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New acquisition: Motobecane trying to date - high end

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Gold examples produced as well.

C5 of 1979 -

11gkm5s.jpg


(click to enlarge)

Catalogue of 1979 showing this model here -

https://www.scribd.com/doc/19690571/Motobecane-catalogue-1979

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Note on hubs -

Alpin not produced by Perrin, my error.

Manufactured by Societe Nouvelle de Roulemnets (SNR).

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dcau0o.jpg

efmnif.jpg


Launch looks to have been 1976.

Juy (Simplex) skewers are stock.

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Here is another gold C5 with a 1979 birthday.

Its nick not nearly so fine as our subject machine, looks to be all original.

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1979 catalogue page -


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Lots of great info here now! Juvela doing a lot of heavy lifting. Here is a pic of the derailleur showing the date to be 02 78. So does that mean the bike is a 1978 or could it still be a 1979?

IMG_7345.JPG
 
After looking at French 1978 and 1979 catalogs I am now leaning towards 1979 C5. Specs seem to fit.
 
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Yes indeed, "I think you've got it!" :D

Note on Huret fittings date -

the 1978 model C5's found online wear Reynolds transfers while the 1979's wear those of A.L. Colombo. it is entirely possible of course that the two may overlap, perhaps in both directions. such that we may find '78's with Dove markings and '79's with 531 transfers. manufacturer catalogues, brochures and specifications crosstables typically have a fine print disclaimer down at he bottom or on their back covers stating something to the effect that "Specifications may vary without notice." :rolleyes:

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My automobile has a matriculation transfer on its door jamb from the manufacturer stating it was constructed in February of 1992. Yet it was sold and registered in all of its records as a 1993 model.

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Another avenue of date/model year you may wish to explore is serial number. You could check to see if there be a registry for the MB marque...

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BTW - have you checked the underside of the saddle for markings? wondering if it may be an MB marked Tron et Berthet model 2001.

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I had the same bike a few years ago the in lavender, Motobecane made the C5 as a European market only model similar to the Le Champion. I think mine was also a 1979 sweet bike I regret selling mine cause you dont see them often but I had a collector poney up for it so off it went.
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Thanks for posting your example Mr.RED ;)

Noticed it left Pantin with clamp-on shift levers rather than the braze-on set of the subject machine.

Did 1979 models come through both ways?

The lavender colour is very pale compared with that of the bicycle shown in the catalogue page posted above. Perhaps two lavenders were used during the course of the model year...(?)

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