Tom,
Liberia bikes were made in Grenoble, France. The entry level bikes were standard Bike Boom fare (but after the bubble had burst). What differentiated the Liberias was their smooth ride due to their light weight frames. Most of the ones that we sold were red with white trim which were nicer looking than the blue one in the link that I posted (very subjective).
Libertas bikes were made in Belgium. They were sold and probably imported by Jack Van Gent through The Big Wheel bike shop in Denver, CO. He also imported and sold Flying Dutchman brand bikes.
Most Libertas bikes that I've seen were entry level Bike Boom quality. Some of them had a decal on the seat tube that resembled a Reynolds 531 sticker.
http://velospace.org/
A friend who worked at our shop had previously worked at The Big Wheel in Denver. He had a Libertas "Team" frame with different script decals than I've seen on any other Libertas. The frame was made of Reynolds 521SL tubing and with Hi-E wheels, 250g Clement Criterium Setas, and all of the weight weenie stuff that was available the time weighed in at under 17 Lbs. He only weighed about 125 Lbs. so could get away with all of the light weight components.
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
-----Original Message----- From: Tom Jue Sent: Mon, Aug 3, 2009 10:35 am Subject: Liberia/Libertas?
Hi Chas.,
I read you input on the Liberia. I have an early 70's Libertas, which, I believe is also of French make. It has full Dura-Ace (black series), and I bought the bike for its parts.
Although the bike is near NOS, I've never made out the frames (especially French) of the same exampled fork crown, as in your link, to be of high quality, caliber. So, you see why I just bought it for its parts.
Please tell me your thoughts, if any, as to the make and mark if you are familier.
Thanks, Tom San Francisco, CA 415 716-9292
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 16:19:04 -0400 Subject: Re: [CR] Liberia - Grenoble, France
Jeff,
We sold Liberias for several years in the mid 70s, mostly entry level models. Raleigh, Peugeot and Motobecane were about the only widely available entry level European bikes in the US at that time. These Liberias had light weight steel frames and weighed about 27 Lbs. with standard steel components.
We got in at least one of the gold Reynolds 531 bikes. As I recall, we had a hard time selling it because of it's gaudy (at the time) appearance! Later all gold bikes became more popular.
I think the importer stopped bringing them into the US (exchange rate and such) so our source dried up. I don't think that you are going to find any decals for this bike. Liberias were not very common.
You might try H. Lloyd Cycles but they don't list them in their
catalog: http://www.hlloydcycles.com/
There are a number of people who are making decals here in the US so you might see what it would cost to have some made.
Here's a link showing one of the entry level Liberia models:
http://www.bikecult.com/
Chas. Colerich