Reynolds 753 that's quite the collection! I particularly like the last bike with the matching blue benotto tape, it looks fantastic. Man, I miss my Gitane!

Just got this build completed and I figured this was the place to show it. It's a Gitane Grand Sport de Luxe.



It's a total what-I've-got-in-the-parts-box build; the only thing I bought new were the cable, the single-speed freewheel and the stem. I got it as a bare frame (but with the crankset and bottom bracket); it was solid but the paint and most of the decals were shot (only the one on the seat tube was intact), and there was a little surface rust here and there. I removed the mangled decals, sanded the frame, and rattle-canned away (the frame was not Drewed in any way). It doesn't show up terribly well in the photo, but the head tube and the area surrounding the seat tube decal are white, while the rest of the bike is a sort of beige. I put together a set of wheels (the front was complete, the rear I had to build from bits lying around), drilled and tapped the inner chainring to fit directly on the spider (running 40-16), and threw a set of old pedals on it. It's only got a front brake right now - a ubiquitous Dia-Compe center-pull with a generic cruiser lever on the top of the bars - because I only had one (if anybody's got a matching center-pull they want to let go cheap for the rear, PM me). Taped up an old set of steel bars, tossed on an Avocet touring saddle, and it was good to go (extra bar tape as a protective wrap on the top tube). Just gave it a 15 mile shakedown: really quiet, smooth ride, lots of fun.

Nice job! That looks very sharp. If you're looking for brakeset that would work well, Mafac Racers are plentiful, French, and would suit that bike. I had one of those saddles once, very comfortable and surprisingly light.

I'll keep this going ...

Rootboy I love everything about that bike. The colour combination is, as the French would say, su-pehr-cool.

So Reynolds 753 can you tell which model and which year the one with matching blue benotto tape is ?

vst

With all the recent threadage about the orange Moto Team Champion this is really cool!

Here's my 1969-1970 Super Corsa, as purchased in 2009



and here it is after a little restoring. I liked the Match Blue so I couldn't resist the color change



Jim

Thanks Devinfan. Recently strapped some Campy components on it just for fun. I'm liking it but feeling a bit "stretched" out on it for some reason. Perhaps the longer reach of the Phillips(?) bars compared with my usual ride? Or, I placed the levers too low on the bars. Getting it dialed in. I'm beginning to think those tiny rings on the crank look a little funny.

Wow, that is beautiful Jim!

+1!

- But of course not posting a drive-side photo means you must repost with more pictures - or go to C&V jail!

Okay. Just a quickie to keep the thread alive.

My 1971 Super Corsa. In the corner with the stable mates.

Arrrrggh ! That's TOO nice LeicaLad! I need a Super Corsa in that size.

At least my twine helper has been helping me with my own Gitane build. Not a Super Corsa though... More in a few weeks.

Not mine any more....knew I would never do it justice.


Gitane Super Corsa by CV6Enterprises, on Flickr

Yer right, tis a sin I must atone. Here's some more recent pictures with full rando rig. Saddle evolved from a Brooks Pro to a really nice vintage B-17. Sadly, all my Brooks saddles have seen many hours in the rain this past year!

BTW, I like your twine helper.

BTW, I don't know how many of you saw this recent ebay TdF? It didn't sell, a little over priced - but definitely cought my eye!


Full image set is here: https://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/open..._playback_link

Posted this one as found in the show your French bike thread (very excited with the find), but now she looks really yummie. An Olympic (=Super Corsa) from 1978 or 79, more or less the bike Hinault won his first Tour on (ok less). Paint retouching went pretty well and all it needed besides cables and hoods was a new seatpost and saddle. The rear wheel with Ofmega hub is likely not original, but I replaced the cones and it will do for now.

Wow CMAW, that is really beautiful!

I'm not very clear on the late 70's model designations, but as I understand it, the Olympic was Gitane's long-running full Campy-equipped top-of-the-line, with the earlier Super Corsa and the Tour De France models positioned slightly below it.

++1! Wow. That is really a truly beautiful Gitane. I've never been much of a fan of the "later" Gitanes (post '73!), but this one is truly stunning.

Thanks for the posting.

You most likely know more than I do, Auchencrow. I assumed that Olympic was the French designation for the 'overseas' Super Corsa model, same frame, same Campagnolo equipment. Might have to study these catalogues some more.

Yes. Very pretty. And a very nice photograph.

I don't know anything about Gitanes. This bike was advertised as a Cinelli which it clearly wasn't. He advertised it as full Campagnolo with a BIN of 100 Euro. So I took a chance. I've been told its an 87 Team Professional full Campy C Record, English Threads full chromed frame including inside the tubes. Ed

Thanks Rootboy. Big windows on the north.

Number tag tab under the TT, if it's original on the bike, usually means it's a Gitane Pro. The mid 80's version with the Columbus tubing (I think earlier versions used Reynolds tubing) is the one that's quite hard to find and most 80's Gitane fans consider as the "grail" bike. At least it will be easy for you to restore tha bike as Gitane painted them all 80's Gitane blue with exposed chromed sections and the Gitane decals are readily available from eBay.
Congratulations on the great Gitane find!

Chombi

Thanks for the reply. The paint is in horrible shape. But if you wet it down it looks like brilliant chromovelato. Do you think the paint could be original ? Except for the paint the bike is in fine shape. Ed

Here's a small one I just fixed up for sale. Nothing special, but it rides surprisingly well. It was a guinea pig for my first experiments with oxalic acid. I'd give it to my wife if it were bigger. Anyone know what year this one is? When did Gitane use the rainbow graphics (hard to tell from the photos, but there are rainbows on either side of "Gitane")?