The Avant Coureur appears in the 1949 Claud Butler catalogue as a Mk I club model (Model 1) and a Mk II racing model (Model 2), with 74° head and 72° seat angles. In 1951 and 1952 it was the Avant-Coureur Spécial, Models 44, 44a and 44b, with a Spearpoint bi-laminated Reynolds 531 frame. It was listed as the A/C 53 in 1953 and as the Avant-coureur Special, Model 53, in 1954.
Known components
Listed exactly as our confirmed sources give them, with the year and source for each. A part listed for one year or version may not apply to every bike, so check against yours.
Frame and fork
- Spearpoint bi-laminated frame1951 · 44, 44a, 44b — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10; 1952 · 44, 44a, 44b — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10
- Reynolds 531 butted1951 · 44, 44a, 44b — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10
- Bi-laminated de luxe frame1953 · 53, 53a, 53b — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10
- Reynolds 531 or KROMO1953 · 53, 53a, 53b — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10
- De luxe bi-laminated frame1954 · 53, 53a, 53b — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.9
Gears and drivetrain
- Williams C.1000 chainset1951 · 44, 44a, 44b — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10
Wheels and tyres
- 27in stainless rims1951 · 44, 44a, 44b — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10
- 27in wheels1952 · 44, 44a, 44b — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10
As listed together
Parts the source lists in one breath, kept together so nothing is attached to the wrong version.
- Mk I club model with 3-speed, Mk II racing model with tubulars and 4-speed1949 · 1 (Mk I), 2 (Mk II) — Ebykr catalogue archive, p.4
Catalogue appearances
| Year | Name as printed · model no. | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Avant Coureur · 1 (Mk I), 2 (Mk II) | 74° head, 72° seat; 41in wheelbase; Mk I club model with 3-speed, Mk II racing model with tubulars and 4-speed. | Ebykr catalogue archive, p.4 |
| 1951 | Avant-Coureur Spécial · 44, 44a, 44b | Spearpoint bi-laminated frame; Reynolds 531 butted; 27in stainless rims; Williams C.1000 chainset. | Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10 |
| 1952 | Avant-coureur Spécial · 44, 44a, 44b | Spearpoint bi-laminated frame; 27in wheels. | Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10 |
| 1953 | A/C 53 · 53, 53a, 53b | Bi-laminated de luxe frame; Reynolds 531 or KROMO. | Ebykr catalogue archive, p.10 |
| 1954 | Avant-coureur Special · 53, 53a, 53b | De luxe bi-laminated frame. | Ebykr catalogue archive, p.9 |
Specs are as printed in the catalogue. Years are when the model appears in a source, not exact production dates.
Sources
Last updated 19 October 2026. Every fact on this page comes from one of these.
- Ebykr catalogue archive: Claud Butler 1949 catalogue (transcription) (p.4)
- Ebykr catalogue archive: Claud Butler 1951 catalogue (transcription) (p.10)
- Ebykr catalogue archive: Claud Butler 1952 catalogue (transcription) (p.10)
- Ebykr catalogue archive: Claud Butler 1953 catalogue (transcription) (p.10)
- Ebykr catalogue archive: Claud Butler 1954 catalogue (transcription) (p.9)