Matthew,
The polite phrase to use is "entry level". This time frame corresponded with the bike boom, and Raleigh was selling more bicycles than they could make all by themselves. The Gazelle-made Grand Prix was spec'd the same as any other Grand Prix - 20-30 high tensile tubing, with entry level componentry which might, or might not have exactly matched what was stated in the catalog (a Raleigh tradition). Some people say that the build quality on the Gazelle-made GPs was a notch above what came out of England.
Bottom line is, these were made by the tens of thousands. They aren't in the same league as the top of the line Gazelles or Raleighs. They were an excellent bicycle for teen-age boys to ride for transportation or recreation, and were very competitively priced. I refurbished a cast-off Grand Prix as my first rider when I made my re-entry into cycling several years ago. Certainly, one could do far worse, but there are plenty of bicycles I would enjoy riding more than that particular one.
Good luck with it.
John Barry
Mechanicsburg, PA, USA
> From: Matthew Simon <msimon42@gmail.com>
\r?\n> Subject: [CR] Raleig/gazelle
\r?\n> To: "Bike List" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
\r?\n> Date: Friday, March 5, 2010, 11:43 AM
\r?\n> Hello folks,
\r?\n> I was looking for input on a Raleigh grand prix by
\r?\n> Holland Gazelle. My understanding is that that they were
\r?\n> made between 71-74? Why did Raleigh do this? I have a friend
\r?\n> that would give me the frame set. Are they pretty rare?
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Thanks for any input.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Matthew Simon
\r?\n> Berthoud colorado USA
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Sent from my iPhone