Carlton or Viscount - which one for next project?!

[twosheds]

There are 2 potential projects for sale local to me, but funds are too tight to bring them both into the stable.
Basically, which would you choose? Or maybe I shouldn't touch either? I know they are very different bikes, from different eras, but I'm a fan of British bikes, vintage or retro. Please don't trash them for not being shiny high end Italian/Campag Record.
Anyone owned either of these? Any comments?

First is a Carlton Ten, circa 1970, in need of refurbishment.



Second a Viscount Aerospace Sport, with no sign of the death fork!

 

[Midlife]

I have a real soft spot for Carltons but personally I'd go for the Viscount............ I remember all the adverts Aerospace tubing, welds to thousands of PSI, own label stuff to make them a sort of giant killer..........

And there's no fork of death LOL

Shaun

 

[Goldie]

Re:

I could argue with myself about that particular choice all day. I have always loved the colour scheme on the Ten. And generally I have a soft spot for Carltons of all sorts. On the other hand, I ride an Aerospace Pro, which means I have a permanent low level hankering for more Viscounts.

Objectively, I guess the Viscount is probably slightly lighter and potentially easier to ride quickly. But there's more to it than that...

Let us know which one you go for!

 

[Jonny69]

You don't see a lot of Viscounts around. That one doesn't look very original and looks like one of the less desirable later models. I was about to say it looked like an earlier example based on the curve on the fork, but I don't think it is - a lot of these had their original forks replaced so it could be an earlier fork on that bike which I think it late 70's.

 

[keithglos]

Re:

The carlton looks like one of about 700,000 made under raleigh.
Keith

 

[cycletothesea]

Carlton all day long. I've been looking for a good condition Carlton Ten for a while now. Missed out on a lovely one on eBay a while ago, haven't been able to see another one. The Ten colour scheme was gorgeous. I think the Tens where manufactured somewhere in between the good Carlton era and the rubbish Raleigh era. I've seen ones both with TruWel tubing and Reynolds tubes with and without Capella lugs.

 

[mrcpea]

Erm..... Both :mrgreen:

 

[pigman]

Re:

Viscount!
Brings back memories of when I started club cycling with the ctc late 70s.
Plus you see very few of them
Getting a new cartridge bottom bracket might be a challenge tho'

 

[Jonny69]

^ Mine took a normal cartridge bottom bracket and was about the same age as that one. Should be ok.

 

[fred in the shed]

My choice would be the Carlton it may need more work, there is a certain quality about Carltons of that era that I admire