Newer than most of the frames on Gazelle Pages, this 1995 creation is nevertheless worthy of a profile. Called the Exception by the folks in Dieren, it might just represent the pinnacle of lugged steel bicycle frames. Read on:
 

Gazelle Exception

     
     
 

Ebay sellers comments:

.. a beautiful absolute TOP and new Gazelle Exception, most expensive steel frame they ever made .
The frame is from 1995 and it comes with Reynolds 731 OS (oversized) in combination with Noblex stainless steel tubing and parts.
Beautifull deep aqua blue metallic .The main frame is built with Reynolds 731 oversized tubing ( top and seat tube have a 1 1/8" diameter and the down tube is 1 1/4") and forks and stays are built with 18/10 Noblex stainless steel.
All drop outs , brake bridge and chain hanger are also made by Noblex from stainless steel. It has a beautiful detailed seat cluster, brake cable along side the toptube.
Decals of course all under protective clearcoat. Ergo Sti braze ons, front derailleur braze on, removable foto finish plate holder and ready to take two bottle holders.
The frame is 58 cm center to top measured and the top tube is 56.5 cm center to center. The headtube is 16.5 cm and the threaded 1" fork inner tube is 21.8 cm long.
The frame is new and has never been built up, and has no shopwear, mint.
The frame is standard British threaded,1.37"x24 and takes a 27.2 seatpost and is 130 mm rear spaced .
                 
   
 

Above: Hanger for racing information and cable stud under the top tube. Finally a modern steel frame without internally lead rear brake cable. This alone is worth the selling price!

Left: Not the most attractive fork crown I've seen. To my taste at least some of the later Gazelle forks were certainly crisp and effective looking, but lacking in final visual appeal.
The 1992 Jubile is another example of a weird fork, strangely attractive but ugly at the same time...
   
    Noblex Edelstahl [stainless] is as far as I can find out a type of stainless steel which was produced, among others, by a German tubing manufacturer called Poppe & Pothoff. Their line-up included mostly if not only bicycle frame tubing. On this, the Exception the stays and fork blades are Noblex, while the rest is oversized Reynolds 731.
     

Below is a scan from the 1995 Gazelle price list, showing the Noblex/731 going for 2395 Guilders, which is about $1500 in May of 2009. At the time the most expensive Gazelle offering. See also here

Interestingly the Ebay auction ended, after 30 bids, at $1725!
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