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jischr

I have a Super Corsa that I purchased new in Dec 85 or Jan 86. Looking at the catalogues it appears to be an 84 model based on color, decals, and components; but not the tube set. The sticker on my bike is Vitus 971 while the catalogue states the 84's were Vitus 983. Did I get an 83 frame with 84 paint and components or an 84 frame with the wrong tube set sticker? Any way to check? Would antique road show say its a rare find worth $10K? (if yes - anyone want to buyit!)

Thanks,

John

lofter

pics would help if you can john. the only gitane bike ive heard of being worth 10,000 is the delta that was up for sale on ebay couple weeks back Rolling Eyes

jischr

I'll try to get some pics up in a day or so. But in the short term - my frame and fork are identical to the one posted on the home page under models/supercorsa. The Vitus sticker is in the same location, mine says 971, not 983.

logarto

Refer to this thread.

http://www.gitaneusa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2721&highlight=

My understanding before arriving here was that '83 TDFs and Supercorsas were chevron decals and Vitus 980 tubing. '84 were bulbous decals and Vitus 983. I still own one of the former and sold a friend nearby one of the latter.

I can't tell you for sure but the only time I ever saw the olive-colored Vitus 971 frame back in the day it was with a lower level of parts and they weren't calling it a Super Corsa.

So I'm beginning to think that the line that came through Wisconsin was not precisely aligned with what the previous Gitane importer was getting. That's possiblly why people have testified to both 971 and 980 Supercorsas represented as '83s?

And I guess I'd like to ride a Vitus 971 bike someday if the opportunity presents itself too.

I had a Reynolds 531C Professionnel for a few years and there was nothing wrong wit tat puppy either.

jischr

Here are some pictures, I hope. If they are there you can see an 84 paint and decal scheme with Vitus 971 tubing and fork, and Vitus dropouts. So,,is it an 83, an 84, or an expression of French 80's marketing?

Thanks,

John

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Ok,,for reasons beyond my understanding the images aren't shown, at least when I checked it. If you copy the first url of each pair into your browser address the full size image will come up. Much more tedious but at least you can see what I've got. BTW, before anyone swoons over frame spreading - an Ultegra 10spd cassette fits an 126mm Shimano 105 hub without spreading. Chain angle gets a bit radical but it works for me.

John

sandranian · Site Admin

I don't know why the images aren't posting...I have never had an issue. I posted them below for you...and it appears to be a 1983/84 Super Corsa. No, not worth "10K", but certainly a nice bike and worth "preserving". I would ride it...with any parts you like. In great condition, by the way.

verktyg

I have somewhat of a mystery Super Corsa frame too.

http://www.gitaneusa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=536

Ateliers de la Rive (workshop by the river) the producer of Durifort, Vitus and Super Vitus bicycle tubing started in 1931. Here's a link with a good history of the company (that has a few debatable bits of info):

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/France/Vitus_history.htm

Super Vitus 971 was their premium tubing during the 1970s. It weighed about the same as Columbus SL tubing. Combined with the relaxed frame geometry of French road bikes from that era it made nice riding bikes.

In the late 70s they introduced Super Vitus 980. It was lighter than 971. I've never actually seen a complete SV 980 frame. My early 80s Andre Bertin C37bis has SV 971 decals but you can clearly see S.V. 980 stamped into the 3 main tubes. It's a very lightweight bike. With sewups and a light saddle it only weighs ~19 lbs.

Super Vitus 983 was a lighter, stronger tube set that came out in the early 1980s.

Carefully look over the ends of the 3 main tubes to see if you can find S.V. 971, 980 or 983 stamped into them. Also check the tops of the fork blades. I think that the French bike makers used whatever decals they had handy!

I also have a 1984 Tour de France. The frame is identical to my 1984? Super Corsa except for the decals and colors. They both have Super Vitus 983 decals. They're both wonderful riding and handling bikes. The short wheelbase plus ~74° head and seat tube angles make these bikes laterally rigid across the bottom bracket and rear triangle but the light tubing makes them comfortable to ride.

It's a beautiful day so I'm going to take the Super Corsa out for some exercise in a few minutes. Very Happy

Chas.

logarto

Now we're getting somewhere! Stephen's [sic - should read "John's"] bike looks almost exactly like my '83 Super Corsa and mine is indeed Vitus 980.

