Peugeot 531 Pro 1992ish

[kula]

I *think* 531 pro and 653 are the same thing - but 653 is a bit of a hybrid, it's a mixture of tubes - the stays are 753 for example.

I never quite follow this, weren't 753 frames silver soldered, but I'm guessing that 653 is brazed the same as 531. Nobody ever says don't spring a 126 rear end across a 130mm wheel like they do about a 126mm 753 frame.

 

[531 pro]

I'm not 100% on this, but I think 531pro disappeared sometime late 80's and was replaced by 653. I dont recall bikes being built with 531 pro after this time (a small custom builder might have had some in stock, but not a major player like pug). Those who wanted something lighter than 531C, but couldnt afford 753 went for 653.
FWIW, I think 531C was a better tubeset than 531P - much stronger for not much more weight. 531SL and then its replacement 531P always seemed a bit fragile. Many top level teams rode 531C to success

You're right. I think the Pug Aravis was the last of the line for 531 Pro bikes (i've got one!). Pretty sure it was a 1989 model - also recall a lot of suppliers selling them off cheap in the back pages of Cycling Weekly, so probably dwindled on into the 90's for a short time while everyone got excited about 653.