trying to identify a vintage CCM frame
 

Found at the local coop.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q.../ccm_photo.jpg

It's a pretty nice old steel CCM frame. Fairly light too.

White/cream with stainless stays. CCM logo on the seat tube. No headbadge, no other stickers besides the Vans sticker on the top tube :)

No fork. Crank is not original.

Hard to see from the photo, but it has braze-ons on the top tube for a frame pump. And it has two weird, flat bow-tie shaped braze-ons on the top facing part down tube (not sure what they are for).

Serial # E973670 (stamped on the lower part of the seat tube, non-drive side)

Looking at those CCM serial # lists floating around the net, that puts the year at 1972 ...I think.

Anyone have any idea what it originally was?

1973 CCM Mistral. Plain gauge Reynolds 531 main tubes mated to hi-tensile stays. The plate brazed on the down tube is to facilitate consistent location of the shifters (Simplex) thus permitting the use of pre-cut cables. In the case of insufficient tigntening of the shifter clamp, it also prevents the shifter assembly from sliding down the tube. The notch in the plate engages a protrusion in the shifter assembly clamp, self centering the shifters and if the clamp is insuffiently tightened, aiding in resisting rotation of the shifter assembly on the tube.

Thanks!

Is there a definitive list of CCM serials anywhere? The only one I found shows E_____ = 1972

What shows that it's a Mistral? I guess the Mistral was the middle of road in terms of the CCM lineup during those years?

The Mistral was 3rd in a line up of five road models, so yes it was middle of the line. The chromed stays and white paint indicate a Mistral, as oppose to the other models.

The only on line CCM serial number list I've seen only goes up to 1960 or thereabouts.

Thanks for the info T-Mar.

One other question: Rear dropout spacing: should be 130mm right?

Very likely 120mm but 126 is possible. You can respace to 130mm. If it is 120, you should probably have the dropouts re-aligned.

They were designedf or a Shimano 5 speed freewheel on a Shimano 333 large flange, aluminum, QR hub with 125mm locknut to locknut dimensions. However, you could find actual dropout spacing ranging from 120mm - 130mm.

Thanks. Mine is a little over 130mm. The frame is true, but just wanted to check.

if it fits, a 130mm hub is the way to go then?