Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Advise on selling a classic "Confente"

I have a Confente track bike #56 ( i believe ) that i raced with for several years. As far as i can tell i was the only female that Mario made a bike for way back in the early 80's. I know the collectability of his craftmanship and would appreciate any advise on selling or perhaps keeping it till the ecomomy improves?

keep it.

Agreed. I would not sell that unless you had to. Would love to see pictures of it, though.

Personally I don't think the economy has hurt the value of Confentes, so on the flip side economic improvement 5 years down the road probably won't help much, either.

It's hard to tell you what to do without pictures, because we don't know the starting point. But I'm going to assume since you're aware of his importance that you've kept the bike in good shape.
1. Clean it.
2. Ebay with Great pictures - it would be worth paying a professional is you don't feel up to it.
3. Get the word out here and on the Classic Rendezvous Google Group.
4. If you have a name that would be recognized, or won some important event on the bike - emphasize the provenance.

Pics. But don't sell it.

I would keep it.

But, I agree with Ex Pres. The downturn in the economy hasn't really hurt the value of blue chip bikes. If anything, it may be helping to increase prices. Many people are investing in gold and other non-traditional investments at the moment. There have been numerous recent "new highs" for Confentes, Masis, etc.

If you really need the money, this may be a great time to sell it.

Personally I don't think the economy has hurt the value of Confentes, so on the flip side economic improvement 5 years down the road probably won't help much, either.

It's hard to tell you what to do without pictures, because we don't know the starting point. But I'm going to assume since you're aware of his importance that you've kept the bike in good shape.
1. Clean it.
2. Ebay with Great pictures - it would be worth paying a professional is you don't feel up to it.
3. Get the word out here and on the Classic Rendezvous Google Group.
4. If you have a name that would be recognized, or won some important event on the bike - emphasize the provenance.

+1...international bidders have kept the prices on the really high end stuff pretty stable.

IF you want to sell it, and you want to maximize value, you're going to want to use ebay...you're going to need first rate pictures of every inch of the bike. You'll want to speak beforehand with Confente experts and ask their permission to be quoted. That bike would need to be sold with international bidders allowed...and you're going to have to go in understanding there's a very good chance it will need to be shipped internationally. Finally, you're going to want to have someone with experience selling (and shipping) high level bikes as the person who actually sells it. The difference between what an unknown seller will get and what a known seller with a track record will get is huge.

I understand Mario Confente passed away in the third quarter of 1980. That frame has to be 1980 or older, if it's really his. If it's 1980, especially late, could it be one of his last ones?

I understand Mario Confente passed away in the third quarter of 1980. That frame has to be 1980 or older, if it's really his. If it's 1980, especially late, could it be one of his last ones?

Confente died on March 8, 1979.

The original poster's comments don't mean that much, as it was a long time ago. If she raced it in the early 80's then easy to confuse things.
#56 will place it as being built in Los Angeles, if 056 then its from his time up North, and very near his last builds.

Be fun to see some images. I would agree that his bike's are not suffering much in the current economic climate if at all. Last Track bike I am aware of sold for over $7,000. and it suffered from being a very big size.

Note on having a professional sell it for you on ebay. Make sure they know and sell high end bikes. I have bought several bikes from "professional" ebay store front operations. The ones I dealt with knew nothing about bikes, one couldn't even read the model number off the side of the bike for crissakes! I felt sorry for the seller that hired those "pros".

... As far as i can tell i was the only female that Mario made a bike for way back in the early 80's.

He had at least one other female client, she rode the smallest bike he could make. Art Stump modified the Campagnolo brake levers to reduce the reach so she could use them, she was petite.

Which leads to a comment about his clients, most of his clients were not active racers, there were some, but his bikes were not cheap, and not that many racers had the cash to afford one.

As far as track bikes go, I know of two others that are pretty small, one stamped as a 50 cm and the other no bigger than 52. Allegedly he built only 11 track bikes with his own name while in the USA.

Confente died on March 8, 1979.

The original poster's comments don't mean that much, as it was a long time ago. If she raced it in the early 80's then easy to confuse things.
#56 will place it as being built in Los Angeles, if 056 then its from his time up North, and very near his last builds.

Be fun to see some images. I would agree that his bike's are not suffering much in the current economic climate if at all. Last Track bike I am aware of sold for over $7,000. and it suffered from being a very big size.

Actually it wasn't *that* big....

OP, what size is yours? Are all of the parts original? PM me with the details if you want. Pics. would be great!

not small though

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/11/mario-confente-track-bike.html

not small though

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/11/mario-confente-track-bike.html

Looks like about a 61 cm., perhaps.

That's not the one I was thinking of, but it is a similar size.

It's a 55cm

How soon we forget...i started racing in '76 so he must have made it in late '78 or abouts. I remember going to the funeral. Mario made bikes for a lot of WC and several of my teamates incuding Jerry Ash the sprinter.

Photos, please!

It's a 55cm

That is a good size. Depending on condition, it should make it to five figures. If there were any significant series won on it that can be documented through print, championship jerseys and the like that will help more. District, National or Far West Championships, North Hollywood Wheelmen newsletter....