Another Carlton build beckons...

[Spokesmann]

I have had this 22.5" Corsa frame hang in up in my workshop for some time. Now I have my Pro Am build done, thought it would be time to get the project off the ground. The frame dates from July 1975 and is in good nick. I have raided by spares boxes and ben able to do a fair bit already. Had the eternal bugbear of older bikes to sort - a jammed cotter, but apart from that all is pretty straightforward. This is going to be built as a simple 5-speeder with Huret Svelto rear mech, 24 tooth free wheel and standard 3-pin 49 tooth chainset by Raleigh. I need to source a from wheel and a saddle but those are the only major things I need. I want to build this fella built up so it very much looks like the 1974/5 catalogue image of the Corsa at this time...

 

[Spokesmann]

Aiming for this...

 

[young Ed]

will it be a case of a full professional powder coating and then new decals and applying them best you can, or will you paint your self or will you leave as is?
you say it will be 5 speed and the you say it will be 24 tooth free wheel??? is it 5 speed or single speed?
Cheers Ed

 

[biggs682]

@Spokesmann i have a nice dunlop lightweight steel rimmed fr wheel that might suit your need

 

[Spokesmann]

will it be a case of a full professional powder coating and then new decals and applying them best you can, or will you paint your self or will you leave as is?
you say it will be 5 speed and the you say it will be 24 tooth free wheel??? is it 5 speed or single speed?
Cheers Ed

Leave as is without question.

 

[biggs682]

Leave as is without question.

thank goodness

 

[Spokesmann]

I had this fella tucked away...

The troublesome cotter...

The wheel OLN length fits!

 

[Pumpman]

It looks like you’ll have some fun ahead of you with the cotter pin.
You might want to file the following under “Wise after the event”, but I always found it useful to leave the nut on while I knocked the pin out. By backing it off to the end of the thread, it can help to spread the load of the hammer blow and reduce the burring of the pin. Then if it still all goes wrong, it’s usually possible to clear the thread as you force the nut off. I’m sorry it’s too late for this to be any use this time.
Best of luck with the pin and the rest of the work. I’m sure it’s going to look great.

 

[raleighnut]

Nice looking one again, almost makes me wish I'd kept the bits I replaced on mine in 85 or so.
Mind they were all knackered after 17yrs of being ridden nearly every day.

 

[Spokesmann]

Parts starting to trickle through now. New bearings fitted to the steerer as well as new brake hanger. Managed to find the exact same pedals this bike used to have as well. New decals added as well as cables etc. Still a lot do but this lovely old classic is looking better. Im trying to get this as close (or near as damn it) to the original 1970s spec. I have deviated from this a bit with a Sakae alloy seat post and newer alloy handle bar stem though.

 

[biggs682]

still looks good

 

[Spokesmann]

Work progressing well. Just bar tape and toe clips to get and fit now. Fitted a rather nice used Wrights W3N saddle which is on-period... Wheels and tyres now fitted and no issues with OLN widths... This classic old machine will be ready for its 40th year in 2015 and Im looking forward to getting this one on the road. Will only be for dry weather use though. This will be my 3rd Corsa and completes a line up of 1970 10-speed mauve, 1975 23-1/2" 5-speed and this one 5-speed 22".

 

[IanCarlton]

Very nice. Takes me straight back to my boyhood.

 

[Swifty]

Like that very much

 

[Spokesmann]

Well this build is nearly done, just some toe clips to fit to this 40 year old fella. The overall build cost has been around £130. Old parts are becoming more and more expensive. Biggest outlay was on a proper period saddle which came in at £38. The rest was a mixture of new and s/h parts. This will make a nice, simple, dry weather mount. Ive kept as close to the mid 70s Corsa spec as possible bar a few updates which include an alloy seat post and alloy wheels. Just about everything else is bang on. I'll eventually change the brake hoods to the Carlton black rubber covered types but the hoodless ones are OK for now. The stem will probably be changed for a GB one at some point. The whole machine was made up from a number of parts hanging around in my workshop which included; frame, rear wheel, brakes, handle bars, chain wheel/cranks and gears. The overall 70s look is very much completed by some shorty mudguards which I had from another Carlton build years ago.