Classic & Vintage - 1982 Eddy Merckx eye candy on eBay, show bike, never ridin

Don't know if it's a good thing or not, but it sure is pretty to look at. Too bad someone put a couple of scratches on it.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1982-NOS-Eddy-Merckx-Corsa-Extra-CHROME-SPECIAL-new-old-stock-Campagnolo-57cc-/360428732044?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53eb39fe8c

http://www.speedbicycles.ch/bikes/237/bigPic/speed_001.jpg

http://www.speedbicycles.ch/bikes/237/bigPic/speed_004.jpg

http://www.speedbicycles.ch/bikes/237/bigPic/speed_047.jpg

http://www.speedbicycles.ch/bikes/237/bigPic/speed_016.jpg

http://www.speedbicycles.ch/bikes/237/bigPic/speed_051.jpg

By 82, you did not see too many road racing bikes sporting high flange hubs....that's a shame as you can see that they looked so good on any bike.

Chombi

I'd be afraid to ride that.

I'd be afraid to ride that.

I was wondering who would be first with that. We will now have 117 posts on whether or not it's OK to ride it and why with the same entrenched viewpoints being aired. I know, I don't have to read -but it's a pretty bike and I'm interested in the Merckxianados take on it. The chrome lugs are certainly not common on an EM, but I'm wondering if the braze-on front derailleur and script logo calipers don't make it later than '82?

I'd be especially afraid to ride it with the chromed Campagnolo freewheel. Beautiful bike, nonetheless. I like the chromed parts much better than those gold-plated ICS components you see on other show bikes from this period.

ok, guess the final price.

my guess - > 2,250 euros.

^ I bet the reserve is more than that. I'll venture final bid is € 3075 (roughly $4k).

Btw, this is the seller that also brought us the $787 quilted Unicanitor (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/360420314003).

Good thing it's too big for me, I think a little drool just sllipped out.

I was wondering who would be first with that. We will now have 117 posts on whether or not it's OK to ride it and why with the same entrenched viewpoints being aired. I know, I don't have to read -but it's a pretty bike and I'm interested in the Merckxianados take on it. The chrome lugs are certainly not common on an EM, but I'm wondering if the braze-on front derailleur and script logo calipers don't make it later than '82?

I'm not a Merckxophile, but that bike was obviously a special build for a trade show or vip. Or maybe somebody's "pimp project". All the anodized parts have been stripped and very well polished. The rear der looks like an NR or early SR that has been de-anodized and is wearing a later SR jocky cage. Very nicely turned out ride. Somewhere between '82-'84 in my eyes.

This Merckx is actually listed as 1982 with a question mark on cadre.org.

E series bikes are sometimes confused with later models as the e designation was reused.

This is obviously not a later model.

I love these early Merckx models and Professionals like the nice one BBM has really wind my binder.

This one is way out of my range, but it would be fun to see her in person.

It will be fun to watch this sale really fetch some serious coinage.

Tires look rotten. Font on the panto stem looks oddly inconsistent with font on the DT.

I'm not a Merckxophile, but that bike was obviously a special build for a trade show or vip. Or maybe somebody's "pimp project". All the anodized parts have been stripped and very well polished. The rear der looks like an NR or early SR that has been de-anodized and is wearing a later SR jocky cage. Very nicely turned out ride. Somewhere between '82-'84 in my eyes.

I quite agree it's a cool bike. I saw a similar chrome-lugged Merckx for sale at Cirque once, though not nearly as pristine. Yet the script-logo calipers surely have to be post-'82, even for a show bike?

Tires look rotten. Font on the panto stem looks oddly inconsistent with font on the DT.

I haven't given that much thought, but I have a similar Merckx panto'd stem downstairs so I'll take a look.

I love the gold outlines on the Merckx lettering on the down tube.

My Corsa and Century have this, and they positively glisten when the sunlight hits them.

This one worth every penny.

Even the RD adjustment bolts have been chromed, in addition to the stripped anodizing. Without documentation of it being a showbike - as the seller claims - I must admit that I'm skeptical. That SR cage on the NR RD gets me in particular, along with the 1987+ jockey wheels. It's all too pad and too perfect.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm quite sure the stainless Rohloff SLT 99 chain is also quite newer than the bike (Speaking of which, shame on them for discontinuing it).

-Kurt

. Font on the panto stem looks oddly inconsistent with font on the DT.

I've got a panto stem with different / matching lettering

Pretty bike. I'd have no qualms about riding it and getting that thing a little dirty

I have a EM Pro that has the same frame details (not finish) except for under the BB cable run. Mine is a transition year and has the plug in plastic Vitus guide. I believe that mine is an 83/84 so this bike with above BB guides seems correct at 82/83.

Btw, this is the seller that also brought us the $787 quilted Unicanitor (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/360420314003).

Stefan's bikes are almost always something special - for Pete's sake, he owns more of my drillium than anyone in the world!

(Way to toot your own horn, Drillium Dude) :)

DD

Very nice indeed. IMO, the panto stem appears to be the newer style lettering and from 84 or newer era?

I volunteer to ride it in the first cyclocross race this fall.

I'd ride the **** out of it.

Pretty colonel, real pretty.

Very pretty. Should have chromed the stem.

The rear derailer looks like it's chromed, not just stripped and polished.

The rear derailer looks like it's chromed, not just stripped and polished.

Actually looking again, I would say most of those parts have probably been chrome plated after being stripped and polished.

I'd bid, but it needs tires, and I think that's just a deal breaker.

I have a EM Pro that has the same frame details (not finish) except for under the BB cable run. Mine is a transition year and has the plug in plastic Vitus guide. I believe that mine is an 83/84 so this bike with above BB guides seems correct at 82/83.

At first I thought that it was later than an 82 because of the fork crown but then the bottom bracket and over the bb cable routing and chainstay bridge, it could very well be 82.