Motobecanes during this period, like most bike boom bikes, could be very variable as to components. There were shortages and order backlogs throughout the industry and substitutions were the norm. My guess is that this is an early Grand Jubilee, be that in 1973 or 4, with a Grand Record (is that the next model up) frame. So Campy dropouts and maybe even a real Reynolds head tube!
It was also normal for the mechanics to take advantage of these differences to get their friends a better bike. You would fish through the stock of a given model for variations with better hubs, saddles, rims or frame features and swap out the parts. It could be subtle, like double eyelet vs. single eyelet rims or it could be entirely different components and running changes in frame features.
Joe Bender-Zanoni Great Notch, NJ
Joe Bender-Zanoni Great Notch, NJ
DTSHIFTER@aol.com wrote:
>Joe asked about his Motobecane Grand Jubile:
>
>
><<I have been trying to determine the year of my Motobecane Grand
>
>Jubile', A quick rundown of it's components are: Campagnolo rear dropouts,
>silver with red trim paint sceme.....
>
>
>........The headbadge and rear dropouts are what has me stumped, all others
>that I have seen have Huret dropouts front and rear, no chrome forks, and the a
>brass headbadge
>
>either like the black Grand Record here on CR or the round one that is
>
>pictured as a 70's - 80's headbadge on the same page. The Normandy hubs
>
>have matching date codes that look like November of 1973. I was told
>
>that it was a '74, but the dropouts are not consitant with the other
>
>bikes I've seen, one of which is supposed to be original, and still in
>
>the hands of it's original owner.>>
>
>The Motobecane catalogs did not list a Grand Jubile until 1974 and they were
>spec'd with Huret dropouts (front and rear). Your color scheme matches what
>was offered by the factory in 1974. The forks were 1/2 chromed.......
>
>I have had three Grand Jubiles, and they were all pretty much to the catalog
>specifications. I suppose it is possible someone paid to have Campagnolo
>dropouts installed to replace the Huret DO's? It is also possible the fork is a
>replacement fork? The catalogs indicate that Michelin Elans were supplied in
>1976. Sounds like you have a 1974-1976 Grand Jubile with some "modifications".
>
>Cheers,
>
>Chuck Brooks
>Malta, NY