Not such an amazing back-story I found it on eBay, and paid too much at the time. This DS Track is Suntour Superbe Pro equipped with Araya Aero 4 rims, bladed spokes, and Soyo 45 track tires. The Design Series machines are the pinnacle of what Fuji released. The feel on the road of this steel is sublime, precise, subtle, exhilarating. The tubing is Ishiwata 019E, on the frame called Fuji 9658. In the rather strangely delightful color combination of Rosata and deep pink metallic over chrome (some called it Dentine) the livery was quite striking.

Ranging from 49 cm to 61 cm (track) and 63 cm (road) 11 framesets were available to enthusiasts.

The DS was sold as a frameset only with the beautiful Hatta headset. At the end of this twenty year classic steel Fuji era: 1968 through 1988 are three years production of the sublime Design Series frames: 1986, 1987, 1988. By 1988 the top of the line is the Fuji Titanium with a suspect livery of colored diamonds the top of the line steel bicycle is the Opus IV - an amazing machine also hidden under the new post-classic liveries. By this time these magnificent bicycles are feeling the strains of the International economy (no longer super favorable to the appreciating Yen) and new materials, such as titanium. 1975/1976 is the year Fuji introduces its new top model - not the 'Newest-Newest' as some might jest, but the 'Professional.' The professional would continue through several iterations, including the magnificently draped (if not technically superior) Fuji Professional Super Record cataloged independently in 19, but listed still under the Professional until 1985. With Fuji's first US catalog comes the famous trio of: Newest, Finest, and S10-S. The Road Racer as the top model is aptly renamed the Finest, but now what for the newer 'Finest?' The 'Newest' of course!

By 1969, still only available in 21' the premier Fuji offering is called the 'Finest.' A classic road bicycle in every sense from components to tubular tires. Available in one size, 21' and built of chrome molybdenum steel tubing. Around 1967 Fuji leaves what I'll call the 'late vintage era' and lists the 'Fuji Racer' their finest bicycle in the Japan Bicycle Guide. Thanks to Brian L's dedicated findings of Japanese bicycle historical source material, we have the 'Japan's Bicycle Guide' editions going back prior to the first Fuji US Catalog of 1971. The Fuji Design Series, 'DS,' serves as a kind of capstone to the approximately twenty year span of the great classical era of Nichibei Fuji Cycle Company, LTD. Text and photographs from William Bevington, author of 'Japanese Steel: Classic Bicycle Design from Japan'.

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