Carlton Competition?

[Mr Tim]

I would love to find the year and model for this Carlton frame to restore it. I've had it a while and put some parts on that I had lying around just to get it rideable.

It came with the Shimano 600 rear derailleur and the Milremo stem.

Any ideas?

 

[Midlife]

Looks like a clubman in Eau de Nil colour. With Nervex lugs Can't really see the number on the BB, what's the third digit as that gives the year

Clubman came as frame only.

 

[Mr Tim]

Re:

From what I can tell it's a 3.

What sort of groupset would have been suitable for a bike like this?

 

[Midlife]

If its a 3 then that's 1973 or 1983. As it's Nervex lugs, transfer head tube decal, that's 1973 later frames had keff fancy lugs as Nervex went out of fashion

Clubman was sold as a "do it all" frame, mudguards for general / training or with the mudguards off a road bike for budget / novice use.

Anything went on BITD, hand me downs, scrounged, taken off previous bikes. Groupsets were only for the rich or pro riders lol. Early Shimano stuff like 600 would go well as Stronglight, GB, etc difficult to come across nowadays in good nick .

Like all carlton frames will ride nice as they had an eye for geometry

 

[Mr Tim]

Sounds perfect for me then! It is a very nice ride and I love the colour and patina although it is not to everyones taste!

 

[Midlife]

Just rechecked the pics, nice mix of stuff . What's holding the front brake on as the frame will be for nutted brakes.

The colour was a bit marmite and Carlton dropped it soon after. I love it

 

[droppedout]

JThe colour was a bit marmite and Carlton dropped it soon after. I love it

Looks like they copied Bianchi Celeste. I wonder if they bought too much only for it to resurface 15 years later on the Raleigh Montage mountain bike.

So relieved the OP isn't going to repaint or smother in powder coat. Lovely as it is.

 

[Mr Tim]

Just rechecked the pics, nice mix of stuff . What's holding the front brake on as the frame will be for nutted brakes.

The colour was a bit marmite and Carlton dropped it soon after. I love it

I can't remember how I got it on but do remember it was very awkward Got my eyes peeled for some nutted brakes as these ones don't seem to bite too well either.

JThe colour was a bit marmite and Carlton dropped it soon after. I love it

Looks like they copied Bianchi Celeste. I wonder if they bought too much only for it to resurface 15 years later on the Raleigh Montage mountain bike.

So relieved the OP isn't going to repaint or smother in powder coat. Lovely as it is.

Thanks I agree!