>
>
> 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 generally 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 also 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.
>
<snip>
I think his recollection is incorrect, Peter. Happens all the time. Also, there were a bunch of those d/t foils that said lots of things. Often, the bike is at least one year newer than what the decal celebrates. The one on SB 4288 says "1978-79 Tour de France Winners" but has the "1980 Team TI-Raleigh" imprinted above that on the same decal...... Your frame is very late 1979, or more likely a 1980 build. It's only 214 units earlier than my red 1980 one, but it's 735 units newer than my '79.
If yours were a 1978, that would mean that they only made about a hundred frames a year between 1978 and 1980 - doesn't sound at all likely to me..... That's when they were making quite a lot of them!
Cheers,
Greg Parker
Ann Arbor, Michigan