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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:44 pm |
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1eugene445 |
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Joined: 24 Mar 2011 |
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I just bught an older Grand Sport Deluxe and have a couple of questions:
1. Is there a serial number stamped somewhere on the frame?
2. How can I tell how old the bike is, when it was built.
Thanks for your help.
Gene in NC |
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| | | | | | | | | Gitane Serial Numbers | | | | | |
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:48 pm |
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verktyg |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 2814 |
Location: SF Bay Area |
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The serial numbers on those bikes were on the left rear dropout. Save it, it's a lucky Lotto number!
Welcome to the Gitane Forum.
A picture tells more than a 1000 words.
If you post some pictures someone here can answer most of your questions.
After collecting Gitane "serial numbers" for several years we decided that they had no basis in reality and that maybe they were used to keep track of frames during production???
Regards, |
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_________________ Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
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1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica |
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:53 am |
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1eugene445 |
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Joined: 24 Mar 2011 |
Posts: 5 |
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Chas, thanks for your reply, but I am not a bike pro, and don't know what the "left rear dropout" is. Pleae explain
Gene |
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| | | | | | | | | Dropouts | | | | | |
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 11:01 am |
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verktyg |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 2814 |
Location: SF Bay Area |
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The dropouts are the parts of the frame that the wheel hubs slide into.
This is the left rear dropout. Your dropouts will look a little different but serves the same purpose.
In the front, dropouts are also known as fork ends. |
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_________________ Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
==============
1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica |
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:08 am |
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1eugene445 |
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Joined: 24 Mar 2011 |
Posts: 5 |
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Chas, I did find a serial number in the location you gave me. It looks like 349, a relatively low number. Does this have any significance as far as determing the age of the bike?
I just am interested in whether I really have a vintage bike or not.
Thank for your help.
Gene |
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| | | | | | | | | Gitane "Serial Numbers" | | | | | |
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:14 pm |
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verktyg |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 2814 |
Location: SF Bay Area |
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1eugene445 wrote: |
Chas, I did find a serial number in the location you gave me. It looks like 349, a relatively low number. Does this have any significance as far as determing the age of the bike?
I just am interested in whether I really have a vintage bike or not.
Thank for your help.
Gene |
On this Forum, we came to the conclusion that there was no logical basis for the numbers stamped into Gitane frames.
If there were any traceable records of those numbers, they were all lost years ago.
Question, how do you know that your bike is a Grand Sport Deluxe?
Gitane produced the Gran Sport and Gran Sport Luxe or Deluxe model bikes between 1968 and 1976.
This was their entry level model for the US market. There were almost no changes to the frames during those years except for the decals which changed in 1974.
The major differences were in the components which varied because of parts availability problems during the Bike Boom between 1970 and 1974.
What is "VINTAGE"?
A 35+ year old bike would certainly qualify as vintage.
There were hundreds of thousands Gitane Gran Sport bikes imported into the US during their 8 year life span.
I estimate that the 'street life" of a bike like that is about five years. That means by the early 80s, most of those bikes had been reincarnated into Datsuns (Nissans) or Toyotas or ended up in landfills!
Whether it's a bike worth keeping or restoring, depends on the condition. Even in the best shape these kinds of bikes rarely bring over $200 on eBay and other outlets.
That doesn't mean that it's a piece of junk! These were very nice riding bikes, better than much of the competition back then.
As I mentioned in my first message, please post some pictures if you want our help, we're not psychics!
The components and decals are the only way to GUESS the approximate age of one of these types of bikes. |
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_________________ Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
==============
1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica |
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:32 pm |
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1eugene445 |
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Joined: 24 Mar 2011 |
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Chas, I know the bike is a Grand Sport Deluxe because it has two small decals on each side of the front down tube.
As far as originality, it really isn't. It has pull back handlebars, ( only kind I can use due to wrist problems), and the shifters have been moved from the front downtube frame to the handlebars.
However, it does have a ton of decals all over the frame which I will make pictures of, when I figure out how to post photos on the forum.
Gene
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_________________ Gene,
25 year old Schwinn bike
30 year old Mercedes
35 year old Honda cycle
40 year old VW Convertible
?? year old Gitane Grand Sport Deluxe, (just acquired) |
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Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:34 pm |
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1eugene445 |
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Joined: 24 Mar 2011 |
Posts: 5 |
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Okay, I did figure out how to post a photo. Have to wait till it stops raining.
Gene |
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_________________ Gene,
25 year old Schwinn bike
30 year old Mercedes
35 year old Honda cycle
40 year old VW Convertible
?? year old Gitane Grand Sport Deluxe, (just acquired) |
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| | | | | | | | | Gran Sport | | | | | |
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 3:16 am |
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verktyg |
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Joined: 14 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 2814 |
Location: SF Bay Area |
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1eugene445 wrote: |
Chas, I know the bike is a Grand Sport Deluxe because it has two small decals on each side of the front down tube. |
That's one of the things that positively identifies the model
That places the bike between 1968 and 1973. |
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_________________ Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
==============
1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica |
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| | | | | | | | | Grand Sport Deluxe Age | | | | | |
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