OK guys... a bit of background info into my quest then a tricky question to all the Redline experts!
A couple of years back I purchased a Redline PL20 Frame & Forks from the states... it has the triangle gusset behind the seatube, brace between the chainstays and the oval Redline stamp on the bottom bracket and Forks stearer tube. With the Red/Yellow fade decals I guessed it to be a 1984 model like you see in the advert also shown below. I put a lot of work into polishing it and had it rechromed... turned out mint! Then stickered it up as a Proline II Frameset as you can see.
I'm a bit of a perfectionist and it always bugged me that it wasn't really a true Proline II or Carrerra which has always been my dream bike. I've managed to get the correct NOS Red/Yellow fade decals for it now as you can see so they'll be going on soon!
My recent good fortune on ebay has turned up a genuine USA made 1st Generation Proline II Frame in Candy Red.. as you can see, no triangle gusset, chainstay brace or Redline Oval stamp... so I'm well pleased to say the least
I've also got a set of forks for it on the way and here lies the killer question
The forks that are coming are EXACTLY the same as the ones I already have... same dropout shape, Redline stamp etc BUT.....
I've looked at a few other Proline II / Carrerra builds like RON BURGUNDY'S and RATTY'S shown below (hope you don't mind me showing your pics dudes
)
and it seems, unless my eyes are deceiving me, that the shape of the dropouts are different on the early models?
AM I CORRECT IN MY OBSERVATIONS?
??
I don't want to do a full resto until I'm sure the forks I have to go with my Candy frame are correct!!
Have a look at the pics below and see what you all think??
Also, if I have the wrong forks, would anyone be interested in doing a trade against my MINT rechromed ones (I can put on the Red/Yellow Fade decals if ya like too) or does anyone have the correct fork for sale?
Please help guys cos this is doin my head in
Ron's and Ratty's Redlines are the last 2 pics
Cheers
John