It was a last-ditch effort to save a company on its knees. The result came to help define the youth culture of the 1970s.
While disco and punk was ringing out in the streets from the pubs and clubs, those too young for admission were cruising around on their very own Raleigh Choppers - or at least, bugging their mates for a ride on theirs. They were "70s cool" in a nutshell.
Kids in the US had already got a taste of this unique design through the Schwinn Stingray. The swept-back body, long seats, and high-handlebars of the Stingray were modelled on the custom motorbike craze in the 60s.
