Classic & Vintage - How to ID Campagnolo groups/parts?

There's this bike that I'm checking tomorrow after finding out what the seller wants for it.. Looked to me like a mid-late 80s. It's a R*ssin, but without the crazy colors - Pearl White or Cream, I think. I had a quick glance at it last week but I didn't want to show too much interest on the bike :innocent: because the seller didn't want to state a price then. Anyways, it has an all-Campagnolo groupset - everything except the pedals is Campy, well it didn't have pedals.:lol: I don't remember seeing anything on the components other than the engraved campy badge on the derailleurs, cranks (not square-ish older type) and levers (it had white brake hoods, btw). Brake calipers had what looked like printed "Campagnolo" logo (not engraved). Bummer they weren't Deltas..:notamused: I thought it had tubular wheels and tires, too and the frame is Columbus either SL or SLX..

So anyway, how do I tell what the groupset is without bringing a print-out of all the Campy catalogs?:lol: Are there engravings behind the deraillers and brake calipers like Shimano's to tell?

Thanks in advance!
:thumb:

Campy parts rarely ever have the grouppo name on them. Some of the early parts (like super record) are fairly easy to ID but many of the parts from the late 80's onward look very similar at a casual glance so unless you are well trained at ID'ing them it would be best to compare to photos. Velobase is your friend here;
http://velobase.com/ListComponents.aspx?Category=115&BrandID=547f3aa0-e86c-41a3-b5a6-f75628ea75e7

That's the answer I was hoping NOT to get.. But thank you!

You need to be more careful. You could be banned for overuse of smiley faces.

I would suggest taking some pictures, get them posted on the forum promptly and within an hour or two you will probably have a good idea what is on the bike. Hopefully the seller will give you the better part of a day to give him a definite decision if you express serious interest at his price. Or ask the seller for some component photos by email before you go to look at it and go from there. The problem you run into is that if there are other interested parties who know what they are looking at, the bike may be gone before all that can happen. The first step is indicating to the seller serious interest so that he or she will give you half a day at least to work out these component details before accepting an offer from someone else. Be up front with the seller and hope that he or she is reasonable and understanding about your need to quickly investigate what it is you might be buying. I always extend some time courtesy to a potential buyer before moving on to the next buyer in line.

Buyers that ask a lot of questions, more pictures, etc., go to the bottom of the response list. If you want a deal, sometimes you have to take a chance. Sounds like the seller doesn't have a solid price in mind, or is looking for best offer (= more money), so he may be more patient.

While other parties are asking for more information, someone like me will be picking up the bike (if the price is right). Bought a couple of bikes with Campy bits Saturday. No idea of what model Campy they are yet, but price was attractive regardless.

Buyers that ask a lot of questions, more pictures, etc., go to the bottom of the response list.

You may not believe this, but there are people out there who actually give a **** about being cooperative, helpful, and fair (first come first served) to potential buyers! I've been fortunate enough to have dealt with many of them!

You may not believe this, but there are people out there who actually give a **** about being cooperative, helpful, and fair (first come first served) to potential buyers! I've been fortunate enough to have dealt with many of them!

Likewise, and man, are those ever the good ones, that I like to do repeat business with!

Sorry, no more smilies then!

One can normally gauge whether a seller will take the time to get you photos that you need, but this one is just not the type. I don't think he knows what he has and I'd like to leave it like that. I'm afraid he'd be curious and use Google! This could really backfire on me, but I'll take the chance.

I did show my intention to buy when I heard back about the price. I asked if I can come later today, but he's not available. Going back and forth won't work either as he's a bit far. I'll have to decide right then and there if I want it or not.

Anyways, we already agreed on a price and to meet tomorrow, so I'm going to assume he'll stick with that. The bike is not advertised online either so I'm not really that concerned about it being scooped by others.

So far I'm thinking they're either C-Record or Athena, maybe Chorus. We shall see!
(I would have used a smiley here)

With a bike like that, what often happens is:

1) Seller says it 'has all C-Record parts in excellent condition and was only ridden about 200 miles, tops.' (Yeah, right).

