. Overpriced, what made it worse was the owner had stripped off all the decals. Not repainted, he just removed the decals with solvent. The only way I could confirm that it was a Newest is that he had kept the original sales slip.

I'm still looking for one.

Scott

Scott,

Wouldnt there be something left on the downtube, such as holes or fittings for the shifters? B/c there isnt. On the chain stays, there were stickers but I could only make out a couple letters of each. Ever Onward would have fit though.

What are the chances of me finding a NOS or decent replica sticker kit? Im planning on having this bike stripped and powder coated or painted. I'd sure love to have the original stickers on it once I do.

Mike

"Wouldnt there be something left on the downtube, such as holes or fittings for the shifters?"

Mike, no there wouldn't have been. The shifters had the wrap around band, not braze ons. I'm sure the original paint would have shown some marks or scratches from the shifters.

Do a search on the forum for decals, you'll come up with someone (JR) who has been doing some very nice replacement decals. His email address is wandson1@msn.com I just contacted him last week about creating a set for Fuji Professional. I'm in the midst of measuring and photographing mine so he'll have something to work from. That will be your biggest challenge, finding copies of the original decals to send him.

Drop me a PM with your email address, I'll send some images to you.

Scott