Mercian · Reynolds 531 · from at least the late 1950s through the 1991 brochure
Mercian's early brochures call the King of Mercia tried and tested. It's in a c. 1960 brochure, from the years Tom and Ethel Crowther ran the firm, and Mercian's own site shows a 1955 one photographed in California in 1957. Early frames used Reynolds 531 with Prugnat or Nervex Professional lugs. From 1981 Mercian offered racing and touring versions, both with long-point lugs with heart cutouts, a Romani fork crown and MERCIAN engraved on the seatstay tops. By the mid-1980s Mercian called it its most popular custom frame. Each was built one at a time in Derby to the buyer's size, so check the fit and fittings before you fall for the paint.
Frame check
Original parts to look for
Hard to find if missing
Check the listing photos against these lists, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. Swapped or missing original parts should come off the price if originality matters to you. For replacements, see our vintage components guide.
A racing King of Mercia won't take mudguards, and since every frame was built to order, size, clearance and fittings all vary. Expect old paint, rust inside the tubes and a stuck seatpost too.
New to old steel? Spotting frame damage in listing photos covers lugs, dropouts and rust, and seller red flags covers wrong sizes, swapped parts and repaints sold as original.
Buying guide
A 1988 King of Mercia at $300 is the one to look at, about $900 under the only other listing. A 1980s one should show long-point lugs with heart cutouts and MERCIAN engraved on the seatstay tops, both easy to spot in photos. Each was built to order, so get the frame measured, and look for mudguard eyes, which mark a touring frame.
$300.00+ ship
No shipping is quoted, so plan on pickup or ask. The title points you to the description, so read it before you make an offer.
Vintage 1988 Mercian Bike, King of Mercia -58.5cm, Blue/Red (Read Desciption)
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 19, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 19, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$300.00+ shipping
$300.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$300.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
1988, 58.5 cm, measuring method not given. No shipping quoted.
Seller: miarhys
100% positive
Used$1,281.96est. delivered
$1,200.00 + $81.96 shipping
Buy It Now$1,200.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Bare listing, with no year, size or version.
Seller: tunevelcro
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 19, 2026.
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