Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - 1971 Italian Masi Gran Criterium

I have a white '71 Italian Masi (54cm) in great condition that I am considering selling. All Campy, Fiame rims. Tires are long replaced but everything else is in great shape. Decals still look good as well. Lightly ridden.

Two questions: How much interest is there, and what do you think it might be worth?

Thanks,

Russ

Hi Russ welcome to the forums.

Condition and location play important roles in used bike selling. if the bike is in pristine condition in Alaska it might take awhile to sell. in very good condition and lowish price it might sell in hours in So Cal

check out some of the other threads and see what kind of pics are posted, then take alot of yours and post them

Can't say without photos. But, an original '71 Masi in nice shape could go from anywhere from $850 - $3500, depending on condition, location, method of selling (Ebay, CL, etc.), quality of photographs, feedback rating or reputation, etc. Most examples would be in the $1000-2000 range, but there was a very nice one that went for $3500 a few months ago.

Basically, we need lots of photos :)

Basically, we need lots of photos :)

+1 Mostly because I want to see pictures of this classic Masi, but also because we need pictures to determine the value.

Can't say without photos. But, an original '71 Masi in nice shape could go from anywhere from $850 - $3500, depending on condition, location, method of selling (Ebay, CL, etc.), quality of photographs, feedback rating or reputation, etc. Most examples would be in the $1000-2000 range, but there was a very nice one that went for $3500 a few months ago.

Basically, we need lots of photos :)

+1

I passed on a 1974 a year ago that ultimately sold for $500.

Had a lot going for it, but it really needed a person who could do the bicycle justice.

Bring on the pics please. :)

1971 is an interesting year for Masi. The Gran Criterium was introduced in 1970 basically, there are a few who claim 1969, but that might have been just trade show production.
In 1971, details started to settle down early bikes are different in details from the late year frames. The Time of the year is key. All are desirable but some more so. Value might vary a small margin by how you measure 54 cm. Masi measured and stamped the size under the bottom bracket shell. If you measure center to center and come up with 54 the bike will have a wider audience than if it is 54 "masi measure" which is center to tip top.
Plenty of images.
Some will want to know the date stamp on the fork steerer, for others the details will be enough.

+1

I passed on a 1974 a year ago that ultimately sold for $500.

Had a lot going for it, but it really needed a person who could do the bicycle justice.

Bring on the pics please. :)

Kind of like, I passed up Apple stock at $150 per share.

Sure. I'll start creating the pictures of the bike from every angle. I just wanted to get a feel for the range first.

I'm in Los Angeles, so nobody needs to travel to Alaska. :)

Russ

Kind of like, I passed up Apple stock at $150 per share.

My wife got in when they introduced the PowerPC chip from Motorola. :)

...and I found another 1974.

My wife got in when they introduced the PowerPC chip from Motorola. :)

...and I found another 1974.

Well, your sanity is confirmed.

The original poster may need a note on how to add / post images.
I am not the one to do it as I am a text only kind of guy here.
No emoticons even.

I have a white '71 Italian Masi (54cm) in great condition that I am considering selling. All Campy, Fiame rims. Tires are long replaced but everything else is in great shape. Decals still look good as well. Lightly ridden.

Two questions: How much interest is there, and what do you think it might be worth?

Thanks,

Russ

Happy to assist if you need help posting the pics!

Not trying to be pushy, just love these bicycles.

Always good to ensnare another member in this madness as well. :)

Appreciate your help. Putting in the pictures looks pretty straight-forward, but if I have problems I'll scream for help.

By the way, as near as I can remember (that was about 40 years ago) I bought the bike in about November of 1971. The bike still has the decal of the shop that I got it from: Sudgen and Lynch on Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park, CA. Assuming that it was shipped over by boat, it was probably made in early 1971. When you see the pictures, I think you'll agree.

Appreciate your help. Putting in the pictures looks pretty straight-forward, but if I have problems I'll scream for help.

By the way, as near as I can remember (that was about 40 years ago) I bought the bike in about November of 1971. The bike still has the decal of the shop that I got it from: Sudgen and Lynch on Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park, CA. Assuming that it was shipped over by boat, it was probably made in early 1971. When you see the pictures, I think you'll agree.

No problem, let us know!

You really have my attention with this bicycle by the way.

The bike still has the decal of the shop that I got it from: Sudgen and Lynch on Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park, CA. Assuming that it was shipped over by boat, it was probably made in early 1971. When you see the pictures, I think you'll agree.

Sugden & Lynch was one of the importers of Masi before Carlsbad opened. So was John's in Pasadena.

Sugden & Lynch was one of the importers of Masi before Carlsbad opened. So was John's in Pasadena.

And of course Peter Rich in Berkeley going back to circa 1963.

And of course Peter Rich in Berkeley going back to circa 1963.

Velosport, I should not have left that out. I had my great aunt take me there while on a visit, they lived in the East Bay. She tolerated it well considering she knew nothing of what I was looking at.

It is interesting how a number of the shops in the Bay Area built up relationships with a number of the Italian builders, Talbot's secured DeRosa for a time. Spence Wolfe - Cinelli.

Velosport, I should not have left that out. I had my great aunt take me there while on a visit, they lived in the East Bay. She tolerated it well considering she knew nothing of what I was looking at.

