Some bicycle frame manufacturers put serial numbers or frame numbers. With steel frame bicycles from the 1950s to the 1990s these serial numbers were generally stamped into the frame. A given manufacturer usually had a standard format for their serial numbers. Over time most manufacturers that I have seen changed their serial number format. Some manufacturers had more than one format of serial number for any number of reasons.

Gitane, over the years had more than one format for serial numbers. The high end professional racing frames had their own formats. This post does not consider these frames.

Around 1982 Gatane introduces a new serial number format where the first character is a letter.
This post does not consider these frames.

This post looks at Gitane numbers from approximately 1969 to 1982.

Definition of terms

On some Gitane bicycles there are several sets of numbers and letters stamped into the frame. I want to differentiate and group sets of numbers.

The numbers can be broken divided into three categories:

• Frame model number and size.

• Date code. Date of manufacture code.

• Uniqueness number.

Note that the frame model number and size did not start until approximately 1972.
The frame model number and size was not always stamped in the same location as the date code and sequence number.