'79-'80 looptail Quadangle

[bigcitybonus]

Hello. I'm new. This is my first post.

I was on Holiday in the US in 1981, aged 14, and bought a scruffy Quadangle that had been trade in at a bike shop. It was powder coated in the factory light blue. It had Tange TX1200 forks fitted. I have a few questions/observations that some of you may be able to help with.

1. The welding looked naff - with no bead - as if squeezed from a toothpaste tube. Was this normal? I had later Quads and the welding was the best I've ever seen.
2. It had a foil (brown on silver) sticker arount the seat tube with the SE racing logo either side and stating '4130 CROMOLY' across the centre, but when I stripped it for a respray it had obvious spiral seams to the twin down tubes - like a barber pole. I'd guess this was cheap tubing made from a flat strip of steel wrapped around a mandrel and welded. I've mentioned this over the years to steel fabricators, and nobody seems to have heard of spiral seamed tubing.
3. The powder coating was very thick and not very shiny - like you get on deck chairs, washing lines and ironing boards!
4. It had no brace tube between the down tubes.
5. I've read that SE used a bad contractor for some of the very early Quads, and that some were misaligned. Mine had a definite 'twist' to the entire frame, so that the wheels ran out of line when viewed from behind.

It looked obviously used when I got it in July '81. I never saw another in the UK. Unfortunately it was sold locally in about '85. I'd like confirmation of which year it was made and any other interesting info if anyone can tell me from the above details - and what I might have to pay to get another one today. I'd like to replicate the bike. I know they're very rare and that if I can find one it won't be cheap. I was quite tempted with a 'Johnny Chopper' replica that sold on eBay recently from Australia, but was put off by the non-original geometry. It looked like a very close copy in all other respects - but with much better welding. I'm not at all interested in the recent SE replica with V barkes and a big seat tube. What I really want is an original. Is this a dream too far?

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

[DIRTBIKER250F]

First steps mate, put an add on bmx museum, for the right price anything is available.You would be paying 450-700 for a f&f i would think, also keep an eye on US Ebay were they turn up now and then  . You could always Pm Quadrophonic Pete on here, he has a mint 79 one .

Good luck, they are very rare but not impossible to find, they are also tiny 

[magna13]

Well if you do a '79 or '80 Quadangle then for god sakes dont let go of it because its a very rare beast! The twist problem where you say the wheels dont aline is a common fault with early Quads... they flex like theres no tomorrow! even the later Quads made from Reynolds flexed!

[QUADROPHENIA]

mines gone now

[bigcitybonus]

Was yours that amazing met blue one I saw somewhere else on here? I was freaked when I saw that. Soooooo cool - minty fresh and all the right bits. There's something really special about bikes from that period - before BMX got commercialised - when there was still a bit of 'make do' about the equipment.
 
I have a photo of my looptail somewhere - with Skyways on and a red Kashimax that I brush painted camoflage with glossy Humbrol model paint.    I'll try to find that picture. IF ONLY I'D KEPT MY OLD BIKES.  

My dream build on one of those would be all '79-'80 kit. Race Inc. fork, Takagi OPC with Phil Wood spider and Shimano Dura-Ace ring, Pro Neck, Cook Bros bars, KKT steel rat traps, 7C on Campy track hubs with SunTour freewheel, Regina chain, Kashi with holes, X-Calibur clamp, vinyl/poppers pad set, Shimano Tourney caliper with Team Products bent lever. All dusty and used looking - like it's just come off the track at Corona or somewhere really cool BITD. I remember a picture in one of the US mags, a colour double page spread I think, of Rod Beckering or someone racing a bike just like that. It had the yellow Team Products sticker on it, so I put one on mine in just the same place. It was the best magazine photo I ever saw of a looptail Quad. Anyone got a scan?

So, even if I can't get one I can imagine it. Oops - I just wet myself!