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Possible Super Corsa? 
PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2015 2:26 pm Reply with quote
Tbone5
Joined: 23 Jun 2015
Posts: 3
I picked up an unknown frame on eBay and am wondering what I have. The seller mentioned it was "probably a Gitane and probably 531".

Bought the bike as a bare frame/fork. It did come with a Campy headset, but who knows? Every other component pictured is not original. Currently has 126 rear drop out. Both front and rear dropouts are Campy. The number stamped on the rear nondrive drop out is "3251 4 1". Bottom bracket is French threaded. I added the water bottle rivnuts.

Looking over the site, my guess is Super Corsa from the 70's. What say you?

















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1972 Super Corsa Frame 
PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2015 11:07 pm Reply with quote
verktyg
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2814
Location: SF Bay Area
Welcome to the Forum.

The frame is a 1972 Super Corsa. Whoever repainted it did a lot of filing and smoothing.

The fork crown originally looked like this:



The seat stay caps looked like this before they were filed smooth:




_________________
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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PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 6:49 am Reply with quote
Tbone5
Joined: 23 Jun 2015
Posts: 3
Thanks Verktyg.

I had my suspicions that it was a super corsa. Are you infering the year based upon the serial number? If so is there a data base?

Would you know if the rear triangle is 531? From what I've read, the fork is Reynolds.

At the time I bought the frame, I knew nothing about it. I was drawn to the clean lines & craftsmanship. Still building the bike up, but have taken a few short rides...she rides very well! Right now the plans call for an upright Frankenbike...but now I know it has the heart of a champion.
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:30 am Reply with quote
verktyg
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2814
Location: SF Bay Area
Tbone5 wrote:
Are you infering the year based upon the serial number? If so is there a data base?

Would you know if the rear triangle is 531? From what I've read, the fork is Reynolds.


No, it's based on changes Gitane made over the years. The Super Corsa was the US version of the Gitane Olympic model made for the European market. The only difference was a "PROFESSIONAL SUPER CORSA" foil decal on the down tube.

Gitane produced those bikes from 1968 until 1973 with only 3 minor changes to the frames.

There was no logic to the "serial" numbers on most French bikes. They may have been production batch numbers for internal use or numbers assigned to orders from large customers.

Gitane went out of business years ago. There's no known records of their production history.

The frames were all Reynolds 531 except for the steerer.


Last edited by verktyg on Fri Jul 03, 2015 8:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

_________________
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
View user's profile Send private message
 
PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 3:23 pm Reply with quote
Tbone5
Joined: 23 Jun 2015
Posts: 3
Well thanks for your time and expertise. I look forward to putting some miles on the bike.
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Possible Super Corsa? 
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