2) One dustcap on one pedal turns out to be C-Record, and everything else is a mix of Athena, Chorus, Victory, Triomphe, and Croce d'Aune, and the bike has been crashed more than once, or ridden hard and put away wet 9742 times, before being stored in a damp, musty basement for two decades. Not saying this will be the case, but 'caveat emptor,' baby, caveat emptor. No pics. available at all yet?

I've seen it last week, I wouldn't say it's #1 or #2. It looked fine.

I've seen it last week, I wouldn't say it's #1 or #2. It looked fine.

No pics. taken at that visit???

Edit: Do I get any Senior Discounts now, since I'm a Senior Member?

I picked it up earlier today. I took pics of the components, and according to Velobase, I think they're:

1st Gen C-Record?
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k475/Bimdapogs/Rossin%20Roadie/DSC_7376.jpg

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k475/Bimdapogs/Rossin%20Roadie/DSC_7377.jpg

Cringe..
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k475/Bimdapogs/Rossin%20Roadie/DSC_7378.jpg

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k475/Bimdapogs/Rossin%20Roadie/DSC_7384.jpg

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k475/Bimdapogs/Rossin%20Roadie/DSC_7389.jpg

I got a bit sad when I saw this.
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k475/Bimdapogs/Rossin%20Roadie/DSC_7390.jpg

Cobalto (C-Record) missing the stones?
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k475/Bimdapogs/Rossin%20Roadie/DSC_7379.jpg

Nuovo Super Record?
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k475/Bimdapogs/Rossin%20Roadie/DSC_7375.jpg

So what's the magic number you picked this up for? Nice find!

Yes, first-gen, C-Record with the Cobalto brakes, and a Nuovo Super Record post. Those parts probably date the bike (parts, anyways) to 1985. Lots of cosmetic marks, but it's all there. If the price was right, you got a whole lotta bike for not a lotta moolah.

Thanks! I got it for $300. Please don't tell me I overpaid?!

Uh, you definitely did not overpay. Nice score! If you decide that you don't like it, dis-assemble it and sell the pieces on eBay for double that....

did he tell you how he did all that scratching, looks like he dragged the bike everywhere instead of riding it... :(

Take a phot of the reverse side of the DS crank. It will have a date code on it - two numbers in a square between the crank length and the pedal thread numbers. Of course, this being Campagnolo, we couldn't possibly expect anything logical like using the actual year so you have to know the code.

did he tell you how he did all that scratching, looks like he dragged the bike everywhere instead of riding it... :(

Shame, I know..


Take a phot of the reverse side of the DS crank. It will have a date code on it - two numbers in a square between the crank length and the pedal thread numbers. Of course, this being Campagnolo, we couldn't possibly expect anything logical like using the actual year so you have to know the code.

11 on both arms. Do you know what that means?

Read from Velo-Retro:

Starting in 1973 the crank arms have a code consisting of a diamond (1970's), circle (1980's), square (late Super Record), with a number in the center denoting the last digit of the year of manufacture (some exceptions:11=1985, 22=1986, 33=1987 plus others).

1985 it is. :)

Wow!! nice pickup. For $300 that's pretty darn good. Any pic of the complete bike? Is the frame SLX?

whoa, looks like it was wrapped in sandpaper. But the components are top of the line. what surprises me is the condition of the paint (at least on the bits that we can see in the pics).

whoa, looks like it was wrapped in sandpaper. But the components are top of the line. what surprises me is the condition of the paint (at least on the bits that we can see in the pics).

Methinks those parts were moved to that frame after being purchased from some racer boi. The frameset is way cleaner than the parts (and the frame is quite nice indeed). And to TT, the frame is SL tubing. SLX decals state "SLX" on them....

You can sand down the scratches then polish the surface of the crank to make it look nice again. Polishing will look different from the original satin finish but it will look much nicer than the current scratchy condition. Probably possible to work similar treatment on the RD too.

I highly recommend Keith's polishing how-to thread:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/697520-KHatfull-s-Aluminum-Polishing-Thread?p=11841802&viewfull=1#post11841802

You may find some parts (certainly the cranks) have an anodized finish which you'll want to strip first. For $300, you did very well!