1984 Raleigh Grand Prix
 

Picked this up this morning from the local CL....needs new consumables and a thorough cleaning...but it's in overall good shape....am I right in thinking this was Raleigh's "entry level" sport/racing bike? It's going to be a looker when it's all cleaned up....:)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/...f555369d_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/...b02f6e75_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/...b1ce7f71_b.jpg

That is much nicer than a 1970s Gran Prix! What's the seatpost diameter? (This may help determine the pedigree of the frame tubing.)

The sticker at the bottom of the seat tube says it's Raleigh 555sl...all tubes double butted cro-mo....might it be similar to 531?

555SL some form of seamed cro-mo. Nobody knows what it is, though I suspect Tange Infinity. Only Raleigh 555RSL is Reynolds 531. 555T also exists; yet another unknown cro-mo.

It was entry-level only in the sense of the Road Sport lineup. Below it were the Sport Touring, which consisted of:

Team U.S.A.
Olympian
Marathon
Record
Pursuit
Sportif

...in that order. I listed the entire lineup here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post11205269

Retro Raleighs has the '85 catalog images.

-Kurt

Thanks, Kurt....!

Like Kurt said, It's the low end of their high end line. I bought mine new and have happily ridden it for years.

The frame is full chrome under the paint and loose bearings with rubber seals throughout.

Brakes are 14mph brakes on a 20mph bike unless you upgrade the pads.

The Raleigh USA bikes are underrated and good values for the features to price - at least around here.