Converting To SS - Help

Hi, looking for some advice on converting this to a singlespeed - i was given it by grandad who had it custom built for him back in the day, he used to race semi professionally and apparently it was quite high end. I dont have much info on the frame and he doesnt really remember much, but on a sticker on the seat tube i can make out 'Metro Cycles London'. The gearing is pretty rough and its not getting ridden much, so i would rather like to convert it to a single speed - ideally i would like to keep the original wheels with tubs, and also been struggling to find a chainring for the old crankset. Any comments or advice appreciated.

Apologies if this is in the wrong place...

oof! i'd say give it a good clean, replace the bits that you must and hang it on the wall. and ride the eroicas with it as is. looks real nice and certainly has high end bits.

can you post what components it has? are the cranks early campag? i personally think it would be a sin to go ss on this.. especially knowing it was custom made for your grandad :)

Well it appears to have a full Campagnolo Gran Sport gruppo bar a simplex crankset? Also a lovely cinelli stem.
More pics:




The groupset is getting on a bit, although i would obviously keep the it and perhaps slowly polish and restore it a bit. Main reason for going SS would be so it actually gets the riding it deserves and for wanting to try it out.

Oh and the crusty old bar tape is now gone - also levers have had tape removed and been polished up a bit.

why not make it functional as is? new cables, some cleaning and it should be ready to go :)

A survivor! Please don't single speed it. It's too good for that. What's the vintage?

Its from roughly the 1960's as he said he got it when he was about 22

loving the chrome headtube lugs and fork crown. nervex?

Personally I'd just give it a good clean,
Those tyres and inners would probably be perished so pick up some panaracers. Cables could need replacing and pop on some Brooks bar tape
If looking for inspiration have a look at L'Eroica Britannia

PQR it has a brand new set of Vittoria tubs on it and some new bar tape (although its too modern and needs replacing)

If this is converted to single speed I will cry.

The Cinelli stem badge has actually made my day. If it were mine, I'd keep it as it is but strip the whole thing down, clean every bit as much as I could and rebuild it. Riding it knowing it is setup exactly as it was for my Grandad would bring me more joy than ripping the parts out and turning it into a single speed.

You'd be amazed how well some of the parts will clean up, with a little persuasion.