Original Message: ----------------- From: gpvb1@comcast.net Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 20:15:41 +0000 To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR] Special Build Raleigh dating
"All: As George and I have discussed off-list previously, I have SB3339, a midnight blue 753 road frameset, which I bought new in 1979 (November 2nd)
when I worked at TI-Raleigh USA in Elk Grove, Illinois. Team Pros genera lly didn't sit around in our warehouse for long, so I would peg mine as a 1979
build. Mine has no cutouts in any lugs, and requires a 26.8 mm seat post. Peter, your SB4074 sounds more like 1980 vintage to me..... I al so have SB4288, a red/black/yellow one that has it's original paint and decals, including a foil decal on the down tube near the shifters that says "1980 Team TI-Raleigh." Regards, Greg Parker Ann Arbor, Michigan"
Greg... mine has the same sticker, same location, but it reads "1978 TI Raleigh Team Tour de France Winners" or something to that effect.
Actually this machine started as a 1975 531 Special Build Team Pro, suffered a frame fracture in 1978 and the owner paid an extra $200 for the
newest 753 frame when Raleigh offered to ship him a replacement 531 frame for free. He definately says all this happened in 1978. What I have is a 1978 753 frame with all 1975 date-coded Super Record components.
So it's all typical Raleigh.. all over the map. All the more reason for owners of these superb machines to add theirs to the Database so we can ge t more a handle on serial numbers and dates. It's not quite as contrary as
Cinelli serial numbers but seems to be working on it!
By the way, after a nice ride on my '75 Team Pro yesterday, two guys visiting Washington from the Netherlands saw me in my full team kit and my
bike and chatted for some time, even videotaped it! The Dutch still remember the glory days of Raas, Knetemann and Peter Post it seems.
Peter Kohler Washington DC USA
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