Frame numbers
The frame number of your Champion Mondial can be found hiding underneath the bottom bracket.
Before 1974 the Champion Mondials appear to have been numbered in conjunction with the 'ordinary' Gazelle bicycles, as this graph shows. In 1974 the Champion Mondial continues this sequence while the other bicycles adopt a new numbering scheme. The frame numbers before 1974 in the table below are approximations taken from a special edition of the magazine 'de oude fiets'. The frame numbers from 1974 onwards are the actual numbers from the files at the Gazelle factory.
| frame numbers |
year | additional information |
| 1985001 - 2096000 |
1966 |
Gazelle 'Race' model |
| 2096001 - 2213000 |
1967 | |
| 2213001 - 2335000 | 1968 | |
| 2335001 - 2463000 | 1969 | the name 'Champion Mondial' appears after Harm Ottenbros took the 1969 world championships on the Zolder circuit on a Gazelle Race |
| 2463001 - 2597000 | 1970 | |
| 2597001 - 2737000 | 1971 | |
| 2737001 - 2885000 | 1972 | |
| 2885001 - 3040000 | 1973 | |
| 3040001 - 3172301 | 1974 | the earliest registration still on file at the factory dates from the 20th of august 1974: nr. 3170693 |
| 3172302 - 3177611 | 1975 | |
| 3177612 - 3186884 | 1976 | |
| 3186885 - 3201295 | 1977 | |
| 3201296 - 3216704 | 1978 | |
| 3216705 - 3242099 | 1979 | |
| 3242100 - 3259884 | 1980 | |
| 3259885 - 3271845 | 1981 | |
| 3271846 - 3276827 | 1982 | |
| 3276828 - 3281506 | 1983 | |
| 3281507 - 3285387 | 1984 | |
| 3285388 - 3293780 | 1985 | |
| 3293781 - 3298623 | 1986 | |
| 3298624 - 3314981 | 1987 | |
| 3314982 - 3322041 | 1988 | |
| 3322042 - 33…… | 1989 | |
| 0……… | 1990 | in 1990 Gazelle changed the numbering system, the first digit of the frame number refers to the last digit of the year |
| 1……… | 1991 | |
| 2……… | 1992 | |
| 3……… | 1993 | frame numbers starting with '3' could also date from before the 1990's, check frame details for the correct construction year |
| 4……… | 1994 | |
| 5……… | 1995 | the last year that the frames wear the 'Champion Mondial' name on the top tube |
| 6……… | 1996 | |
| 7……… | 1997 | the last year that the 'Champion Mondial' name is mentioned in the brochure |
| 1998 | from 1998 onwards, a combination of frame number and type determines the year of construction* | |
| 1999 | ||
| 2000 | ||
| 2001 | ||
| 2002 | the last year that Gazelle had a steel racing frame in their line-up | |
| * for more information please consult the brochures section on this site or contact Gazelle at info@gazelle.nl | ||
The frame number of a Gazelle Champion Mondial is on the underside the bottom bracket shell as seen on this frame dating from 1979.
The frame in the first picture is exceptionally clearly marked. More often than not are one or more digits barely visible. Frames from the mid seventies are notorious for a next to invisible second digit '1'. The 1975er frames in these two pictures demonstrate this fault.
My decals and paintjob do not match the frame number!
If your Champion Mondial has an earlier frame number than the decals and paintjob suggest then it was probably repainted at some time. It was very common practice back in the 1980s, early '90s to have your frame repainted at the Gazelle factory after a couple of years use. Sometimes the opportunity was seized to add some braze-ons that were not available at the time of original purchase such as cable stops or a front derailleur boss.