sjcprojects
Orange 🍊 Fan
An impulse purchase, I think mainly due to the sheer pinkness of it (plus it was £50, so worth a punt). Below is exactly how it was as bought. As that bloke off the telly says, it looks good from far, but is in fact far from good. For starters it's absolutely filthy, but then that adds to the fun, right? I thought I might get away with an oily rag job on the paintwork, but it fact it's so patchy it's going to have to be a lazy light respray.
As to who made it I have a few clues, but it's still a mystery after a bit of internet research. The initial thought was Holdsworth, but the frame number 851115 doesn't fit with that at all. There are a few possible clues...
1) 'Allez' dropouts – Holdsworth mainly used these, but others in the 80s did too. Narrows it down a bit, though
2) Heart cut outs on lugs. Obviously a few makers used these, but it could also narrow it down.
3) Also a heart-shaped shifter stop. Once again, used by a few makers (Falcon, for starters)
4) Finally, maybe the most distinctive thing – the top ends of the seat stays have an edge on them, rather than being flush with the tubing
So, answers on a postcard. I'm pretty sure it's not a respray, there's no sign of that. This is definitely not a stock build seeing as it has a cable guide on the bottom of the chain stay, but the owner/builder has instead used a band-on guide on the top of the stay (which looks original, not added later). The components are also not what I'd expect if it was catalogue spec – Pelissier 2000 Professional hubs on unbranded rims, for starters.
Anyway, after getting all the filth off and some disassembly, it's off to get some neon pink paint...fingers crossed for some sunny days.
As to who made it I have a few clues, but it's still a mystery after a bit of internet research. The initial thought was Holdsworth, but the frame number 851115 doesn't fit with that at all. There are a few possible clues...
1) 'Allez' dropouts – Holdsworth mainly used these, but others in the 80s did too. Narrows it down a bit, though
2) Heart cut outs on lugs. Obviously a few makers used these, but it could also narrow it down.
3) Also a heart-shaped shifter stop. Once again, used by a few makers (Falcon, for starters)
4) Finally, maybe the most distinctive thing – the top ends of the seat stays have an edge on them, rather than being flush with the tubing
So, answers on a postcard. I'm pretty sure it's not a respray, there's no sign of that. This is definitely not a stock build seeing as it has a cable guide on the bottom of the chain stay, but the owner/builder has instead used a band-on guide on the top of the stay (which looks original, not added later). The components are also not what I'd expect if it was catalogue spec – Pelissier 2000 Professional hubs on unbranded rims, for starters.
Anyway, after getting all the filth off and some disassembly, it's off to get some neon pink paint...fingers crossed for some sunny days.
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