Calling all the Raleigh Bike experts to help ID this one

[Junkman Bob]

All
I need a little help indentifying this Raleigh .

Looks to be a 3 or 5 speed with sturney archer shifter ... cool fenders and cool design fork and solid fender braces.
Is this one desirable ?

 

[SirMike1983]

That looks like a late model Sports - late 1970s or very early 1980s. It should be a 3-speed. The back hub should give the exactly year, but with that set up, probably 1978-82. The 1979 catalog shows almost that exact bike, but in a 21 inch frame. At some point in 1979-80 they dropped the "R" nuts on the cotters. The large DOT reflector was generally in a white-colored housing in 1977-78, and black housing after that 1979-82. So 1978 through 80 would be my best guess. These are somewhat unique among the Sports bikes in that they have a combination of features Raleigh added at the end of the Sports run, though that uniqueness has not apparently translated into collector value as of yet.

 

[bulldog1935]

here's a '77/78

looks like the same paint that was on my '77 Grand Prix, frame s/n dated May '76

though it may be this sky blue that was up to '76

 

[dweenk]

I agree that it is 1976 or later. I had a step through Sports that very color with a hub dated 1976. I can't remember when Raleigh switched to alloy brakes, but as I recall it was in the late '70s.

 

[Junkman Bob]

Thanks everyone

 

[bikemonkey]

Sky Blue is nice but the later Humber Blue is what sends me...wish this was mine...

 

[bulldog1935]

Sky Blue is nice but the later Humber Blue is what sends me...wish this was mine...

View attachment 826013

I'm thinking the OPs bike isn't sky blue, rather oxidized royal blue paint, same as my '77 GP