I may be vintage but I'm not sure I'm a classic, but that's another discussion....anyway to my bike.

When I was in college in 1969, I purchased a Raleigh Carlton Competition from Dade Cycle Shop in Coconut Grove, Florida. From poking around RetroRaleigh, it seems this was the second year they were made and the first with the Bronze Green color...serial is Dxxxx.

It has 27 inch wheels with Nisi-Evian and Light Alloy Corsa stickers. It has 531 Reynolds Butted tubes, forks and stays on a 23 1/2 inch frame. It is all original (down to the same wraps on the handle-bars) except for new tires. ( I have the Raleigh catalog with the bike pictured...at that time they sold it to me for $159.00!)

The Competition has been in my basement for about 30 years and is in very good condition.

Could anyone give me an approximate value for this bike if I sold it in today's market.

TIA,
Norm

Check eBay periodically for the going rate for Raligh Pros and Internationals of your vintage. Your Carlton should be comparable, perhaps a bit higher.

It could easily command a little more than a pro becuase of its relative rarity. What a sweet ride! I had a '77 International and a '79 Pro. Still have most of the Campy parts here and there, but the frames are long gone.

The Nuovo REcord gruppo from the International is on a '79 Benotto frame with a pair of Modolos on it since the International had Wienmann center-pulls.

John E., Had the same year Bianchi Campione d'Itlaia. Was working in a shop part time and spending all my money on the product! That one was stolen while still pretty new.

Can't help with pricing but your post brings back memories. I grew up in N. Miami Beach and remember both the Grove Shop and "The Great Coconut Grove Bicycle Race." The Grove used to be the destination of our longer rides, we usually rode to Haulover Beach. This would be a little later than you, about 1977 or so.

INMO...The Raleigh came from a period of well made English
bikes and as such would be worth more in riding than in
dollars. To get bike of the level of durablity,quality of
ride & utility today often cost several hundreds of $$$$$.
That said, you,in fact, own a honest to goodness bargain.

One thing is sure.......you won't make enough $$$$ selling
the Raleigh to make it worth the bother.

Walter,

The Grove was a special place during that time period. I don't remember the name of the beach, but we used to head out from the Grove bike shop past the playhouse (saw Hair live there) to a small beach..private if I recall..had to pay a couple of bucks...had tiki style thatched huts..what a place. Some of the bike paths were rather remote. I also remember a black snake that had to be six feet long crossing the path just before a rode over the stretch...almost wet my shorts. Also remember Roy's Ribs with ribs and sweet potatoe pie...maybe because it's about lunch time.

Watching the Tour...looks like Lance might win this last stage before Paris too...

Nice to recall those times.

Best regards,
Norm

Tightwad,

Like that handle...me too.

Thanks for the honest reply. I guess I thought since it was in such good shape that if it was worth into four figures possibly, that it may be better to sell it than ride it. It may be more hassle than it's worth...

I'm watching the last time trial...heck I may just go for a spin after it's over.

Regards,
Norm

Bikes such as this are a treasure to own and ride they are
often that good. What they lack in todays zip & flash will
not matter much when you understand the basic hardcore
quality of these old english rides. Today's bikes are made to
be throw aways to keep the factories humming. The early
Raleigh are a classic example why you don't want to make'm
to good and put yourself out of a job. The early Raleighs'
were a workingman's bike and had to be durable.

I have a Raleigh Competition GS Carlton I converted to fixed. I love that damn thing.

This thread is making me want to ask my wife' sister whether she now wants to sell her mostly-Campag. blue-over-chrome early 1970s Carlton. I don't need another bike, but it would be nice to have a fine specimen from the U.K, since I already have Austria, France, and Italy covered.