It is interesting how a number of the shops in the Bay Area built up relationships with a number of the Italian builders, Talbot's secured DeRosa for a time. Spence Wolfe - Cinelli.

Of course, Peter Rich had a rather stormy falling out with Masi and switched to importing Colnagos.

Of course, Peter Rich had a rather stormy falling out with Masi and switched to importing Colnagos.

The Vigorelli hammer visit? I will have to look that up in the old CR archives. Perhaps fortunate for Peter, Masi is in Northern Italy.

Spence sold Masis, too, I believe.

onde consigo uma dessa

onde consigo uma dessa

"Where I get this one"

That is a question I think. There might be many who would jump at the chance to purchase the bicycle.

Thankfully, it's too small for me. Otherwise, I might have had to start saving my pennies....

Lots of interest, can't wait to see it.

Camera broke, lost interest, too busy, decided it was too cool to sell?

Camera broke, lost interest, too busy, decided it was too cool to sell?

Wonder? I did pm this seller. Perhaps he found another buyer or maybe never had one at all? Nothing suprises me any more.

Sorry for the absence guys; although, it is great to see the interest.
I am still planning on selling it. I was in the process of getting it ready for pictures when family came into town.

Russ

Hi all! I just ran across this thread, and I'm in pretty much the same place as russd! I'm trying to sell my dad's Gran Criterium that he bought at Sugden & Lynch Menlo Park ca. 1971. Very cool to see how poorly mine will compare, haha... but I don't want to hijack... I'll post a separate thread w/ pics.

I am very interested in buying a Gran Criterium. Please PM me and let me know what you want for it.

I am very interested in buying a Gran Criterium. Please PM me and let me know what you want for it.

We don't even know what size it is for sure yet....

We don't even know what size it is for sure yet....

Well, dude is "very interested" in "a Gran Criterium." Doesn't sound like a discriminating shopper.

I hope Russd does not spend so much effort on this bike that he reduces its value. Seen it happen before.

Pictures of my 1971 Masi Gran Criterium. Sorry for the delay.

And one more picture of the brake Lever and hood:

Pretty conservative on the image size. I cannot read the bottom bracket stamps, M54?

Yes. M54.

Yes. M54.

That helps, too small for me. I can now resist. White was a standard color at the time, but not too common after 1971. This bike has the second style of graphics, sometimes known as the "crosshair" for the thin rules that divide the down tube decal. There should be decent demand for it, Level the saddle out for its glamour shots.

Repechage, what do you think a reasonable price range will be for this?

There are a number of shots, but none go much beyond thumbnail size for me and a few areas of focus are skipped. I would like to see the fork crown and the interior reinforcements of the fork blades.

If you asked for $3,600. you may or may not get an offer. If you asked $2,600. it would sell quickly. In a bidding competition it could surprise you. If it was a 57, more.

Repechage,

I was limited by the file size to under 100k, but I can send you larger pictures privately if you wish. I do have one picture of the fork crown from the left rear. I'll include others and of the fork blade reinforcements. I may post larger pictures on Flikr. If I do, then I'll post the link here.

I am actually looking for about $2500.

Oops. I see what happened. The site limited the number of pics that I could attach. Here is one picture of the fork crown and another of a front view. I'll get more.

235317

This is with the photo attached in-line. Perhaps it displays bigger.

If it was my size, I would find $2500 in a heartbeat.

235317

This is with the photo attached in-line. Perhaps it displays bigger.

No, not really any bigger. I can tell that the fork crown is a Fischer, chrome appears good from the image. This bike has the early geometry, note how the front brake mounting bolt is jammed up near the head set. And the brake blocks are also adjusted to their upper limit. This would change later. The fork blade reinforcements may or may not have holes.

At $2,600 I would buy it as a gap filler in my collection, only advantage there is I am local.

So, Repechage, does that mean that if I raise the price from $2,500 to $2,600 that you would be more interested and would buy it to fill the gap in your collection? :p

If you plan to sell this bike online (craigslist, ebay, etc) you'll definitely need to figure out the picture situation as every picture so far has been very tiny. Upload them to photobucket or flickr and then link them wherever you need.

Not sure why the pictures are coming out so small. They are set to be about 3 x 2 inches depending on the geometry. Using either 72 or 100 dpi. Using .png files which are smaller in size than jpgs. Any advice would be appreciated.

Not sure why the pictures are coming out so small. They are set to be about 3 x 2 inches depending on the geometry. Using either 72 or 100 dpi. Using .png files which are smaller in size than jpgs. Any advice would be appreciated.

Get a free flickr account and leave the driving to us.

Just post a link and we'll watch for an ebay listing.

Too small for me, but not for several of my partners.

Let's try this. Tell me if this is large enough please.

235366

Let's try this. Tell me if this is large enough please.

235366

Better Russ.

Little blurry though, sorry.

You have a beautiful bicycle by the way. :)

That was a lower resolution jpg. I've set up a Flickr account. I'll get a bunch of pictures ready.

I've loved that bike from the moment I got it 41 years ago, but I almost never ride it any more. The first thing I did when I got it was to cover it with 2 or 3 coats of liquid auto polish. I think that helped to protect the paint and decals this many years.