Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - request for info on this Bianchi (also asked in "Saved from the dump")

I've already posted about this in the "Saved from the dump", but I thought I'd ask here as well, since there may be different readers here.

Sorry if this is considered cross-posting.

I pulled a Bianchi out of the trash yesterday. It's got Modolo "Mach 1" brakes, Stronglight cranks, Ambrosio "Elite" rims and Campy deraileurs and downtube shifters.

The RD is missing its pivot bolt, and I'm guessing that's toast. The rest looks okay. The forks have a Columbus sticker, but there's no such Columbus on the main triangle, just a "Made in Italy" sticker.

Can anyone tell me anything about this bike. I'm especially curious about the frame: what's it made of? Why no tubing sticker?

And the RD shift lever is a Campy with what seems to be a sort of ratchet indexing system. Will I be able to find a RD that's compatible, assuming I can't fix the RD that's hanging off it now?

I would assume that the main triangle is columbus as well but could be wrong. The campy looks like the chorus group, I found a bike from '85 that has a similar looking rear derailleur so that might help with dating it but there should be a date code somewhere on the campy stuff. Also, It should also be pretty easy to find the parts you need for your rd on ebay. Good Find!

Thanks for that info.

An '84 or '85 Limited, both the same anyway. A Sport Tourer some called them. Not overly Racey and not to load-up....................... NICE FIND !!! As far as the frame... as the man stated. Putting it another way..
whatever Bianchi obtained from Colubus at any give time, a mix perhaps. No way you can be sure. If it says Tre-Tubi..Reinfor... etc., it's Double Butted and most likely seamless. Please leave it at that.
If Bianchi wanted anyone to know, they'd have told us.

I'm going to say its bit newer than 'old and new' suggests simply becasue of the Synchro shift levers. I'm not sure of their initial production but it was '86 at the earliest, possibly '87. Aside form that, its a nice bike.

In regeards to the RD...its very doubtful you can fix it. Its missing the big fixing bolt which is difficult to find. More than likely you'll be buying a replacement derailleur. I'll be honest and tell you that its not going to index very well, they didnt work well 25 years ago.

The Der. might not be OE jim. Campy came out with index later than my suggested year for sure but........
An '86.. VERY likely the bike could be. Index was later than '87 mostly even. Still though the der. issue trumps all. As you've pointed out. Could all be part of the story. And no, those g.changing systems weren't stellar.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to our local bike co-op tonight to see if I can scare up that bolt. It's a long shot, but...

It's a long shot, but...

Its a looooooooooooong shot.

I think it's a "990" lower down than a Triumph/ Victory RD, I might have a donor and might even have the pivot bolt, I'll look. I'd be happy to swap it for something of equal (which not very much) value. Pretty sure that this did have a tubing sticker that's probably all rubbed off and would be a Tre-Tubi Formula Bianchi set: something cheap drawn just for Bianchi by Columbus, probably around the level of Aelle for the main tubes, plain steel for the rest.

Well, of course I didn't find anything to fit the Campy RD. In fact, there was a bolt that fit, but I'm also missing the sort of backing plate that goes where the RD meets the dropout. Oh well.

I picked up an old Suntour Cyclone (right era at least). The spring feels fairly gritty, but I'll flush it with oil and hope for the best.

And, "unworthy1", if you do have a donor, I'd love it. Don't know what I'd offer in return; I'm not really a hardcore fixer-upper, but I can look around.

Goodmoring nice find to be sure. I'll try and look it up but judging from the decals the frame itself dates to '87ish. the RD seems to be a 980 (990) gear {that is what it was called** the bike certainly does not have Chorus, other than the Synchro which was common to all groups. there should be no backing plate on the pivot bolt, perhaps a small brass washer between the bolt head and the derailleur and then another between the der and hanger.

WOW, I wish I could find that bike in the trash around here. I'd be happy just to find one at a garage sale. VERY nice find and I'm glad to see it was rescued by someone who appreciates what that bike is. Enjoy the ride.

I agree Rocco I guess I need to slowdown more when I drive by yardsales.

John I did not realize you are in the great white north. your bikes are different than ours but I stil think it is around a '86,'87 Trofeo or maybe Vittoria. as others have said Bianchi has special tubing made for them to give their bikes their signature ride. the "formula tubed" gave way to superset and then superset two then that junky carbonfiber. the frames sport a heaveir guage DT and chainstays to provide the the ride quality Bianchi is famous for. it is a great find nonetheless. if I found it, I would clean ever inch and then wax it real good. then look for a Victory/Triomphe RD set the shifter on frictiona and enjoy it.

also there is the possibility that while this is great looking bike it is not an actual 'model'. it could be a replacement frame or (no offense) something put together by flipper after removing better 'kit' and putting these things on to sell it.

I picked up an old Suntour Cyclone (right era at least). The spring feels fairly gritty, but I'll flush it with oil and hope for the best.

And, "unworthy1", if you do have a donor, I'd love it. Don't know what I'd offer in return; I'm not really a hardcore fixer-upper, but I can look around.
Found it, and it does have the bolt.:thumb: I'll PM you.