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@bq
Hello people.
I didn't really ever want to sell this, but as I have moved to rural France I have decided that keeping a bike I never ride and just hang on the wall looking pretty is a bit daft, so it's up for sale.
Conditions of sale:
December 2020. After that I am going back to France, and if it doesn't sell I am taking it with me and keeping it.
With the admin out of the way, here are the details:
The frame of the bike was made by the legendary Harry Quinn in his shop at 7-9 Walton Road, Liverpool. Arguably Britain's (if not the world's) finest framebuilder, his skills and attention to detail were legendary and his frames lighter than anyone else's.
The frame number is Q2714, and is stamped on the bottom bracket shell.
The top tube is 54cm centre to centre.
The seat tube is 53cm centre to top.
The serial number would indicate the frame was built in the late 60s or early 70s. It has been raced and ridden on the road (I even commuted 24 miles a day on it for a while, but it's not really made for that!) but is still in incredible (and original) condition for a 50 year old machine. It's got the odd marks of course, but it still looks great.
I don't know what the tubing is, but if it's not Reynolds 531 or the Columbus equivalent I would be very surprised. It weighs nothing, and makes a 'ting' sound when you tap it. The fork ends are Campagnolo.
I applied one of DMCZone's '531 Awesome' stickers to the downtube as a tribute to him. Otherwise it's all original.
The angles and clearances are so tight and vertical (for lightness and stiffness) that the front forks are almost straight, and the tyre clearance is such that 23C tyres will rub on the downtube, and some brands won't even fit under the fork crown. You will get toe overlap.
It really is an amazing looking thing, and is finished in a cherry red ‘chromovelato’ finish, which means they chrome plated the entire frame, and then applied a translucent candy finish to the tubes. The fork crown, fork ends, and head tube lugs are chrome. Please note that the colour doesn't come across well in some photos. It really is a shiny red thing, and not a dark maroon one. The indoor photos give a more accurate illustration.
The lugs are ruthlessly cut and filed away for lightness, as is the bottom bracket shell, sometimes with only the lug lining illustrating where the lug ends and the tube begins.
The seat lug in particular is blended seamlessly into the seat tube and the 'shot-in' seat stays at the rear, and looks fabulous.
It's built up as follows:
Lots and lots of hi-res detailed photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluequinn/albums/72157717240894688/
This bike has been called the prettiest bike on the forum. (not by me. OK, a little bit by me).
If you would like it it will cost you £1500.
Contact by PMs please if you want to buy it.
Cheers!