Rossignol C-12

Le Coq Sportif | Rossignol

Rossignol Graphite C-12 (1979)

Condition
10
10: New
9: Mint
8: Excellent
7: Good
6: Fair
5: Average
4: Below Average
3: Poor
| Rarity
10
10: Impossibly rare
9: Extremely rare
8: Hard to find
7: Fairly rare
6: Uncommon
5: Common
<4: Big Seller
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About This Racket

This is a rare Rossignol wooden racket, graphite reinforced, Stunning design, lovely color scheme and beautiful original leather grip. Brand new with label. Rossignol did not make many wooden rackets (eg Strato, NIGHTINGALE, Pro Rally, Actuel, Concorde) before switching to hitech materials. Although it is originally a french brand, unusually I think all their rackets were all made in the USA.

In 1975 the Ski giant Rossignol branched out into tennis and with the help of Bayer eventually in 1979 made the R40. It helped Johan Kriek win Australian Open in 1981 and 1982. He also possibly won Wimbledon with this racket in 1981. However it was expensive, £70, twice the price of Maxply Fort!

They improved on it and made the F200 carbon in 1982 used by Mats Wilandser (see below). The story goes like this: Rossignol was serious and acquired three factories: one in France at Côte-Saint-André (Bièvre), and two others in the United States, in Maine and Massachusetts. They had a remarkable production capacity of 750,000 rackets per year, including 350,000 at their Isère factory. Research efforts conducted with the German company Bayer led to the manufacture of an innovative racket made of fiberglass and carbon fiber. The first models (TR10 and TR20) were released in March 1977. These rackets, weighing around 370 grams, featured the famous inverted bridge. Starting in January 1980, Rossignol formed a team of six players coached by Bob Brett, including José Luis Clerc (Argentina), Johan Kriek (South Africa), and Andres Gomez (Ecuador). But it was undoubtedly Mats Wilander, who won Roland-Garros in 1982, that elevated the brand to another level. Until 1988, when Wilander claimed the No. 1 world ranking at the end of the season, the Swede accumulated Grand Slam titles—seven in total—using his famous F 200 racket. But Johan Kriek, a double winner at the Australian Open (1981 and 1982) with his metal-carbon racket, and American Tim Mayotte, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 1982 with his F100, also contributed to the popularity of Rossignol rackets.

In 1987, the group decided to create a specific department for tenni, Rossignol’s sales increased by 8% but behind Dunlop, Kennex, Prince, Wilson, Head. In 1989, the brand released a third-generation model combining the qualities of a composite racket with those of an aerodynamic racket. Sales picked up (350,000 models sold), with Rossignol ranked No. 1 in Italy and Sweden, No. 3 in France, and No. 5 in Spain. The FT 580 racket, which originated a complete range, even received an Oscar for design. However, due to cost reasons, the brand relocated its production to Southeast Asia, whilst R&D was at headquarters in Voiron. Meanwhile, sponsorship was increasingly expensive and market was in long-term recession Rossignol decided to cease its production in June 2004, after almost 30 years of success.


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Specifications (👋 not yet accurate….check back soon)
MeasurementsValuePerformanceScore
Weight394gPower33/100
Head Size & Length68sq in | 27inchControl28/100
Balance8pt head light (220)Spin26/100
GripPerforated leatherHandling30/100
Strings18 x 20 | gutComfort49/100
FlexibilityRA 49Consistency33/100
About Rossignol

The Rossignol Group, founded in 1907 by carpenter Abel Rossignol in Voiron, Isère, began as a pioneer in wooden ski manufacturing . Over the decades, it evolved into a global leader in winter sports equipment, notably becoming the world’s leading ski manufacturer by 1970 with the success of the Strato ski. The company expanded its product line to include snowboards, ski boots, and bindings, acquiring brands like Lange and Look. In recent years, under the leadership of Vincent Wauters, Rossignol has focused on sustainable growth with its “Ascension 2026” plan, aiming for €500 million in sales by 2026 . This includes the launch of eco-designed, recyclable skis, reflecting their commitment to environmental responsibility. The Rossignol Respect program further emphasizes social responsibility, promoting inclusion, diversity, and well-being within the community 

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