For you Raleighphiles:
A 1973 Raleigh RRA (Raleigh Record Ace)
Lots of people think the full 531DB Raleigh models in the early/mid 70's were limited to the Professional and International, but I've told people there were five: Professional, International, Competition, Super Tourer, and Gran Sport. Now I have to add another to the list, this RRA, designating Raleigh Record Ace, a model name going back to before the Carlton acquisition. This one does not bear the Carlton decal, but it does have the "CC" cutouts in the BB. Anyone know if these were made in the Carlton facility at Worksop, like the other 531B models in the early 70's? Or was this made at Nottingham like the pre-Carlton Record Ace?
This bike drew no bids at a starting price of $750 in a auction ending last night. Now it is relisted with a reduced starting bid of $625. No Campy, but, aside from the Weinmann 500 SP's and the Atom 440 pedals, all top French components, Stronglight 93, Simplex SLJ (with Criterium shifters, don't think Retrofrictions were available yet), Maillard 700 hubs and badged Simpex seatpost. The bars and stem are GB "map of Britain" with TTT stem, the same combo found on mid-70's Professionals.
The reduced $625 starting price is still a bit high by historic Raleigh standards. Until recently one could often get a clean all Campy (including brakes) Pro for that. But Raleigh prices seem to have risen recently. An International (albeit a very clean one) went for about $700 recently, and I think another may have approached $1,000. And last week a Gran Sport, a model one used to have trouble giving away, went for over $420, although again it was a remarkably clean example. So maybe the seller will be successful at $625. Certainly the buyer is likely to have the only early 70's RRA in the neighborhood.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA