Gran Turismo

Brand: Campagnolo

Campagnolo's strange behemoth. Introduced in 1971 (reference 2270), the Gran Turismo was Campagnolo's rare foray into very wide-range touring derailleurs, and one of the world's first production long-cage derailleurs. A huge pulley cage with the look of a blade, construction entirely in thick pressed steel, exceptionally high spring tension and, above all, a sprung upper pivot (rare at Campagnolo, closer to Simplex or Shimano). Markings on the body: freewheels from 13 to 36 teeth, chainrings from 36 to 54 teeth. Its poor shifting quality earned it the mocking nickname 'Gran Trashmo': the curved cage left too little chain-to-sprocket clearance. Rumour has it that Schwinn commissioned it for its Paramount touring bikes. Superseded from 1974 by the Rally, it disappeared from the catalogue after 1975. Era of 5-speed freewheels.