Ok, ok, "underground parking lot fresh", but that doesn't have the same ring to it. This has been sitting in the same spot of the underground parking lot of the condo my dad works at for EVER. My dad finally took me up there to look at it and asked me if it was worth asking the owner about it. Turns out the guy who had it got it from his friend in '75, and rode it a bunch for a few years, then parked it in the underground. A couple weeks after inquiring about it, the owner said it would be better for it to be cleaned up and ridden rather than it sitting forever. So it made the voyage to my place, and a nice bottle of wine went back to him and all are happy! Another project for the winter, but I think this will get bumped up the line to be done next. Seems all original as i can tell by looking at the sheldon brown scan of the '73 catalog. The only thing is that it has 600 deraillers, shifters, and cranks. It doesn't seem like they would have been changed out, but the catalog says suntour. Have any shown up with shimano on them? Perhaps Raleigh ran out of suntour for a bit and threw whatever on?

Anyways, here's pictures! You can probably tell what side was against the wall, and what side was facing all the cars. Tha paint actually looks surprisingly good underneath all that dirt......



Dirty side.....



I guess that once said 531!! Also just noticed that little hole.... will have to investigate that....





Is this the long cage version?





Hoods are dirty, but no tears in them! Little bit of rash, but oh well.

More pics.........

Normandy hubs



Added later I assume, but when?



Aftermarket rack, but looks surprisingly like the rack on the Raleigh Criterium project that's waiting for me.....

Sweet bike, the price was definitely right. I wouldn't fear that hole in the seat stay.... I think that is actually normal.

I'll bite.....

fork looks bent

nice score! That'll clean up to be a real beauty!

Just a smidge.

Ha ha ha............. Actually kind of does look bent in that first picture, however, it is not........


Looking at shimano catalogues, I realized Arabesque 600 didn't come out until '78 apparently, so I guess someobe did swap out the drivetrain. Interesting.............

I had a parking garage bike not as bad- that soot is really stubborn

I used windex with good results- good to start with the mild stuff

nice find!

love pletschers

Nice catch VolvoJP! (Nice price too!) These old straight 531 SC's are among my all time fav's.

That will clean up just fine too, and once you replace the worn parts and rubber it will be just like a new ride!

Nice upgrade with Shimano Arabesque. Someone did you a favor. I did the same to my Super Course when I had it. That is the long cage version of the Arabesque.

I agree with Creme on the Pletscher rack. It is my favorite commuting rack.

Oh man I thought mine was the roughest find ever. Definitely worth all the clean up though. Nice score. Fork is fine.

Looking forward to seeing this one cleaned up. Nice find.

Nice find. That is a great story too. Reasonable or free finds in the wild...love em. So many projects and not enough time. You're going to be busy this winter.

Indeed. And knowing that they are out there helps me resist the urge to N+1 on good, but not great deals. I've seen some nice bikes on local CL in the 100 - 200 range, but knowing it is still possible to get a Super Course, Tomassini, or early 70's De Rosa for nothing (all posted here in the last week) puts it all in perspective.

Yeah. There's a pearl under all that grime. Great deal. As long as it wasn't a '61 Petrus you traded for it.

Nice save there Volvo, the SC are great bikes. I had a '78 and it was thoroughly enjoyable, I commuted to college on it, and an International, I had at the time. My SC was all SunTour components with the great bar end shifters, and it was absolutely trouble free. Those 600 Arabesque should look nice when you clean them up and be good components in my book.

Bill

Spiffed up the brooks last night. Gave it a clean and an oil and it's quite nice! Bit of rash that wants to stay lighter around the back edge, but it gives it character. The name plate on the back is blank though. I can kinda see where it said brooks if you hold it in just the right light. We're these jut painted and it's worn off? I'll get some pics of it tonight.

Nice bike. You seem to be finding 'em lately. As I'll be back in Van shortly, I'm just glad to note you're not too tall...

Be nice to see that cleaned up. Long cage Arabesque is a nice touch. Would I be right in assuming from that (and eyeballing the gear cluster) that the thing actually comes equipped with large cog suitable to the terrain?

And note that it was installed with the use of a front support bracket (bolts to the brake centerbolt). Many were not installed with that little bracket and slid up- and down the seat stays. I'm sort of surprised that the installer didn't use the full-width mounting brackets that came with the rack...

I've have an old Pletscher installed on my '75 Fuji for the past 36 years!

Ya they seem to be piling up a bit faster than I can fix 'em up! I'm 6'1" and like bikes 56cm-58cm. I haven't counted the teeth on the freewheel yet, but it seems to be in the mid-high 20's. It's a maillard though, that needs the huge weird tool to take it off. I do have a suntour 15-34 freewheel sitting in the shelf......
let me know when you show up in town!

My targets are safe by a hair, then. I'd probably not chase anything under a 59cm or so (well, a 58 on the right day). 6'2 1/2" and it's 60-62 so far...

I shall be in touch!

you will like '73 super course as its a smooth and comfy ride with the correct geometry for all day rides or light touring...i hav a "77 super course i like that is setup for easy gravel riding and light touring with widely geared triple,suntour vgt rear,mousestash bars and orig suntour barend shifters........huge upgrades i did were selle an-anatomica saddle,uninstalled weinnmann centre pull brakes and crappo 27in wheels and installed open pros with thread on phil wood hubs(late 70s) and tektro mid reach calipers..........the holes in seat stay and likely in chain stays and in forks were put there so gases from welding the frames could escape.........enjoy the machine!

looks like some serious biological growth!

Just counted, it's a 14-28 freewheel. Should be good for north van hills!
Mike, if you like bigger bikes, I have a Raleigh that might interest you.......