However, it has now been saved for posterity. Due to its rusty condition, it was destined for the skip. He bought it second hand from some chap."Īnd auctioneer Charles Hanson said: "This was an exceptional result for an iconic bike. "The advert featured a bike with a T-bar gear shifter but this one has a single-lever shifter. I remember seeing the Chopper advertised in Look-In, a kids' magazine at the time. "It's got the original gear shifter - not the later T-bar from those pesky safety people. READ MORE: Derbyshire couple's sorrow as premature baby girl dies hours after birth It was mine in the late 1970s and early 80s when I was nine or 10. I didn't realise it was there, just rusting slowly. The seller, aged 50, said: "It was in my dad's shed. It fetched £692 when it went under the hammer at Etwall firm Hansons Auctioneers, Staffordshire Live reports. Now the three-speed bike has sold for more than six times its estimated value of £100. It was covered in rust, its seat patched and had two flat tyres. The iconic 1970s bike, with its dragster-style handle bars, had spent 35 years in a garden shed before its owner almost threw it away during a clear out. It will be available to purchase online from Raleigh on Tuesday, June 20, at 12pm, at an RRP of £950.Ī range of compatible spares will be available, with most being back compatible with the different Chopper models.An old and very rusty Raleigh Chopper bike saved from being thrown in a skip has sold for hundreds of pounds at auction in Derbyshire. The limited edition Chopper will be launched in the two original colours – Infrared and Ultraviolet, although quantity hasn’t been confirmed. Read more: Introducing TIC CC, performance cycle clothing with sustainability at its heart A legacy to be admired, protected, and never forgotten.” “The Chopper is still seen by the Raleigh team as the jewel in the brand’s crown. “This new model is as close as we could get to the original Mk2 released in 1972, while still meeting today’s required standards.
Selling millions of units worldwide during the 70’s the Chopper cemented its place in British culture and to this day evokes a feeling of nostalgia for the era. Lee Kidger, managing director at Raleigh, said: “The Raleigh Chopper is the most iconic bike Raleigh has ever made, arguably the most iconic bike in British history. This includes the decals, the CNC head tube, working sprung one piece saddle, one-piece handlebar and stem, as well as the UK-made working 3 speed shifter unit.
The brand says that the designers spent many hours “agonising over the details that make this new bike special”.
The Chopper went through a similar detailed process, with 3D modelling of original MK2 bikes to produce CAD designs for the new frame. Raleigh is no stranger to a heritage remake with the Super Tuff Burner and the TI-Raleigh seeing retro editions in recent years. Those familiar with the model will still find the one-piece saddle, mid-frame gear shifter, and sissy bar which has been slightly lowered. Though bringing the bike into 2023 has legally required a few minor tweaks, the new Chopper is as close to the original as possible. With original MK2 Choppers still selling for a pretty penny at auctions today, Raleigh brand fans have been demanding a new Chopper from the Nottinghamshire-based bicycle company for decades.Īfter four years of research and product development, Raleigh is ready to launch the remake of the 1970s icon. British bicycle brand Raleigh has announced the relaunch of the Chopper.
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