Vintage raleigh price and year?? Please help :)

[Matisse]

Hello! I have a vintage Raleigh Superbe e that was given to me by a friend and I am trying to figure out what year it is from and how much it would be worth, can anyone help me??

There are two serial numbers on the bike (these are the only one that I have found): one says 59239F and the other one says N55106895 I think, it has faded out a bit.

The gears are Sturmey Archer and it has a faded sticker that says "Oliver Somers, Wigan".

It is not in brilliant condition but I reckon it could be quite old! It also still has the original leather saddle.

 

[mjr]

http://www.kurtkaminer.com/TH_raleigh_serials.html and http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/dating.html may help with dating, but a big clue may be looking for the year and month number stamped on the gear hub - assuming it's the original!

 

[roadrash]

You will find a date stamp of 4 numbers eg 06 80 on the rear hub, in this example it would mean june 1980.

being born and lived in wigan all my life i can tell that oliver summers closed in about 1986, i think @ tissot may be able to verify this.
value wise its difficult , some people will tell you its worth more restored, others will say its better to just clean it up and service it , what ever you decide, good luck with it, its a nice bike.

 

[midlife]

The third 5 in the "N" number is 1985, this ties in with the rest of the frame including that very modern looking Sturmey trigger on the handlebars. Shaun

 

[mjr]

The third 5 in the "N" number is 1985, this ties in with the rest of the frame including that very modern looking Sturmey trigger on the handlebars. Shaun

Oops! I should have spotted it's the same as my 1991 trigger. Introduced 1976 I think? http://oldbikeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/sturmey-archer-trigger-shifters.html

 

[Matisse]

The third 5 in the "N" number is 1985, this ties in with the rest of the frame including that very modern looking Sturmey trigger on the handlebars. Shaun

Thank you very much for the response! Considering the bike is not in mint condition, what kind of price do you think it would be acceptable to sell for?

 

[roadrash]

do a search on ebay etc for similar to give you an idea

 

[Drago]

The plastic reflectors date it as mid 80s, but The frame number will confirm the exact date. It's made from scaffold pole. No 'classic' value, it's only worth is for its utility as a bicycle. Maybe 40 or 50 quid if it rides and works properly. It's a slightly old bike, of little historic interest,

 

[Drago]

October 1985.

 

[biggs682]

nice and tidy should sell well enough ideal bike for a student , i would try it between £60 - £90 on local Gumtree and see what happens might get no reaction at all but its got to be worth a try @Matisse