Hi there

My other half is a bit of a bike enthusiast and has just bought a racing green coloured Holdsworth racing bike. It has really fancy lugs and looks like there was evidence of gold paint surrounding them. There doesn't appear to be a model name so assume that it has been re-enamelled. Can't seem to find a frame number, but after a bit of research I think this can be found on the tube when the forks are removed.

The bike was really dirty but has cleaned up great. Just wondering if anyone out there knows where I can find out what this bike is actually worth once we find the frame number???

Would be a nice bike for a collector. Any comments appreciated!!

Thanks

Take some detailed pictures and post it in the valuation forum.

Photos, we need photos! (please?)

I trust you found this site? Good photos there... I'll attach one as a teaser.

If the paint is just an overspray, it may be possible to remove it with a solvent. The model name should be on both sides of the top tube, very near the front end. But of course if the bike is 50+ years old, that may be long gone.

Just found the frame number - it is 18569 - from my investigations so far this could mean that the bike could be dated back to the 1950's perhaps? I found a site which said that the frame numbering is sequential and started at around 6000 in 1946 to 30000 in 1969 so I am assuming this could be an old gem.

Will take some photos and post to valuation forum.

Thanks for your help.

Yes, mid 50's seems likely, but what do I know.

I have taken some piccies and have attached. So if anyone can help with valuing it, would be much appreciated.

Oh, okay! All the components I can see are much later, like late 70's, and I don't see any reason to think the frame is older. You can probably find date codes on most of the components, and look them up on the Vintage Trek site.

I don't see an exact match to those lugs in Norm's many catalog scans https://homepage.ntlworld.com/nkilgariff/, but I'm sure you'll find it if you search longer and harder than me. Seems that the ornate lugs were generally earlier than the later (like late '60s and '70s) models that were trying for a more "Italian" look and generally used Prugnat lugs. It's not a very strong clue, but the 1969 I own that is suspected to be from the "shop" rather than the "factory" uses a similar font number stamp for its serial number (though it's on the BB shell) and my factory-built (mid-70s) Super Mistral has a very different, and smaller, number stamp. One clue to it being re-sprayed: the headbadge is screwed on with slotted brass screws rather than rivets.

Any clue as to what model it is??? There is nothing on the top tube but I don't suppose there would be as it has been re-sprayed. Is there any way of finding this out from the frame number? Any help would be appreciated.

Ta

As far as holdsworths go I would first try to find the year it fits in, then find the model sold in that era that closest matches yours. Keep in mind that not every model had a name on the top tube when you start going back in time.

It has the same headtube lugs as my 56 zephyr but I haven't seen those lugs on a non-path model.
Do you have a picture of the seat tube cluster?

Edit: also the frame number on my 56 is 15809, which would put your bike right around 1960

the more I have looked thru Norm Kilgariff's catalog archive, the less of any idea I have for that green frame: Can you, nikiross76, shoot pics of the headlugs from straight on at front and straight down on the TT and DT? We really need a clear shot of the seat cluster too. PDXaero: do you have similar shots of the lugs on your '56 Zephyr? The catalog shots of that year/model do not look at all like this greenie's lugs.
Very mysterious...might be a rare one and sure seems to be more typical of "earlier than 1961" lugwork.

Thanks for that - I have taken some more pics of the seat lugs and also views of TT and DT lugs and any others I could find!!

I will have another look online to see if I have any more luck in finding out which model this is, but would really appreciate your help - I don't know much about these old bikes at all! We bought this bike as a one off as thought it might be worth something and have spent some time cleaning it up.

If anyone out there can give me an indication of it's possible value that would be helpful.

Thanks

As others have said it looks like a respray of a circa 1960 frame with mostly 20-year newer parts. I'll take a stab at a value = $250-$350 on Ebay. If it had original good paint and parts, maybe $500-$600 to the right collector. Watch Ebay and you'll see similar Holdsworths from time to time.

a holdsworth of a moderb era has the frame humber stamped onthe bottom bracket and also on the fork steerer.
it's likeli to be a 4 or 5 digit serial number ifyour frame is that old. i have a 70's mistral and an 80's nuovo record and they both have 5 digit numbers.
i don't think there is any way to date a bike using the numbers alone