Don't know anything about Evans.. but the first Claud with verticle drop-outs was the first generation Cape Wrath, designed in 86, production starting late the same year and advertised in the '87 catalouge.
But then they were often a year or two behind the curve! :roll:
This is very much on the back burner, although I am plugging away at the details. Both wheels needed re-dishing (they were built by an amateur and otherwise are very good). One has had the hub regreased and been trued to perfection - the other will get the same treatment.
The lovely Nitto bars arrived but will be put up for sale. I wasn't sure about using repro parts on this to tell the truth... And I had a bit of luck at the local tip today!
:mrgreen: Always good to see a pic of that British Eagle. And good to have your input on the thread.
Emmelle bars are 22.2. They're unbranded and Taiwanese made. They're actually pretty nice and are starting to clean up well. No nasty corrosion. Yes the Nittos are really nice, but my feeling is that they're possibly too wide for me - and certainly too shiny for the bike. Maybe I'll hang on to them for a bit and see how I go.
Re the date of the frame, you could well be right. My hunch that it was later was based purely on the fact that all the other ones I've seen have horizontal dropouts. Who knows? Yes, the red stem (and seatpost) are later additions, as mentioned above.