Vintage Sean Kelly era Bike

Vitus 979 Racing Bicycle.
"Period Correct" de Gribaldy - Vitus 979 Super Record (circa 1983 / 1984), 55cm
The bicycle of Jean de Gribaldy's professional teams. The Sem and Skil-Sem squads raced Vitus 979s re-badged "de Gribaldy", and this is that machine in team livery - the frame-type that Sean Kelly rode through some of his greatest seasons.

This is a circa 1983 frame, confirmed by the conventional binder-bolt seat cluster (the original 979 fitting was superseded by an internal grub screw around 1985/86, meaning this is the earlier frame type exactly as raced by the team). It carries the de Gribaldy coat-of-arms crest to the head tube, World Champion striped panels, and the original "Vitus 979 Duralinox" foil decal.

Full specification:

Frame: de Gribaldy 55cm (Vitus 979 "Duralinox" bonded aluminium), circa 1983, team livery
Fork: Vitus 979 Duralinox with "VITUS 979" engraving to the fork blade
Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record (circa 1984) — drilled brake levers with gum hoods, calipers with original Campagnolo blocks, down tube shifters, front and rear derailleurs, 53/42 crankset, headset, hubs with engraved quick releases, fluted seatpin. Sourced from a professional dealer in the UK; every component cleaned in a sonic bath and highly polished
Wheels: NOS Mavic GP4 tubular rims ("Made in France" labels intact) on Campagnolo Record hubs with matching skewers, stainless spokes
Tubulars: NOS Czechoslovakian (Barum), embossed "Made in Czechoslovakia" — never glued, never ridden, still holding air
Saddle: Selle Italia Turbo (NOS)
H'bars: Cinelli "Giro d'Italia" (Mod. 64) 40cm
Stem: Cinelli 1A quill, 100mm
Chain: KMC 6/7-speed compatible (new, "period-correct")
Block: Regina Oro 6-speed (new)
Pedals: MKS Sylvan with Christophe chrome toe clips and Christophe leather straps (all NOS)
Bottle cage: Zefal chrome with period-correct leatherette wrap and stitching
Finishing: all gear and brake cabling, and housing, and the white cotton bar tape is NOS


Bicycle Condition:

This is a collector's machine, presented honestly. The frameset is lightly used, has been in long term storage and is in excellent condition. Some signs of usage (and storage) but no significant scratching, no dings and no dents. The Campagnolo Super Record groupset has been professionally sourced, sonic-bath-cleaned and polished to a very high standard. There are also many new old stock (NOS) parts throughout, as listed.

The wheelset is NOS - the Mavic GP4 rims have never had glue applied and have never been ridden. The Barum tubulars ("Made in Czechoslovakia" on the sidewalls - see photo) are unused / never ridden and still hold air, but the sidewall and rubber show the inevitable age-cracking after 40+ years of life. They present beautifully for display but should be replaced for riding. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the description.

This is a rare collectable from the golden era of the professional peloton, and a museum-quality tribute to the world dominating partnership of Sean Kelly and Jean de Gribaldy.

Viewing and collection welcome (West of Ireland). Postage and / or personal delivery can be arranged.