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ilprincipe

hello,

I just registered here Smile

I am considering buying a vintage gitane track frame, most likely from the 70s. It would be nice to know the model of the frame, as I'd happily buy a mexico or super pista but wouldnt bother for a track standard.

Problem is, the frame has obviously been repainted/restored at some point and new gitane decals added. The lugs do not really look special. is there any way to determine the model? Ive looked at frames online but couldnt find a really distinctive feature that was true to one model. seatpost diameter seems to differ substantially, lugs as well.

here are the pictures. the installed headset is a lightrace. bottom bracket has french threading.

verktyg

Greetings and welcome to the Forum.

The blue repainted frame is an Andre Bertin C56 model not a Gitane. It has the distinctive swagged flutes in the top of the seat stays. Bertin also used Lightrace headsets whereas Gitane used their own make.

This is a Bertin C56 from the 60s. It has different lugs than the one that in your pictures. Those are Bocama Professional medium point lugs like the ones used on early 70s Gitane Tour de France frames

The C56 frames were usually made with French Durifort tubing. They were descent quality bikes, on a par with the Gitane Mexico model.

BTW, someone added the Gitane decals as Bertin decals are unavailable!

ilprincipe

thanks very much for the info. I was wondering about the fluted seat stays, hadnt seen that on any gitane yet. still a bit on the fence about buying it, im always scared that frames of that age are warped. oddly enough they still command prices that are about half of what a cheaper new steel frame costs.

verktyg

Frames warp from being crashed! Wink

A nice paint job can cover a multitude of sins (repairs that can't be detected).
Confused

I like the color blue on that frame. The paint looks a little thick like it's a powder coat job which is good for a bike that's going to be ridden a lot.