Help identifying a Mercian

[Harrismith]

Hello all. Wonder if I could dig into your collective knowledge of vintage bikes with a find from today - a Mercian. In pretty good nic.
I know that you can pay £20 for some info from Mercian themselves, but am hoping for some info here - got some nice pics to share too!

What I know:
Last two digits of serial number on BB are 74 do am guessing its 1974.
Paintwork is still pretty good and looks original
Mostly Campag throughout; front and rear derailler, cranks, pedals, headset, seatpost , shifters, hubs
Mafac brake levers, weinmann rear brake, unknown front brake
2 x 6 speed
27" wheels with QR, Mavic rims
Cinelli stem and bars
Nice suede/leather? saddle


What I don't know:
Model name
Steel used. Looks like there was a (reynolds? 531?) sticker on seat tube
Would it have had campag brakes? Worth shelling out on them?
Seatpost looks funky, haven't seen one like that before

I'm planning a light restoration on her. I think she will look fab.

Any help most appreciated!

 

[Cycleops]

Very nice. Despite having owned one I’m no Mercian expert but I’d say that could be a good up to ten years earlier than ‘74. You can contact Mercian and they should be able to give you a date. Bit of a racing blade with those frame angles and drilled chainrings. Almost certainly 531. Those are clinchers I guess.
You won’t know what it originally came with as the components would have been specified by the customer so maybe as supplied. Mafac levers are a bit odd with side pulls.

 

[midlife]

Google Mercian Superlight . Fab

 

[Harrismith]

Ah great. Thanks both
Front brake is a universal Super 68 which is quite prized apparently. Shame doesn't match the rear.
It is light, 531 would make sense

 

[Cycleops]

You could be right on the year:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Mercian/Mercian_main.htm

 

[Harrismith]

Ah thanks

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Early to mid seventies I would think. That is the era when drilling everything in sight to save a few grams was in vogue.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Looks beautiful

The seat post looks like a standard Campag Record with some home drilling.

 

[Harrismith]

Ah ok so '74 makes sense.
I will weigh her tomorrow and let you know. I guess about 10kg

 

[midlife]

Rear brake is probably Weinmann 500 which was the frame was designed for lol

 

[Harrismith]

Haha probably.

Lug work definitely looks like the Superlight model, but I can't find any pics of a Mercian with the decals matching mine. The seat tube ones look different to the plain MERCIAN I have.

 

[midlife]

It's a Superlight, the lugs are a dead giveaway. They specially cut them for the Superlight and no other model.

I'm jealous as I always wanted one

Its been refinished as the top tube cable guides don't look original, the Decals are probably just what we're available at the time from H Lloyd etc.

Not looked at Mercian website for a while and not sure if you can still order one

 

[raleighnut]

Very Nice

 

[tom73]

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Haha probably.

Lug work definitely looks like the Superlight model, but I can't find any pics of a Mercian with the decals matching mine. The seat tube ones look different to the plain MERCIAN I have.

In what way are the decals different ? They look like the standard Mercian Gothic to me. Do you mean the way they are placed ?