1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

User avatar
marc2131
Posts: 469
Joined: Fri May 27, 2011 9:20 pm
Location: Inner West, Sydney

1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby marc2131 » Sun Aug 26, 2012 10:40 pm

Received this unexpectedly on Wednesday. Belonged to my brother in law who bought it in the mid 80s in Singapore when he was a member of an Australian 'Dragon Boat' team.
Only parts missing are the pedals, seat post and seat. All other parts are original when he bought it new.
Rode it for the first time on Saturday. Rides beautifully eventhough the BB is a bit stiff. I am no expert but the geometry feels lovely.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
... 15km short of a cardiac arrest ...

Dow Jones Index
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:24 pm

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby Dow Jones Index » Mon Aug 27, 2012 1:22 pm

Looks good mate. Interesting to see a model without shot in seat stays, reminds me of the one Phil Anderson rode. As do the extra decals on the TT and chain stays. Get some better photo's and put it the Raleigh aprreciation thread!

rogerrabbit
Posts: 1219
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:12 pm
Location: Seaforth

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby rogerrabbit » Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:02 pm

Can you post the serial number? It will tell its age and if it is a team replica etc.

Roger

User avatar
HappyHumber
Posts: 5072
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:48 pm
Location: Perth, (S.o.R.) W.A.

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby HappyHumber » Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:22 pm

Nice.. Looks like a fairly large sized frame. I hope it's your size ;)
--
Hit me up via the BNA dm; I'll get an alert. If y'know, you know.

User avatar
marc2131
Posts: 469
Joined: Fri May 27, 2011 9:20 pm
Location: Inner West, Sydney

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby marc2131 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:14 am

HappyHumber wrote:Nice.. Looks like a fairly large sized frame. I hope it's your size ;)
Yep it fits well. Am about 6' 3", maybe less as age encroaches. Plan to take some better photos. Had a look at the serial number when I first got it and deduced it was made in Nov 1986 at the Carlton factory.

Have a question for the Raleigh experts out there: What sort of pedals, seat post and saddle would this have used? What about the bottle cages? :?:
... 15km short of a cardiac arrest ...

BRLVR.v2
Posts: 725
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2011 8:33 pm

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby BRLVR.v2 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:30 am

Back wheel and cassette not original? Looks like only 5 sprockets.

rkelsen
Posts: 5131
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:41 pm

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby rkelsen » Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:45 am

marc2131 wrote:Yep it fits well. Am about 6' 3", maybe less as age encroaches. Plan to take some better photos. Had a look at the serial number when I first got it and deduced it was made in Nov 1986 at the Carlton factory.
The Carlton factory at Worksop was closed in 1980.
marc2131 wrote:Have a question for the Raleigh experts out there: What sort of pedals, seat post and saddle would this have used? What about the bottle cages? :?:
The answers you seek can be found here:

This is a catalogue from 1984: http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Raleigh84/

The only 1986 version I could find was the US one: http://www.kurtkaminer.com/TH_raleigh_cat_usa86.html

You need to look at the 'specs' pages.

Dow Jones Index
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:24 pm

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby Dow Jones Index » Wed Aug 29, 2012 1:10 pm

rkelsen wrote:The Carlton factory at Worksop was closed in 1980.
Truth. The Panasonic models were made in the Nottingham factory. If the serial number does actually designate it as coming from the Carlton factory then it's likely to be an earlier team model repainted in Panasonic colours (not a bad thing). That would also explain the seat stay junction.

As for components, it really depends where you want to take it. At the moment you have a mix of 105 a and 600, so you might want to complete it with more of that. that said there's nothing wrong with mixing groups. Have a look at the Raleigh appreciation thread, you'll see Vaeske went for a catalogue faithful restoration with full Campy Nuovo. I modernised mine slightly with a 6400 sti group to handle day to day commuting.

User avatar
Mustang
Posts: 1572
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 9:20 am
Location: Little Mountain Qld
Contact:

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby Mustang » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:17 pm

No one ever gives me a bike :cry: :cry: :cry:
Distance Goal 4000km
70 years young.

User avatar
vaeske
Posts: 1013
Joined: Thu May 05, 2011 9:22 am
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby vaeske » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:30 pm

Dow Jones Index wrote:
rkelsen wrote:The Carlton factory at Worksop was closed in 1980.
Truth. The Panasonic models were made in the Nottingham factory. If the serial number does actually designate it as coming from the Carlton factory then it's likely to be an earlier team model repainted in Panasonic colours (not a bad thing). That would also explain the seat stay junction.

As for components, it really depends where you want to take it. At the moment you have a mix of 105 a and 600, so you might want to complete it with more of that. that said there's nothing wrong with mixing groups. Have a look at the Raleigh appreciation thread, you'll see Vaeske went for a catalogue faithful restoration with full Campy Nuovo. I modernised mine slightly with a 6400 sti group to handle day to day commuting.
Hey, great to see another bloke joining the family. I'm so glad i bought my bike because its my pride and joy, now that i've got it back in riding condition, wheels will be rebuilt and hubs repacked and she'll handle the day to day stuff should i need it.

