Mystery Claud Butler 1987(?) ID please not in catalogue

[Stealthy Ninja]

I heard there’s some great Claud Butler experts here.

I have a BLACK Claud Butler that seems to match the decal style as well as cable guides etc. as a 1987 Claud Butler. However, according to the 1987 catalogue there’s no black model for that year and none with 531 main tubes (as the decal on this bike suggests). It also doesn’t have the same brake braze-on things that were used then.

It takes a 27.2mm seat post and the tubing is seamless.

What could this bike model and year be? Is the black the original colour? If not black, what colour should it be.

 

[Peachy!]

Hello, can you post a close up off the Reynolds sticker please?

 

[Stealthy Ninja]

Hello, can you post a close up off the Reynolds sticker please?

No problem.

 

[Stealthy Ninja]

Re:

The Reynolds decals are the same as this set:

 

[Stealthy Ninja]

Re:

Fork decals

 

[Peachy!]

Ok cool... so the number is a Marlboro Claud number as are the graphics so circa late 1985 to early 1987.
And as you say, nothing was advertised as the spec during that period.... except the last run of the Panache, that was 531 butted throughout.

Now then, Marlboro did “receive” a whole bunch of un-finished/un-sold frames when they took over, so I’d guess this was a Panache left over from Holdsworthy that got some basic stickers (as per the ‘87 Canyon) and got pushed on as by late ‘86 Marlboro were now themselves in trouble and needed cash.

Also the Panache didn’t have a lamp boss...

 

[Stealthy Ninja]

Ok cool... so the number is a Marlboro Claud number as are the graphics so circa late 1985 to early 1987.
And as you say, nothing was advertised as the spec during that period.... except the last run of the Panache, that was 531 butted throughout.

Now then, Marlboro did “receive” a whole bunch of un-finished/un-sold frames when they took over, so I’d guess this was a Panache left over from Holdsworthy that got some basic stickers (as per the ‘87 Canyon) and got pushed on as by late ‘86 Marlboro were now themselves in trouble and needed cash.

Wow that’s some great information. I guess the plain black paint makes sense now. Thanks so much!!!

 

[Peachy!]

No worries, still only a best guess mind, but with that seat tube diameter and no lamp boss, that’s what I’d put my money on.

 

[Stealthy Ninja]

Re:

Seems likely one of the batch you were talking about.

I’ll keep the paint black. Since it’s quite possible it’s a one of “the batch”.

 

[Peachy!]

BTW I re-drew a version of that Marlboro seat tube CB logo for H Lloyd cycles... not exactly the same as the all white version but close.

https://h-lloyd-cycles.myshopify.com/pr ... tube-decal