gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » 1974 Gitane?    View previous topic :: View next topic  1974 Gitane?   Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 3:03 pm SenisBS Joined: 05 Mar 2014 Posts: 3 Location: SF Bay Area Hi, I'm having trouble identifying this Gitane, I just saved. Mostly, because it had mixed parts put on (Shimano barcons anyone?). Looks like it might be 1974 Champion Du Monde (MAFAC, 10 speed), but I'm not sure where did Huret derailleurs come from. BTW, rims are Weinmann (Campy hubs), another mistery. Or maybe I'm just stuck in 1974. What does "73" represents on the top of a seat tube? Serial barely visible: "3 3 J *"? ST is 61cm ctc, TT is 59cm ctc. A little too big for me, so here is your chance Pictures: http://s896.photobucket.com/user/senisbs/library/Gitane 1974 CDM   Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:00 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area Greetings, Where did you get the bike, i.e. what country? I think that you're right on about the model and year. It's probably an early 1974 or maybe very late 1973 Champion Du Monde bike, a European model. It has an old style foil "Made In France" decal at the top of the seat tube and old style decal on the fork. The CdMs weren't imported to the US or at least not advertized. The Reynolds 531 decal was used up until 1974 then they changed. During that time, the 1974-75 Tour de France bikes came with plastic Simplex Criterium derailleurs also Huret Challenger, Huret Success (titanium and aluminum version of the Challenger) and Huret Jubilee derailleurs. The TdF and CdM bikes came with MAFAC old style Competition brakes as well as the new style Competition brakes. Most of those bikes came with Stronglight 93 cranks but a few had Sugino Nighty Compe cranks. The 1974 and later US model Tour de France bikes came with Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo hubs with 27" alloy clincher rims. A few even came with standard Normandy Sport hubs. Gitane used the Weinmann alloy rims like on your bike for a while before the Mavic Module E rims came out in 1975. Pre 1974 TdFs came with sewups. They could be special ordered from Mel Pinto the US importer with the same clincher wheels as on your bike. They switched the wheels out at their warehouse. The 73 on the seat lug is the 73°angle not the year. If you look hard you'll probably see 73 on the head tube top tube lug. The "3 3 J *" numbers are random??? The frame is a 62cm, Gitane measured center to top. The 1974-75 Tour de France frames only had the 3 main tubes made of Reynolds tubing. The Champion Du Monde frames were made of all Reynolds 531 tubing plus they used thinner wall thickness tube so they were lighter and smoother riding. _________________ 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   Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 10:16 am SenisBS Joined: 05 Mar 2014 Posts: 3 Location: SF Bay Area Thanks Chas for sharing your encyclopedic knowledge on Gitane. It is much more clear now. I've seen "73" before, on Bottecchia lug up front, but never on a seat cluster. I wasn't thinking it indicates a year of manufacturing, but thanks for clarification. I found this one in a new state of Central California, USA. Some guy probably turned the bike into touring machine. You can check the bike in person, just PM me. I'm also in Silicon Valley state and the bike is ride-able. Off I go, it needs TLC badly. Any advice for cleaning up chrome? I've used fine steel wool and some automotive paste before but maybe technique evolved? What's approximate value of this bike? Paint is in a rough shape, but chrome is OK (no flaking). I do not see deep rust either. Should clean up pretty nice. Steel Wool   Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 11:05 am verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area Steel wool about 3x still works fine, no need to poilsh. Bronze or copper wool is for wood working because it doesn't rust. I use Semichrome polish for the aluminum. Value? $300 to $600 Auto rubbing compound followed by some car wax plus shined up components make a world of difference. Here's some before and after pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28267220@N05/sets/72157623681212186/ click on pictures to read blurb... Someone could have brought the bike back from France or it could have been an early sample from Gitane West when they took over importing Gitanes from Mel Pinto Imports. _________________ 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   Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 11:56 am SenisBS Joined: 05 Mar 2014 Posts: 3 Location: SF Bay Area Yep, there is "73" on a top-head lug. There are no trace of decals on downtube. What's up with that? I also wonder what were original shifters on this bike. Huret long-type clamp-on? I rode the bike today, and it feels amazing. Headset is smooth, hubs spin OK, brakes as brakes from 70's - scary squeaky cool! _________________ 1974 CdM 1974 Gitane?     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 1 of 1   All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.