Beau O’s 1984 Raleigh Gran Sport

Posted

Here is Beau O’s Tributatenspeed, 1984 Raleigh (Ecto-1) Gran Sport.

Year: 1984 (Based on a little research, but nothing verified)

Make: Raleigh

Model: GranSport (Although I affectionately refer to it as my “Ecto-10speed”)

A Little Bit About It: This bicycle is a craigslist find.  As you can tell in the photos, I am a big Ghostbusters fan and tall (6’7).  So when I found a bike that was my size AND reminded me of the ecto-1, I had no choice but to buy it.  Most everything was in rather good condition when I found it, but was bare bones.  All it needed were some personal touches.  Over time, I overhauled everything, added fenders, rear rack, stitched leather grips, red hoods (surprisingly hard to find), brooks saddle, gator skin tires, metal braided housing, saddle bags (vintage bags I found on ebay, and added the Ghostbusters patches by hand), and last but not least, the Staypuft top tube pad that I sewed myself (which is reversible, with Peter Venkman on the flip side).  I paid for these rather geeky accoutrements by fixing/restoring other old 10 speeds (and some 5 and 3 speeds) with my girlfriend and selling them.  We then used that money as our “bike fund” and put them towards adding fun goodies to our personal rides.  All in all, my bicycle killed two birds with one stone by satisfying both my vintage bicycle and Ghostbusters geek cravings.

Thanks Beau

Related posts:

  1. Dani’s 1970’s Gitane Mixte
  2. Bob H.’s 1985 Schwinn Le Tour (Ol’ Blue)
  3. Mark G.’s 1980 Raleigh Competition GS
  4. Hugh’s Motobecane Mixte – Update Post
  5. Doghouse’s 1977 Raleigh Super Course
  • older1

    Pretty slick, Beau!

    Much too lightweight, though: when funds become available, I’d like to see two big vintage chrome headlights and fat whitewall tires to complete the theme!

    • Beau

      I have toyed with the idea of adding a fun headlight on it. Still deciding…

  • http://doohickie.blogspot.com Doohickie

    If you are in the U.S. I don’t think that could be a 1984 Grand Sport. First of all, Raleigh livery in the U.S. was all block caps. Secondly, there was no Grand Sport in 1985 nor in 1983, so it’s probably safe to say it didn’t exist in between either.

    If you’re in Canada or the UK, though, you can ignore all that… carry on.

    • Beau

      Hmm. Well if anyone can help me date the bike, that would be the bee’s knees.

  • Balázs Srancsik

    I have exactly the same bicycle. This is a Japanese model which is also stated on the frame, Araya wheels also from Japan, steering too. I did a search on the internet, it is probable, that the serial number is from Centurion bicycle maker (Japan based), the second digit in the serial number is the production year, for example 4 stands for 1984. Please see: http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-209355.html

  • Mark Allington

    It’s not an 83 Gran Sport, the Gran Sport had no clearance for mudguards, had a sloping crown and shot in rear stays. Colour was a caramel and it was one below the Team Replica and made of 531C tubing, it came equipped with Campagnolo Gran Sport groupset.

  • Danny

    Looks like the one in this ’81 catalog.
    http://www.kurtkaminer.com/TH_Raleigh_Cat_81_8n9.html