Gazelle Champion Mondial Semi Race ... my favorite Gazelle

[grantoury]

GT?

 

[R-V]

GT?

I was unable to find a really good example, but similar to this

 

[The History Man]

Time enough, true. But Rob may be right, the state of a bag made in the 70s could be hopeless. The Carradice @The History Man came up with looked pretty worn too.

They still make them. A recent used one would look the part.

My old one was home to a mouse family over the winter including energy bar. Nice to think it’s well received.

 

[grantoury]

They still make them. A recent used one would look the part.

My old one was home to a mouse family over the winter including energy bar. Nice to think it’s well received.

Recent one is a good idea!

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

A special indeed. I looked back in the thread on non French builds and saw this again. Read most of the thread. I like the way you kept the paint. I am struggling a bit atm with a well preserved bike from 1978. How original to keep it? Tyres are probably original, but dried out. Bartape isn't and is ugly, but then this was how it came to me.. Anyway, it is nice to see someone not going all out and rebuild it.

Saw this on another thread and rather than hijack it copied it here.

New tyres, tubes, tape and a regrease are all it appears to need. You could re cable it with s/s cables, modern Teflon lined outers and change the pads. I probably would, but its your bike and will have to suit you and how much you're happy to do.

 

[grantoury]

I was looking at the serial numbers for the Champion Mondial and the other race models in 1978. They made several models of road race frames, cyclocross, TT, track, stayer, youth and semi race. The serial numbers ran from 3201296 to 321670 in 1978. In total 15408 frames made. This surprised me, I didn't think it would be that many. According to the man behind the CM website it is probably correct.

Eight models in total so about 1900 per model average

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I was looking at the serial numbers for the Champion Mondial and the other race models in 1978. They made several models of road race frames, cyclocross, TT, track, stayer, youth and semi race. The serial numbers ran from 3201296 to 321670 in 1978. In total 15408 frames made. This surprised me, I didn't think it would be that many. According to the man behind the CM website it is probably correct.

I never truly knew how massive Gazelle were, but that is a significant number.

 

[grantoury]

Here is a graph. It shows that there was a peak around 1979. Other years show a much more modest output. The 70s bike boom in Europe was from 1973 onward. And there was something called the Zoetemelk effect. When he won de TdF in 1980 a lot of Dutch people went out and bought a road bike. But it doesn't really show here. Maker of the graph thinks Raleigh profited from that effect more.

 

[Woz]

I was looking at the serial numbers for the Champion Mondial and the other race models in 1978. They made several models of road race frames, cyclocross, TT, track, stayer, youth and semi race. The serial numbers ran from 3201296 to 321670 in 1978. In total 15408 frames made. This surprised me, I didn't think it would be that many. According to the man behind the CM website it is probably correct.

Eight models in total so about 1900 per model average

This doesn't sound right. Total frame output regardless of model could be 15408 frames - everything from kids bikes, city bikes, utility bikes.

There could have been number ranges reserved for the lightweights, not necessarily filled. While I get Gazelle were and still are big, and offered a good complete range these numbers do seem high. The CM was definitely popular.

I can't image many Stayers would have been sold - max 50 per year?

 

[Woz]

Does the peak not correspond to the bike boom in the USA as well?