Raleigh Blue Streak

[marius.suiram]

After 2 months of trying to meet the buyer, today I made it. It was one hour away and from all 10 bikes he had for sale I got this one.

 

[juvela]

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the frame looks just like a that of the Gran Prix model

suspect machine near to 1960, perhaps ~1962

have not previously encountered this model; wonder if it could be domestic UK market or perhaps a Canadian market cycle...

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EDIT:

lucky guess!

checked the catalogue archive at theheadbadge.com and discovered this page from the 1962 U.S. market catalogue -

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@dnc1 @SirMike1983


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[marius.suiram]

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the frame looks just like a that of the Gran Prix model

suspect machine near to 1960, perhaps ~1962

have not previously encountered this model; wonder if it could be domestic UK market or perhaps a Canadian market cycle...

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EDIT:

lucky guess!

checked the catalogue archive at theheadbadge.com and discovered this page from the 1962 U.S. market catalogue -

View attachment 1683489

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@dnc1 @SirMike1983


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Thanks

 

[Schwinny]

Unusual that being for the American market, it has a lamp bracket bung on the fork. And on the right leg, they could've at least had it on the left side for us yanks.

 

[juvela]

Unusual that being for the American market, it has a lamp bracket bung on the fork. And on the right leg, they could've at least had it on the left side for us yanks.

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possible it could be a general export model which was also sent to Commonwealth nations where traffic flows on the left, such as Australia and New Zealand


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[Eric Amlie]

Such cool decals on that model.

 

[juvela]

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wonder about the meaning of the fork blade transfer

the shield shape with red and yellow stripes is suggestive of Spain's national colours

wonder if the number of rockets shown has meaning

perhaps @dnc1 shall knoweth...


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[SirMike1983]

I think the fork blade transfer is rockets lifting off as part of a period space theme.

 

[Eric Amlie]

I believe that it refers to this:

Blue Streak (missile) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Andrew Gorman]

Blue Streak was a cancelled UK ballistic missile-

Blue Streak (missile) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Pretty tangled politics involved, since the US built Skybolt that was to replace it got cancelled as well. BUT the name was in the headlines and probably helped sell a bunch of bikes!