Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Value on 1988 Bianchi Limited?

I snagged a Celest green 58cm Bianchi Limited off CL. It appears to be all original with Shimano 600 everything. It is made in Italy and in pretty good shape. It needs nothing to ride and I have already ridden it without needing to do anything besides fill up the tires. It has Ambrosia rims and Shimano toe clip peddals with Celest leather straps and Celest bar tape that is in great shape (prob been replaced at some time).

I bought it because I always wanted a Bianchi and it was my size but after riding it, I am not sure I am in love with it like my Nishiki International. It is a better bike but feels so serious to ride.

I might put it on Ebay or CL and sell it. What are people paying for these now? The seller said they paid $756 for it new in 1988.

well first off if you just snagged it from CL then the value is what you paid for it right? I mean if you paid $200 for it but would have passes at $225 or $250 then $200 is the going rate in your area.

I ma not familiar with the Nishiki International but the '88 Limited (actually I have to check I think a Celeste on would be '89) is a performance or race level bike. we sold lots to new racers upgrading and to Triathletes. what imparticular don't you care for? is the reach to the bars longer than you were used to? position of the shifters?

Not exactly. It popped up on CL and I was lucky enough to be the first one to see it and call. I know it would have sold in minutes if I didn't snag it as any good bike around here gets taken by the flippers.

I bought this for me but I am thinking about selling it if I don't start falling in love. It is hard to put my finger on the ride but it feels like a heavy bike when you ride it. I mean it seems like it is really solid which sort of deadens the feel. Also the tires slip a bit and are probably too hard so swapping them out might change the ride for the better.

ha, are you in the Houston area by chance? I think it was a limited that popped up here on CL (my size and everything) but it was gone FAST. I was beaten there by someone else (you?! :p) though.
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Anyway I would think if you cleaned it up and fixed it up you could get $200-$300 depending on the market. Last one I saw on ebay was $220 and the shape was pretty decent (had $50 shipping though)


I know it would have sold in minutes if I didn't snag it as any good bike around here gets taken by the flippers.
I might put it on Ebay or CL and sell it.does not compute :p

you never posted any pics. as I was reading your initial post I paged through the catalogs and if your frame is Italian (Bicnahi Columbus Formula tubing) it is an '87. also silver 600 bits would be '87, as I believe the '88s and after came with the imfamous "TriColor" Ultegra 600.

Not in Texas so that wasn't me. I did not buy this bike to flip although I have flipped a bunch of bikes in the past. Now I am just looking for keepers and upgrading the bikes I have with nicer bikes and replacing them as I choose. I have about 8 bikes and my wife seems to think 4 is more reasonable so if I have two bikes that fill the same role, one has to go eventually.

I bought the Bianchi to replace my Nishiki International but I like the Nishiki better. I thought the Bianchi would be an upgrade but the Nishiki fits so well and rides so nice that I am just going to keep it and maybe sell the Bianchi unless I can find a niche for it. I might just need more time with it. I am in no hurry to sell it so I was just getting ball park figuires. If it was worth $400-500 I would put it on Ebay but since it is more like $200-300, I will probaby just keep it. You just can't get anything good for that price so it is worth keeping.

Sounds like an 1987 then. The seller said they bought it new in 1988 so it could be an 1987 for sure. My wife bought her Scott road bike for 20% off because it was last year's model. Good deal!