Classic & Vintage - CDI (Corsa de Italia)

So I've had this frame kickin' around for some time now and I'd like to know more about it. It's sporting a quick and sloppy fixed build of spare parts right now but will soon be getting built properly with Valentino/Gran Sport/Tipo parts. Who can help me? The only identification on the frame is the CDI decals (somewhere along the way I got the idea that this stands for Corsa de Italia, but I can't confirm that), a made in Italy sticker and the serial number M 4237 just below the seat cluster on the non-drive side. The no-name cottered cranks and TTT stem are all that came on the bike. Thank you folks.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n154/marengo_77/Biciclettapocorossaebianca.png

Anyone? I would hate for a new person to feel unwanted...

East Hill

The frame is a bit of a contradiction to me. Usually a frame with stays and forks chromed is a more upper end frame. But it appears to me the rear dropouts are stamped. Can we get a better picture? My guess is that it is a house brand frame, one made as a private label for a bike shop by a larger frame maker. All that really counts is that you enjoy the bike.

EDIT: Did a search of the CR archives. Bingo!

Quoted from a post....

CDI was an importer/distributor and the bikes were private labeled with the
name of the importer. I never bought any bikes from CDI so cannot really
tell you who the actual French manufacturer was.


So not Italian at all. Another post indicated CDI was a Texas importer, George Curry and they are of French manufacture. The upper end frames were said to be hand built and well made. Knowing the frame is French, I would really like to see the rear droputs better. The chrome on the stays and forks is definitely the sign of a better French frame, it all hinges on the dropouts.

As CV-6 guessed, CDI was a private label for an American importer during the bike boom of the 1970s. I had one - orange - and was quite a nice ride.

Best, John

CDI also imported italian frames -- CR references relabeled Liotto's. Not that I think this is one...just that its likely they imported from several sources.

CDI also imported italian frames -- CR also references relabeled Liotto's.

Duh....I forgot about the Made in Italy sticker on the frame. They are usually there for a reason. :D

Still want to see the rear drops.

The chrome on the stays and forks is definitely the sign of a better French frame, it all hinges on the dropouts.

During the 1970s bicycle boom, most Italian manufacturers were very liberal with their chrome. It was not uncommon to have chrome fork ends, stay ends and even head lugs on a bicycle that was 2nd from the bottom of the line, with the Atala Grand Prix and Bottechia Special being the most common examples. These bicycles generally featured hi-tensile frames, with steel, cottered cranksets, Universal center-pull brakes and VCampagnolo Valentino derailleurs. If you were lucky, one might have aluminum rims, but essentially they were competition for the the like of the Raleigh Grand Prix and Peugeot UO8. However, the Italians put much more effort into the aesthetic design, with many being very nice examples of eye candy. The CDI is quite restrained, probably reflecting the distributor's personal preference.

Agreed, the dropouts are generally a good indicator and these appear to be stamped, so it's probably an upper, entry level model. However, the best indicator is probably the seat post diameter.

You are right about the Atala Gran Prix T-Mar, I had one that looked liked it had been put together with a hammer and nails, yet it had chrome fork ends, rear stays, and head lugs. It came with the infamous boat anchor Ballila Brakes (those levers were huge!). But,,,the frame itself was rather light for its size (25")