Help please - Steel GT serial numbers

[kingoffootball]

I've just picked up what I think is a 96 or 97 Pantera. Serial number is SAS61084...

I'm trying to find the model in an old catalogue so I can start to source original parts, however the 96 and 97 catalogues online don't include Panteras in the lineup! It's all a bit confusing. Can anyone shed any light on why they don't appear? Or is this not a Pantera?

Is the second character definitely an A? Usually, the second character is a number. I'm not that well-versed in the later ones though, so that might not always be the case.

 

[Risbo_VG]

@kingoffootball , I have another one for you
1997 Tequesta, 20", red-black burning flame paint job - S7LY12298

Currently under restoration, but have all parts if you're interesting in anything specific

 

[sam_white]

I've just picked up what I think is a 96 or 97 Pantera. Serial number is SAS61084

You're in the wrong thread - that's an Aluminium frame!

 

[kingoffootball]

@kingoffootball , I have another one for you
1997 Tequesta, 20", red-black burning flame paint job - S7LY12298

Currently under restoration, but have all parts if you're interesting in anything specific

View attachment 904661

That's great, thanks. I'm not familiar with the later paint schemes, but I like that one. How i it ID'd as 1997? From the serial, by the colour scheme, or another way like having bought it new?

 

[Risbo_VG]

I was browsing through catalogues and info I could find online and compared with components on bike, so this combination of component was specific for 1997 version - STX/STX-RC drivetrain, M600 V-brakes and some other details. I bought it used somewhere in 2003-2004
Paint scheme is mentioned in catalogue, but no picture of it. I found few bikes with same paint scheme online

 

[Gtroadie]

Hi again here goes with one of my steely bike .
It's a GT Rave -F 98078849

 

[senorroboto]

I just picked up a '94 Tequesta in Blacklight that I'm trying to figure out specifics on. Still has most of the original parts (STX drivetrain) aside from tires, tubes, grips, and saddle.



Serial is SY4C1779 which indicates Serfa-made.

My main question is: According to the 1994 catalog, this frame uses "TIG welded double butted cromoly". I see a lot of '94 Tequestas in both color schemes with the "Tange MTB" sticker above the BB. This one doesn't have the sticker but could have been removed. I see there was a different '94 Tequesta posted in this thread with a different serial format (H3G1XXXXXX). This is making me wonder if they made two different versions of the '94 Tequesta or just two different factories.

Similarly in some of the 1991 Timberlines (color scheme "Blue Fission" looks identical to "Blacklight", btw) the catalog lists it as Ishiwata steel but I see frames with Tange MTB stickers. Anyone know what the deal is here?

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

I just picked up a '94 Tequesta in Blacklight that I'm trying to figure out specifics on. Still has most of the original parts (STX drivetrain) aside from tires, tubes, grips, and saddle.
View attachment 915342View attachment 915340
View attachment 915341

Serial is SY4C1779 which indicates Serfa-made.

My main question is: According to the 1994 catalog, this frame uses "TIG welded double butted cromoly". I see a lot of '94 Tequestas in both color schemes with the "Tange MTB" sticker above the BB. This one doesn't have the sticker but could have been removed. I see there was a different '94 Tequesta posted in this thread with a different serial format (H3G1XXXXXX). This is making me wonder if they made two different versions of the '94 Tequesta or just two different factories.

Similarly in some of the 1991 Timberlines (color scheme "Blue Fission" looks identical to "Blacklight", btw) the catalog lists it as Ishiwata steel but I see frames with Tange MTB stickers. Anyone know what the deal is here?

Sanfa made, not Serfa. It's possible depending upon what month in production and shipped to which countries distributor that it may have come from a different factory than other Tequesta's the same model year. It all comes down to lead times, factory production schedules and when the distributors wants the bikes to land.

 

[senorroboto]

Thanks, it's clear it comes from different factories and that makes sense, especially as GT was switching to Sanfa for other bikes around that time and would want to ramp up on different bikes at different times.

But I want to know if the lack of specificity in the catalog that year on what tubing was to allow for slightly different production at different factories due to price or supply availability of tubing. For example one could be Ishiwata and the other Tange, but both double-butted. If anyone keeping track knows if they've seen a Sanfa-made 1994 Tequesta with the Tange sticker, that could confirm one way or another.

 

[kingoffootball]

I just picked up a '94 Tequesta in Blacklight that I'm trying to figure out specifics on. Still has most of the original parts (STX drivetrain) aside from tires, tubes, grips, and saddle.
View attachment 915342View attachment 915340
View attachment 915341

Serial is SY4C1779 which indicates Serfa-made.

My main question is: According to the 1994 catalog, this frame uses "TIG welded double butted cromoly". I see a lot of '94 Tequestas in both color schemes with the "Tange MTB" sticker above the BB. This one doesn't have the sticker but could have been removed. I see there was a different '94 Tequesta posted in this thread with a different serial format (H3G1XXXXXX). This is making me wonder if they made two different versions of the '94 Tequesta or just two different factories.

Similarly in some of the 1991 Timberlines (color scheme "Blue Fission" looks identical to "Blacklight", btw) the catalog lists it as Ishiwata steel but I see frames with Tange MTB stickers. Anyone know what the deal is here?

That's interesting, it's the earliest Sanfa GT frame number I have so far and the number format is also a little different.

I can confirm that I have a record of a June 1994 made 1994 Tequesta (also in Blacklight) which was made at the Hodaka factory, so either the production for the Tequesta was switched after that or there was some overlap.

I think your hypothesis about the lack of specificity regarding the tubing due to this switch is quite possible, and that Sanfa may have used different tubing, while Hodaka were using Tange tubing for the Tequesta.