Updated: June 4/2020

I bought this TdF in January of 2013. According to Chas Coleric (Gitane expert), all Reynolds 531 TdFs with the half chrome rear stays were made special for Mel Pinto Imports for the US market. According to Pinto's wholesale price list, these TdFs were not available until February of 1969. Chas also mentioned that Gitane started using the style of Mylar foil decals on my TdF in late 1967. The Super Corsa, Olympic (Super Corsa for the French market) and TdF frames had their head tubes also covered with Mylar foil. According to Chas, the head tube Mylar foil decal was discontinued around 1969, and as such his guess that this TdF is a very early 1969 US model. Note According to Chas, Gitane made a model for the French/European market for a few years called the Champion du Monde. It was between the Olympic (called the Super Corsa in the US) and the TdF. If that model existed in the late 60's it may have had Campy dropouts and Campy or Huret fork ends. They had Stronglight P3 headsets and Campy NR derailleurs with Stronglight cranks. THE BIKE Frame: Reynolds 531. Original paint and decals. Huret and Campagnolo front and rear dropouts, respectively. Brakeset: Mafac Competition Handlebars: Steel generic Stem: Pivo alloy Headset: Stronglight Competition P3 Shifters: Campagnolo Record Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Record Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record (Pat. 71). Crankset: Stronglight 93 Bottom Bracket: Stronglight Competition Pedals: Lyotard 460D Wheelset: Campagnolo Gran Sport hubs laced to 36 hole Mavic Championnat du Monde Montlery rims (stamped 1971). Chain: Sedis Sprocket: Cyclo 64 5 speed Seatpost: Steel generic Saddle: Freccia d'Oro