Vintage Bike of the Week: 1971 Raleigh International Mk1
As a disclaimer, one must confess that most of the information you are about to read has come courtesy of the late, great Sheldon Brown.
This week we have a wonderful Raleigh International for you to ogle at. The International was Second in Raleigh's line up, sitting just below the Raleigh Professional as a more comfortable all-round alternative. Ours is an incredibly rare Mk I version from 1971, these were never sold in the UK and in fact we bought this from a collector who bought this from The States. So this incredible machine has now made it's way back to where it started its life almost 50 years ago!
Still with original paint and still sporting catalogue spec parts, you can see why it was such a desirable bike at the time. Just like the slightly more slender sibling, the Internationals were built using Reynolds 531 double butted tubing and came with almost complete Campagnolo groupsets (Raleigh were contracted to use Weinmann brakes at this point so the braking comes courtesy of the Swiss rather than the Italians).
Have a good look at the photos at the bottom of the page to see just how original this beauty is. You can also see the studio photographs & technical spec here, and to give you some background on the various incarnations of this model, here's some info lifted straight from SB:
Green 1970 or 71 International
Green and Champagne 1971 Internationals
"F" serial number, Heron headbadge. Gold/brown pinstripe lettering. "Raleigh" on downtube, small red "International" decal on toptube. Half chromed stays, fork blades; fully chromed fork crown. Reynolds 531 butted throughout. Nervex Professional lugs. Semi wrap around seat stays, points almost meet. Chainstays round at BB, no dimples. Campy dropouts with eyelets front & rear. Campy NR throughout except for brakes. 52 & 45 tooth chainrings. Brooks Pro leather saddle, small rivets. Simplex 5-speed freewheel (14, 16, 18, 21, 24). Carlton red, white, & blue "guy on a bike" decal on seattube. Small Raleigh "heron" decal on fork blades. Plain alloy bars (38cm c-c) and GB stem. Weinmann centerpull brakes and quick release brake levers. Levers drilled out and with white plastic hoods with "Carlton" in the moulding. AVA? rims. 3 brazed on cable guides/stops for rear brake - 2 at front of toptube, 1 at rear. 1 brazed on cable guide/stop for rear der cable on top of right stay. Champagne colored frame does not have the epaulets on top of the fork crown (may just be particular to this bike).
Champagne 1974 International
"WD4..." serial number, Heron headbadge. Slanted white block lettering "Raleigh" on downtube and chainstays. White pinstripe lettering "International" on toptube. Half chromed stays, fork blades; fully chromed fork crown. Reynolds 531 butted throughout. Nervex Professional lugs. Angled seat stay caps, allen head seatpost bolt. Campy dropouts with eyelets front & rear. Campy NR throughout except for brakes. 52 & 42 tooth chainrings. Brooks Pro leather saddle with 5/16" rivets. Simplex 5-speed freewheel (14, 16, 18, 21, 24). Plain alloy bars (38cm c-c) and GB stem. Weinmann centerpull brakes and quick release brake levers. Levers drilled out and with gum rubber hoods. AVA? rims. 3 brazed on cable guides/stops for rear brake - 2 at front of toptube, 1 at rear. 1 brazed on cable guide/stop for rear der cable on top of right stay. GB bars (plain) and stem with recessed allen head expander bolt. Carlton black & gold decal on seattube, triangular black, gold, & red decal at bottom of seattube. Reynolds 531 decal on each fork blade. Gold pin-stripe bands around seattube, 2 pairs of double bands above and 2 pairs below Carlton sticker.
Copper (Orange, really) 1974 International
"WK4..." serial number, Heron headbadge. Slanted white block lettering "Raleigh" on downtube and chainstays. White pinstripe lettering "International" on toptube. Half chromed stays, fork blades; fully chromed fork crown. Reynolds 531 butted throughout. Nervex Professional lugs. Angled seat stay caps, allen head seatpost bolt. Campy dropouts with eyelets front & rear. Campy NR throughout except for brakes. 52 & 42 tooth chainrings. Brooks Pro leather saddle with 5/16" rivets. Simplex 5-speed freewheel (14, 16, 18, 21, 24). Plain alloy bars (38cm c-c) and GB stem. Weinmann centerpull brakes and quick release brake levers. Levers drilled out and with white plastic hoods with "Carlton" in the moulding. 4 brazed on cable guides/stops for rear brake - 2 at front of toptube, 2 at rear. 1 brazed on cable guide/stop for rear der cable on top of right stay. GB bars (plain) and stem with recessed allen head expander bolt. Carlton black & gold decal on seattube, triangular black, gold, & red decal at bottom of seattube. "Made in England" decal on top of top tube, in front of seat post. Reynolds 531 decal on each fork blade. Gold pin-stripe bands around seattube, 2 pairs of double bands above and 2 pairs below Carlton sticker.
An unusual Champagne 1973 International
Check out those lugs!
Technical Specifications from the Raleigh Catalogue:
|
Year |
1970 | 1974 | More in the catalog archives! |
| Model | International | International, Model DL.170 | |
| Frame Sizes | 20.5", 21.5", 22.5", 23.5", 24.5" | 20.5", 21.5", 22.5", 23.5", 24.5" | |
| Colours | Bronze Green or Coffee | Copper or Champagne | |
| Frame Material | Reynolds 531 Double Butted Tubing | Reynolds 531 Butted Tubes, Forks and Stays. Campagnolo ends. | |
| Lugs | Nervex Professional | Nervex Professional Feature Cut | |
| Fork | Not listed | Reynolds 531 with Forged Vagner Crown | |
| Handlebars | Not listed | Raleigh Maes Alloy | |
| Stem | Not listed | G.B. Forged Alloy Neta | |
| Brakes | Weinmann Centerpull | Weinmann Center Pull with Lightened Q/R Levers | |
| Crankset | Campagnolo Record | Campagnolo Cotterless Alloy | |
| Rear Cluster | Not listed | Simplex 14/24T | |
| Chain | Not listed | 1/2" x 3/32" Sedis | |
| Pedals | Campagnolo Record | Campagnolo Nuovo Record Strada | |
| Rims | Not listed | Sprint Alloy | |
| Hubs | Campagnolo Record Large Flange Q/R | Campagnolo Record Large Flange Q/R | |
| Tires | Not listed | Clement Strada 66 Lightweight Cotton Tubular | |
| Saddle | Pic shows Brooks Professional | Brooks Professional Leather | |
| Seat Post | Campagnolo Record | Campagnolo Alloy | |
| derailer | Campagnolo Record | Campagnolo Nuovo Record, 10 speed | |
| Cable & Tape | Pic shows white tape, hood covers and cable housing. | White | |
| Extras | Pic shoes toeclips and red straps; white Silca pump mounted behind seat tube. | Christophe Toeclips and Chrome Leather Straps. Silca Impero Pump. | |
| Weight Approx. | Not listed | 22 1/2 lbs |
More photos of our '71 Raleigh International...
You can see the full gallery & technical specification in our Vintage Bikes section here.
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2 Responses
Grey Blavin
OMG. I just bought this exact bike in pristine condition. Green, Serial F1010. I am trying to figure out what its worth as I got a really good deal. A friend want to buy it from me to hang as art on his wall. I was debating selling it to him or buying new tires and keeping it. ;). Any guidance is appreciated. Happy to send you pics.
Thanks
Grey
Rob Gill
Love the 73 champagne International. The lugs are Carlton Capella, bettered only IMO by the earlier Carlton International … you want Baroque? Go no further!
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