Silver Ghost

Submitted by Dave Simms on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 22:04

I bought this CCM Silver Ghost a few weeks ago.  The frame has been repainted.  It was missing the seat post.  I don't think the foam on the handle bars is original and I don't know if the seat and pedals are original to the bike.  Other than that it looks pretty much stock.  Weinmann centre pull brakes, Shimano Crane rear derailieurs and a very light steel frame stamped "Made by CCM" on the rear drop-outs. 

The only problem is, I cannot find the serial number.  I checked the bottom bracket, chain stays, seat stays, all the frame tubes and lugs.  I cannot find it anywhere.  I think one should be able to see a stamped  number even through a couple of coats of paint.  The "Made by CCM" marks on the inside of the drop-outs have been overpainted and are quite clear.  Does anyone have any ideas?  I would like to register it with the police, but I'm reluctant to add my own number.

5 Comments

Submitted by T-Mar on Sat, 06/30/2012 - 06:00.

The Silver Ghost was produced from 1973-1978. The lack of chromed stays and top tube pump pegs indicate this is the later version, introduced in 1977.  The saddle and pedals do not appear to be original. The OEM pedals were typically the weighted steel, reflectorized pedals as found on the lower end lighweights and came equipped with toe clips and straps, while the saddles were typically plastic, as opposed to the leather model on your bicycle.Handlebar tape was typically a plastic version. The frame is  Reynolds 531 plain gauge main tubes mated to hi-tensile stays and forks. The original colour would have been silver. Typically, the lighweight frames from this period had their serial number stamped into the lower, left hand side of the seat tube, between the bottom bracket shell and front derailleur.

Submitted by Dave Simms on Sat, 06/30/2012 - 07:03.

Thanks for the help T-Mar.  Still no sign of the serial number on the seat tube above the bottom bracket.  The pedals are SR and did have toe clips and straps which I removed for rideability.   I'll keep the Brooks Competition saddle on it since it could be a period modification and I like it.  I  will retape the bars,  probably  with red cloth.   I  won't try to restor the paint to the original.  Too much work and I kind of like green.  I may touch it up and call it "Green Ghost".  Does anyone know where I can get some period CCM decals?

Submitted by T-Mar on Sat, 06/30/2012 - 14:40.

Try the top, left side of the seat tub, about 6-8cm below the top of the tube.  I've seen some 1970s models stamped here. I'm not sure if this is intentional or a mistake, as the orientation is opposite (i.e. reads from front and top to bottom versus from the back and bottom to top) and this could simply be a case of the tube being installed upside down, assuming CCM stamped the tubes prior to brazing,

Submitted by Dave Simms on Thu, 07/05/2012 - 20:33.

Found the serial number.  It is on the seat tube, left side, just above the bottom bracket.  Only problem is it is obscured by the re-paint.  I haven't decided yet whether to sand it off, or just stamp a new number on the bottom of the bottom bracket.

Submitted by T-Mar on Fri, 07/06/2012 - 05:59.

Can you at least make out the first character?