Evans/Reynolds circa 1979 restoration project?

[RobS]

I bought this bike new from Evans in The Cut when I was an undergraduate medical student at naerby Saint Thomas’ hospital. Year of purchase probably 1979(+/-). We did about 10 years of London commuting before about 35 years of neglect including the last 30 gathering dust in a shed. I present the bike “as is” loaded with spider webs etc. If I am going to clean her up I don't want to ruin the decals (or is this inevitable). Is the rusting terminal i.e. is restoration a ludicrous proposal? Can the frame number be traced? I’d be glad of any comments or suggestions.

 

[RobS]

A few more pics

 

[Jonny69]

The frame looks almost certainly fine underneath. First thing would be to get a big bucket of hot soapy water and a scrubbing brush and see what everything else looks like underneath.

It’s a low end model, so personally I wouldn’t spend loads of money on paint jobs, but I wouldn’t mind betting most of the mechanical parts will live again after a clean, polish and re-grease. Wheels will benefit from new spokes or get some good secondhand ones. The headset looks like it’s had it but you can get a replacement chromed one for not much. Rub the chrome ends of the fork with a ball of foil and WD40 and it should come up a bit better. Oily rag the rest. New tyres, brake blocks, cables, chain, cassette and bar tape and with a bit of time it’ll ride again as good as new. Cost it up and see what you want to spend

 

[RobS]

The frame looks almost certainly fine underneath. First thing would be to get a big bucket of hot soapy water and a scrubbing brush and see what everything else looks like underneath.

It’s a low end model, so personally I wouldn’t spend loads of money on paint jobs, but I wouldn’t mind betting most of the mechanical parts will live again after a clean, polish and re-grease. Wheels will benefit from new spokes or get some good secondhand ones. The headset looks like it’s had it but you can get a replacement chromed one for not much. Rub the chrome ends of the fork with a ball of foil and WD40 and it should come up a bit better. Oily rag the rest. New tyres, brake blocks, cables, chain, cassette and bar tape and with a bit of time it’ll ride again as good as new. Cost it up and see what you want to spend

Great advice, thankyou. I was a student at the time so low end model inevitable... indeed I'm surprised I could afford a brand new bike at all. Perhaps it was in a sale, I can't remember...

 

[hamster]

H. LLoyd may have replica transfers available.
However, I'm with @Jonny69 : give it a really good clean up, then treat the rust spots with Kurust and it should have a nice patina. You can then wax the frame.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Nice story. Looks to have potential, I love rebuilding bikes like this.