77 Redline gussetless Proline.

[Coupes]

Hi all.

Just got this and still pinching myself. 1 of 8 known gussetless Prolines. It has been powder coated by Chip at C4Labs
and should be painted originally. Needs correct decals, the arrows on the downtube should be red only, no black outline like the later proline decals. Going to build it with period parts hopefully so will keep updates on progress.

Around 50 gussetless prolines were first made. It soon became a problem with cracks appearing around the headtube. Some were sent back and gussets added.This frame had a single gusset added but not at Redline. The serial number is 06598 so indicates it was made at Chatsworth when Redline moved to a bigger premises.

[Coupes]

Downtube decals aren't correct so getting some made for it. Originals dont seem to exist.

[Coupes]

My 79-80 shadow in the background. Lower BB on the 77.

[Coupes]

The rear stays difference.

[Taipan]

Nice bit of rare history,cant wait to see it built up 

[oldschoolace]

Looks interesting 
photo effect does little for it though. Would rather see chips work 

[Coupes]

Thanks fellas  Had to compress the pictures so clearer now. The powder is good!! Chip has done a great job. Correct decals have turned up today.

[pat-a-lar]

Super 

[CDBMX]

I absolutely love the rare stuff, even if it was a flawed design, which helps to make original sirvivors even more rare [like my late '70's ACS sealed bearing hubs. Tiny bearings = early fail, few survivors.]
With a fairly comprehensive back story, .... mmmmm, the love just grows.

You have the right idea, build it with all the correct parts that it might have had back in 1977, which can be an expensive & tedious but ultimately very satisfying exercise. This describes my own [non Redkine] 1977 & '78 builds. In the end, it's worth every penny & every disapointment.

Congratulations on a great score.

[Coupes]

Thanks Pat 

[Coupes]

Thank you CDBMX!  There is definitely a thrill finding parts. This was a right time and place moment. Phone calls to the seller and a deal struck. Read so much about these mystical frames. Design flaws at early stages and getting snapped or sent back for repair. Just never believed i would own one.
Plans are Araya 7Bs and some Campag parts, something different from the norm but high spec at the time.
Mid to late 70s stuff is so cool! Addictive too! Lol.

[CDBMX]

Oh man, you're pressing my buttons. I'm a dyed in the wool Campy fan. I'm trained in the 11 speed electronic EPS servicing, but I have roadies from 1972 up to about 2000 covered in Campy [Including four Hetchins] So I work in the present & future, but prefer to live in the past.
My 1981 Retro Race Series race bike runs Record hubs & crankset/chainset & I have just built a set of polished high flange Nuovo Tipo's into a pair of rich red Weinmans. The ones that look like 7B's.   My pre-production TTR runs Campy Record hubs too. Almost as good as sex, ......almost.

Whaddaya mean, ... high spec AT THE TIME. Campy is always high spec at any time, no matter how old it is.

Mmmmmm Campy BMX

[Coupes]

Ive got some 7Bs polished with Tipo hubs. Just got a orphan Red anno 7B laced to a shimano 333 hub. Got the rear hub but no rim yet CDBMX. Stada, i think, crankset. Some Weinmann 20 x 2.125 rims with fat spokes and Shimano MX hubs for my 76 squareback. Will start a build thread on that soon too.

[CDBMX]

Mmmm, Euro exotica, I love it.  Sorry but I'm a pain in the arse pedantic sod. When you say Tipo [type] I'm sure you mean NUOVO Tipo [new type] That makes more gramatic sense to me.
I guess I just never went with the flow whan it comes to dumbing down the language.

I never did grasp the Shimano 333 thing. I seriously considered using a NOS pair thet were on FeePay but without a date code I resorted to Mr Know-it-all,    AKA,    Google.   It turns out that he is just as uninformed as me on this subject. The high flange hub shells appear to come out of the same casting moulds as the later examples  & these basic hubshell castings seem to have been used right up into the '80's.

Were they simply from an earlier group, or were they a higher or lower spec component, or      So far nobody seems to know.
I just bought a wheelset with Araya 7C rims but as the hubs are PREFECT for my needs I will probably rebuild them with my 7B's & use the rims with a slightly later hubset [1979 or '80] in another application.

Squarebacks are good value. My recent fork aquisition is from a 1976 Squareback I think,  or it may have been sold as an aftermarket offering.
I'll keep my eyes open for the thread on your Redline.

[Coupes]

Nothing wrong with Grammatical CD. Nouvo Tipo yes. Campy Tipo some call them. They are on a 78 MX ll  that i have bought and the seller didn't know what parts it has. It's on its way from the USA to the UK as we speak.
The Shimano 333's are 78 i believe but have read about the confusion with dates. They have hollow spindles at the moment so obviously for road quick release. Will change the spindles.
Just waiting for the correct decals for the squareback and will start a thread. A friend is having some screen printed like the originals.
Itching to build them now lol.
It is a pain only having 5 pictures allowed per thread here.

[CDBMX]

I have been of the view that the 333 hubs were pre 1974 as I have Shimano hubs with Y & Z date codes & these are for 1974 & '75 & all the Shimano hubs that I have are date coded from 1974 onwards.
If a previous owner doesn't know what the components are in his bike, then the best thing is to pass it on to someone who does. His loss is your gain.

Yes, hollow spindles are for quick release skewers but the road hub shells & single speed hub shells are exactly the same in most instances, so simply switching axles completes the conversion from one to the other.
I'm surprised that you are not able to buy the correct decals from someone that specialised in these things.

Looking forward to seeing some pictures.

[Coupes]

Definitely his loss. I wanted to buy parts at first but worked out easier to buy the whole bike. Thinking of selling the frame and forks possibly.
Actually the 333 hubs have R R on the front and R D on the rear but a separate Y stamp under them. Would be interested on your thoughts CDBMX. Got confused with another set of hubs that are 78.
I got a couple of sets of 76 decals but they are either printed oddly or the red not right. Chatting to a friend on FB, he is having some screen printed and as near as perfect. I bought the squareback from him and an avid Redline collector.

[CDBMX]

I have seen the RD & RR codes before on an ebay offering but not on a pair of 333 hubs. It's got me beat & I have decided that I would stick with what I know & move on.
Hopefuly someone will eventually discover the story behind the 333 hubs & the R prefixed date codes, but it's unlikely to be me.