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Mine has the "Super Corsa Made in France" decal on the derraileur side of the tube right up against the head lug.

The Vitus 980 bike was reviewed by Bicycling in the "USA Versus the World" Article in Nov. '83 I believe with a Mavic/Modolo parts kit that was never available as a full bike when Trek was the importer.

Not sure if the french diameter Columbus Tubing Professionnel back with Campy existed/was imported by anyone that year, I seem to recall that one in the '84 bulbous decal plumage.

verktyg

It looks like the decals on your bike have white borders rather than the more common yellow borders like on mine.

Does your Super Corsa have chrome plating on the right chainstay?

I wasn't aware that Trek was importing Gitanes. Do you know where I can find info about this?

Chas.

logarto

Yes, didn't notice that. Meant to say that the "Super Corsa Made in France" Decal was on the head tube, right side just behing the headset. Pictures of that Vitus 980 Super Corsa are here, 3rd post I think?

http://www.gitaneusa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2721&highlight=

Again I apologize for the Sante but it always worked visually on that bike.
I bought the Syper Corsa as a bare frame, believe it or not we were doing Spidelectomies for fun and profit in 1983! Everything came with Phillipe/Atax and you could sure tell that they were using power tools to put the cranksets on in France too.

Other than the decal border color & the placement of the Zefal Pump holder mine looks almost exactly like Stephen's.

Yours are what I rever to as the "bulbous" decals. I had the orange Tour De France with those from 84 thru 94.

I'd be glad to tell you anything that I think I know.

htis2008@gmail.com

Partially because I am equally ignorant about who the other importers were back then. Wasn't Mel Pinto in this space for a while?

And now I'd really like to try out a 971 Gitane in my size too.

One of my problems with their line was that it went right from 57 to 61 cm sizes where we were getting them.

sandranian · Site Admin

You mean it is on the top tube, right? Not the head tube?

logarto

Correct.

Peter S. Horn

The following may shed some light on some of the confusion re the Super Vitus Supercorsas.

As far as I know, 1983 was the first year (including my 1983 Super Vitus 971) for the Super Vitus Supercorsa, at least for the U.S. market. Previously, the Supercorsa was Reynolds 531 and Campagnolo Nuovo Record equipped. I have not seen a 1982 catalogue, but I do have a copy of Bicyling Magazine's Buyer's Guide for 1982.

The main point to be made is that the 1982 Tour de France was equipped,seemingly, similarly to the 1983-4 S/C, with a Super Vitus 971 frameset and a similar domestic French parts mix, including; Speidel (Simplex) duralleurs, with Speidel (Simplex) LJ levers, Speidel Stronglight 106 crankset, Maillard 700 6 speed gearset (the 1983-4 S/C had a 7 speed unit), etc. Some parts might have been of a somewhat level, but they were, apparently, generally similar.

At some point, during in the mid-1970's (my 1973 T.D.F was Reynolds 531 equipped), Gitane-France began to introduce Super Vitus frames to the U.S. lineup, starting with the T.D.F., later the S/C. Prices were: 1982 S/C-$1,284.50, 1982 T.D.F.-$684.50, 1983 S/C-$829.95.

Peter H.
Sacramento

verktyg

Thanks for the info on Super Vitus tubing.

The Super Corsa model seems to have disappeared from Gitane's lineup from 1973 until the early 1980s. From the late 1960s until the end of the 1973 model year the Super Corsa frames were made of Reynolds 531 tubing and had Campagnolo dropouts. These bikes were equipped with all Campy components except for Mafac brakes (after 1970 a few came with Campy brakes).

The French catalogs show Olympic, Super Olympic and Champion du Monde models with frames that look to be the equivalents of the Super Corsa.

During the same time Gitane Tour de France frames were also made of 531 tubing but had Simplex instead of Campy dropouts . Later models (1972-73???) came with medium point Bocama lugs rather than the long point Prugnat or Bocama lugs.

The 1974 through 1976 Gitane Tour de France models came with frames made with only the 3 main tubes Reynolds 531. The forks and stays were made of some other tubing. They also switched to the Huret "honeycomb" rear dropouts.

I lost track of Gitanes after about 1976 or 77.

Chas.