When I was a 10 year old kid I traded a couple of toy cars for a really messed up Raleigh Chopper, would have been in 1982. I rode the bike home and showed my Dad what I had done, who was not best pleased, he wound up taking the bike to work where it was completely stripped and rebuilt to look like his 1969 Corvette, complete with Le Mans blue paintwork, a bright blue vinyl seat, and Corvette LT-1 decals. The newly restored Chopper was then presented to me on my 11th birthday. I was so busy looking at the re-chromed front wheel going round I promptly crashed it in to the back of my mates Mums Honda....

Anyway I rode that Chopper anywhere and everywhere, until the point I started getting in to racing bikes, so the Chopper took a back seat getting more and more neglected and I eventually lost track of it. Fast forward 30 years and during the onset of an early mid life crisis I started thinking about my old chopper and how it would be cool to recreate it...

That is what we have here, an almost perfect copy of my ride as an 11 year old kid....

This started out as a 1982 model in black. The bike was completely stripped and the frame sandblasted and professionally refinished in 1969 Corvette Le Mans blue. the kick stand was zinc plated.

All chrome trim was re-chromed or replaced, the wheels were stripped and rims re-chromed then re-laced with new spokes, rim tape, tubes and new redline tyres. Fenders re-chromed.

The seat was trimmed in Corvette bright blue vinyl I shipped in from the USA and the seams were heat pressed in as original, new black under seat panel installed, re-chromed car panel and hoop, new reflector and repro Raleigh decal. Handlebars were re-chromed and fitted with new correct handlebar grips, NOS ribbed brake cables and clip, NOS brake levers and calipers.

The shifter assembly is also NOS not repro, the gear cable has been replaced as has the chain, pedals, cranks re-chromed, etc etc. Raleigh R Nuts used where correct, NOS dome nuts used where correct. Everything done to a very high standard and the whole thing is just stunning. 

There are two marks in the paint from here it has been hung up in my garage, which is a bit of a pisser but there you go. These are shown in the pictures. The last two pictures of the original bike before an adventure, and then me and my dad on the original. 

This is a truly special machine and is one of only one. I don't know if the original bike is still out there or not, if it is then I guess it is one of two... 

This would be a great addition to any collection or any man cave, especially if you are a Corvette nut too.

Collection only. You are welcome to view, but only if you are a serious buyer.