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verktyg

It's that time of the year again...

I've rescued another wayward Gitane from being parted out and maybe turned into a fixie.

About a year and a half ago the former owner dropped the bike off at a LBS to get an estimate on having it overhauled. I guess there was some sticker shock because the bike sat there since then.

I'd asked the LBS owner a number of times if the owner wanted to sell it. This afternoon I got a call asking if I was still interested in it and to come over to the shop and get it before it was led off to the abattoir to be parted out.

It's a 54cm all Campy 1969 to 1971 Super Corsa. I've arbitrarily decided that it's a 1970 model because of the Campy brakes, that's when they would have become available.

It has the brazed-on rear brake cable bridge for MAFAC center pull brakes plus the brazed-on willow leaf seat stay caps. Both features are time consuming frame building steps and were dropped by Gitane around 1970-1971 when the Bike Boom took off.

The bike would have originally come with an Ideale 90 leather saddle, cast aluminum Pivo stem and Pivo alloy bars plus Campagnolo high flange hubs with tubular rims and tires. It also would have had standard Campy pedals with a chrome plated steel cage.

Somewhere along the line a Cinelli bar and stem was added, probably the Campy brakes too, Campy Super Legere pedals with black anodized alloy cages, a Cinelli Unicanitor #3 saddle in light gray padded buffalo hide.

The wheels have been changed out to small flange Campy hubs with 700c clincher rims.

The Campy rear derailleur has a "PAT 74" date code so it may have been replaced at some time. The cranks have no date code with places them before 1973.

There's no rust but the chrome on the forks and rear stays is pretty badly pitted.

I'll post progress pictures and before and after shots.

Gtane

Chas,

What a find. You did extremely well. As you know, the components would have made considerable sums if polished up, photographed and presented well. The brakes with the Patent stamp, as well as the flat QR lever, are highly desirable. Not to mention the cranks, rings, and changers. Looks like you have Patent rings and crank dust caps too.

Are you sure that you have Campagnolo SL pedals because the spindle looks more like titanium in colour than dirty chrome? Going on the spindle colour my thought from the photos would be SR pedals.

Well done for saving and it's in perfect original '70s condition too.

Tim

scozim

Wow, nice find again Chas. Beautiful bike. I need to take some lessons from you on finding the top tier Gitane's.

LeicaLad

Lucky boy.

I'm sure she'll clean up nicely.

Cheers.

nancyd589

Hello, I now became a member of this community here and I would love to be a part of it. Just enjoy the environment here.

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sandranian · Site Admin

nancyd589: You are certainly welcome here! Hope you are a regular contributor!