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Andyee

Hey , does anyone in here have any clue on what type of frame this is.
Ive looked through the catalogues and I think that i may be a Olympic 1863.
But my frame has hold for fenders on the fork and dropout.
Could it even be possible that its a repainted "noname" frame with Gitane stickers ?!

sandranian · Site Admin

Appears to be a Gitane. Are the fork decals (on the crown) stickers, or is that "embossed"?

verktyg

The Reynolds sticker indicates that only the 3 main tubes are 531. The rest of the tubes are probably made from some light gage carbon steel.

The crimped over top of the seat stays and Bocama lugs are definitely done in Gitane's style. This bike has fender eyelets on the dropouts suggesting that it may have been more of a touring model than one marketed for the racing set.

Judging form the decals I'd say that it's a late 1970s or very early 1980s frame, maybe an Interclub or equivalent model.

The picture of the 1978 TdF in the Models section of the site shows brake cable clamps on the top tube instead of the brazed-on cable guides on this frame suggesting that it's later than 1978.

http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/models/tourdefrance/1978.jpg

Chas.

sandranian · Site Admin

I agree with Chas. Also, a dead giveaway that it is an original condition Gitane is the quality of the paint job around the lugs...the very thin coat of blue barely covering the underlying primer has "Gitane Quality" written all over it.

It is definitely not a 1863. However, keep in mind that the models marketed in the USA were not necessarily the same as the ones marketed in France. The rack eyelets were common on Gitane, even the "racing" versions, but not the highest-end bikes. Because this is a "3 tubes" version (main tubes are Reynolds 531), it would be a "second line" bicycle, but still a high quality machine by any measure. I love the decals as well, which were used from about 1978 through 1980.