As DJI stated, nothing wrong with mixing parts, when i got mine, it had campy shifts and 600 headsets and cranks, the previous seller would've gotten some use out of it but i was anal and wanted the full restoration AND stupid coz its cost me an arm and a leg. I ride it maybe once or twice a week, retro rides, tweed rides etc so still happy with it. while DJI gave it the modern commuting easiness with 6400 sti brifters. Both worthwhile depending on what you wanna do.

More than happy to help you with anything you want to know as DJI and I are both proud owners and lovers of this bike.

User avatar
marc2131
Posts: 469
Joined: Fri May 27, 2011 9:20 pm
Location: Inner West, Sydney

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby marc2131 » Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:56 pm

Thanks guys.
Transfering this to the Raleigh Appreciation thread. Will post better photos.
... 15km short of a cardiac arrest ...

User avatar
marc2131
Posts: 469
Joined: Fri May 27, 2011 9:20 pm
Location: Inner West, Sydney

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby marc2131 » Fri Aug 31, 2012 10:45 am

Dow Jones Index wrote: Truth. The Panasonic models were made in the Nottingham factory. If the serial number does actually designate it as coming from the Carlton factory then it's likely to be an earlier team model repainted in Panasonic colours (not a bad thing). That would also explain the seat stay junction.

As for components, it really depends where you want to take it. At the moment you have a mix of 105 a and 600, so you might want to complete it with more of that. that said there's nothing wrong with mixing groups. Have a look at the Raleigh appreciation thread, you'll see Vaeske went for a catalogue faithful restoration with full Campy Nuovo. I modernised mine slightly with a 6400 sti group to handle day to day commuting.
The serial number under the BB is WP6000934. That would mean the W=Carlton 'Workshop',P= November, 6=1986.
This doesnt make sense especially when Team Replica's with this colour combination weren't being made by 1986.

See the numbering info here: http://spinwell.co.uk/tag/team-pro/
... 15km short of a cardiac arrest ...

User avatar
WyvernRH
Posts: 3179
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:41 pm
Location: Newcastle NSW

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby WyvernRH » Fri Aug 31, 2012 11:48 am

marc2131 wrote: The serial number under the BB is WP6000934. That would mean the W=Carlton 'Workshop',P= November, 6=1986.
This doesnt make sense especially when Team Replica's with this colour combination weren't being made by 1986.

See the numbering info here: http://spinwell.co.uk/tag/team-pro/
IIRC the year stamp only defines a year in a decade, but you have to guess which decade! So it could be 1976 which might make more sense?
Cheers
Richard

Dow Jones Index
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:24 pm

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby Dow Jones Index » Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:03 pm

The plot thickens! I'm going with my original assumption that it's an earlier Ti repainted in Panasonic colours to reflect the success of Phil Anderson (I've seen this before). But don't be disheartened, it's still a beautiful machine and very collectible. Many people regard the earlier models more highly than the Panasonics. Just have a look at the latest entry in the Raleigh Appreciation thread, phwoar!

User avatar
munga
Posts: 7023
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:17 pm
Location: wowe
Contact:

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby munga » Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:04 pm

if it was a 1976, it'd probably have band-on for the shifters, and cable guides over the bottom bracket.
also a lugged fork crown, and exposed nutted brakes rather than later recessed ones.
still no idea why it doesn't have the shot in stays like vaeske's

Dow Jones Index
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:24 pm

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby Dow Jones Index » Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:30 pm

Good point. The actual team models had regular shoulders on the seat stays, as well as extra decals on the chain stays and top tube like this one. I'd imagine they're very rare though and it still doesn't explain the serial no.

rkelsen
Posts: 5131
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:41 pm

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby rkelsen » Fri Aug 31, 2012 8:13 pm

munga wrote:if it was a 1976, it'd probably have band-on for the shifters, and cable guides over the bottom bracket.
also a lugged fork crown, and exposed nutted brakes rather than later recessed ones.
Also, a higher brake bridge, a cable stop for centre pull brakes between the seat stays, and no brazed in bottle mounts.

This one is a mystery. It's later than 1980, that's for sure.

Dow Jones Index
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:24 pm

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby Dow Jones Index » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:53 pm

So I just had a look underneath my Panasonic, and the serial begins with WN4. My newly acquired Zenith begins with WC4 and it's made with 501 which wasn't introduced until 1983. I then did a bit of reading and found the 'w' prefix was used on all higher end frames built by Raleigh of Nottingham up until at least 1987. So that clears that confusion, and yes it probably WAS built in 1986 :wink:

As for the seat stays, custom built frames were available in team colours as well a choice of 531 or 753. On the assumption it's a custom is it possible that in '86 Raleigh weren't using fastback stays anymore? That's my best guess anyway.

Here's a few links

http://radpropaganda.org/raleigh-team-pro-timeline/

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=125009

http://www.kurtkaminer.com/TH_raleigh_cat_uk87.html

User avatar
HappyHumber
Posts: 5072
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:48 pm
Location: Perth, (S.o.R.) W.A.

Re: 1986 Raleigh Panasonic 531c

Postby HappyHumber » Fri Aug 31, 2012 10:03 pm

marc2131 wrote:
HappyHumber wrote:Nice.. Looks like a fairly large sized frame. I hope it's your size ;)
Yep it fits well. Am about 6' 3"...
Just cos... I'm a jealous 6'2" :mrgreen:
--
Hit me up via the BNA dm; I'll get an alert. If y'know, you know.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Amazon [Bot]