Holdsworth Custom 1972 - HELP Identifying

[MaxPritchard34]

Hi there,
New to this forum, someone said there were some very knowledgable people so I’m hoping someone could help. I have just bought this Holdsworth with the frame number 3153. Looking online the frame is a custom built frame from 1972. Could anyone tell me anymore about custom frames built by Holdsworth in this era?

I posted on a Holdsworth group on Facebook and a few people had suggested the frame set was a higher end model, could anyone confirm that or tell me what model it is? Someone said it could either be a super mistral or normal mistral? The bike is as I bought it, the components don’t see that high end but it rides beautifully and feels pretty light.

thanks for looking any information you could provide me about Holdsworth brand or my bike would be much appreciated!

Max

 

[MaxPritchard34]

 

[Fab Foodie]

The wrap-over seat stays were a feature of their ‘Professional’ frames which were originally orange with Campag, but they could have done wrap-overs for a custom build.
Those bars are ghastly, but apart from that, she‘s beautiful!

 

[midlife]

Blimey that's a lot of pictures lol. Mistral / Super Mistral? There's a thread on Retrobike with frame numbers combined with Nick Kilgariff site usually sorts out the model.

 

[classic33]

There should be a date/date code on the back of the brake arms. I'm looking at 87 - 88.
531 Speed Stream tubing introduced in 83?

 

[midlife]

Looking at late 60's to early 70's..?

 

[MaxPritchard34]

Hi there,

thanks for the responses, I know that the bike is from 1972 this has been confirmed with the frame number on an online Holdsworth dating page. What I’m trying to find out is some more information about Holdsworth Custom bikes and potentially the model, as it’s a custom would it be a mistral that has been built to an individuals dimensions or is it a bike that’s been built a one off??

move searched online and it looks very similar to a professional, Mistral and super mistral so I’m just trying to identify which one it might be?

thanks, Max

 

[midlife]

Have you checked out Nick Kilgariff' Holdsworth site for 1972?

By 1972 the Professional was getting shorter and more upright, eventually got to a silly 76 degrees and the Pro riders kicked back. Your frame is quite relaxed and takes mudguards, the braze ons for the cables on the top tube are the wrong side for Campag so points towards Mistral

 

[Fab Foodie]

Have you checked out Nick Kilgariff' Holdsworth site for 1972?

By 1972 the Professional was getting shorter and more upright, eventually got to a silly 76 degrees and the Pro riders kicked back. Your frame is quite relaxed and takes mudguards, the braze ons for the cables on the top tube are the wrong side for Campag so points towards Mistral

The Mistral is said to be 72” parallel frame, but the OP’s seems far from parallel, but other than that, Mistral seems fave. Maybe just a one-off frame build?

 

[classic33]

Saddle is from '75 earliest
Rear derailleur is '81, earliest.
Brakes are '82, earliest.
The 531 Respray decal isn't correct for the early '80's.

There's engravings either side of the stem, can you provide a clear picture of these?

 

[Illaveago]

Saddle is from '75 earliest
Rear derailleur is '81, earliest.
Brakes are '82, earliest.
The 531 Respray decal isn't correct for the early '80's.

There's engravings either side of the stem, can you provide a clear picture of these?

WHich picture was that ?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Saddle is from '75 earliest
Rear derailleur is '81, earliest.
Brakes are '82, earliest.
The 531 Respray decal isn't correct for the early '80's.

There's engravings either side of the stem, can you provide a clear picture of these?

The ‘Respray’ transfer looks remarkably like mine from 1983. Components early 80, but think bars and stem are older.

 

[T4tomo]

Saddle is from '75 earliest
Rear derailleur is '81, earliest.
Brakes are '82, earliest.
The 531 Respray decal isn't correct for the early '80's.

There's engravings either side of the stem, can you provide a clear picture of these?

given its had a respray, its extremely likely that all components aren't original.

@MaxPritchard34

have you been on the "Holdsworth Reynolds F H Grubbs Claud Butler" FB group. the admin is ex Holdsworth factory frame builder- he would tell you what custom build was.... but I assume it was just that. It wouldn't have a model name, and would have frame angles and specification to buyers choice. hene having mudguard mounts etc but not having same angles as the Mistrals of that era.

 

[Drago]

Wheels are early 80's CB/Holdsworth fare.

Its a nice looking machine.

 

[midlife]

By 1972 big companies like Holdsworth and Carlton would let you have different paint schemes and braze ons for their catalogue frames but individual builds had effectively ceased.