Sun Super Vitesse c1951 3-speed

[Spokesmann]

This is my latest build. I purchased this machine last year form a seller in Manchester, a friend has only been able to deliver this to me in the last week or so. This is a Sun Super Vitesse from around 1951, a good deal of the original components are still with it. Im keeping this as a 3-speed version (my other I converted to 5-speed). The finish is in dark plum, my other is in royal blue. Frame is a bit bigger than my other Vitesse at around 22.5". Wheels are 26" with Weinmann alloy rims. Its shod with 26 x 1-1/4" tyres. Original bars, stem and brake levers. I'm replacing the rather feeble looking monitor brakes with some much beefier GB Courier Pluses I have in store here. I have a stock of NOS white ribbed cable for the brakes. Guards will be Bluemels all rounders in carmine red. I have completely stripped the bike and re-greased the Bayliss Wiley BB and also cleaned and regreased the delightful clip headset. Im replacing the chainwheel with a period correct 1/8" chain Williams item. Pedals are original. I have a B17 from pre 1953 with oval stamp mark which replaces the worn out B17 that came with it. Overall I aim to clean and sympathetically refurb the machine, including touching up some of the frame graphics. The original paint is in pretty good nick.

Ive made a good deal of progress on this in the last week and will post up more images shortly.

 

[Spokesmann]

Ive been a busy boy yesterday. loosely built up the machine now, but plenty still to do.

Refurbished the wheels yesterday, the front one has a non original Campag hub and QR spindle.

Need to clean up things like the grips etc...

Ive T-cut and waxed the frame. Im going to retouch the frame graphics, I maybe will redo some of the box lining too with a ruling pen.

GB Courier plus brakes with quick releases.

Williams chainwheel from 1951...

 

[Spokesmann]

Re:

Work continues on the Vitesse. A few niggles to sort, but its starting to look rideable now.

 

[Wheelnut]

Looking great! Lovely original paint.

With such generous wheel clearance, I wonder if your frame was intended for 27in wheels, and someone put on some 26's at a later date? Neither of the hubs dates from the 50s, so quite possible. That said, many frames of that era were designed for fitting both 26s or 27s, which is why GB produced the Hiduminium brake with a very long slot for the brake shoes.

 

[Wheelnut]

A quick look at the 1951 Sun catalogue (from the VCC library) shows that the 26in wheels are indeed correct for this model. It originally had GB brakes too.

 

[Spokesmann]

Yes Im keeping 26" wheels, I tried 27" o my other Vitesse, just too tight. 700c might fit, bit I like these - they look right. The GBs on this one are Courier Pluses which have quick release cams...

 

[Wheelnut]

It would probably have come with GB Sport brakes, which was, I believe, only sold as original equipment. It's the same as the Courier but without the quick release. The Courier Plus came in about 1957, but it looks identical so still looks right. If you need a longer drop, GB made the Grand Tour, which is a Courier with longer drop. But you probably know all this anyway...

 

[Spokesmann]

It would probably have come with GB Sport brakes, which was, I believe, only sold as original equipment. It's the same as the Courier but without the quick release. The Courier Plus came in about 1957, but it looks identical so still looks right. If you need a longer drop, GB made the Grand Tour, which is a Courier with longer drop. But you probably know all this anyway...

Thanks for info! I knew they made a longer drop brake but didn't know the name! This machine originally had some rather feeble Monitor brake calipers which I have but are a little rough looking as well as no where near as well made as the GBs.

 

[Peachy!]

Now that's a handsome machine, very nice job,,, I do like the clean looking rear end that you get from using (I assume a Sturmey) hub-gear.

 

[Midlife]

Very smart . The twist in the toe straps brought a smile to my face . Jif, or is it Cif might clean up the grips?