Classic & Vintage - 1960's Legnano Gran Primo

Hi all,
I am restoring an old Legnano Gran Primo and I need help on determine the exact year of production. According to the owner, the bike was sent back to factory for repaint in 1972 so the stickers are authentic but not original. The component are all campy super/nuovo record. The bike is packed with dry oil and dirt after 30+ year in storage. It also rusty but I clean it up nicely. I will post more picture as the build progress.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7817567920_79ca476cd2_b.jpg

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Very nice! Someone here must know which years had that distinctive combination of binder bolt placement and seat stay design. The serial number may help, as would date stamps on any of the original Campagnolo parts, such as axle nuts and rear derailleur.

Uyle,

Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, it is hard to pinpoint the mfgr date of a Legnano. No one it seems kept track and the numbers weren't applied in a uniform manner. That being said, post up the serial number of your bike.

I want to say '68 or '69. Im not positive when they stopped using an actual head badge, and went to the decal, but if it went back for a repainted in '72.....

Cheers,

Joe

Beauty....

The location of the serial number will help date your Legnano. From my experience with Legnanos the 1968 and earlier frames had the serial number stamped at the top of the seat tube. My 1969-70 Legnano had the serial number beneath the bottom bracket. It also had the decal headbadge.

Your Legnano will be a bit more difficult to date since it has been repainted and had components changed. Does it have the threaded boss brazed behind the seat lug to support the center pull brake hangar?

We can see that the seatpost binder bolt is forward of the seat tube which makes it no later than an early 70's model as the seat post binder bolt was moved behind the post in the 70's. I'm disregarding the paint and decal scheme for this post as it could have been 'modernized'. Get back to us with the serial number and location and we'll move forward. Oh, that's a nice looking frame, repaint looks good. More pics, please.

Forgot to mention, check out the Legnano registry http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Legnano/serial_numbers.htm

The serial number is N4202, the letter N is not what usually see in CR chart.
Please see more pictures at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uy_le/

Very nice:thumb:

Thanks all for your advices.
@Retyred: There is no thread boss behind seat post.
One detail: The owner gave me the headbadge that they removed when painting the frame(?)

Thanks all for your advices.
@Retyred: There is no thread boss behind seat post.
One detail: The owner gave me the headbadge that they removed when painting the frame(?)

Ahhhhh. Never mind my guesstimate then.

Joe

There is no thread boss behind seat post.


The information seems to be conflicting to me. The 60's Gran Premio's had chromed lugs. Yours look like those, but look painted over. On the other hand, the 60's GP's used Universal centerpull brakes which required the unique cable hanger which that thread boss behind the seat post was necessary for. The sticker on the head tube says 1970's to me but you say the previous owner gave you the headbadge. The headbadge was last used in 68 or 69. Why would the owner put on a sticker when he had the original headbadge? Are there mounting holes for the original headbadge?

I'm going to guess that this is a mid-1970's bike, mainly because of the missing thread boss. My 1974 Gran Premio still has the boss behind the seatpost even though it came with Universal sidepull which did not require the cable hanger. The brake hanger boss on my bike is not threaded but Legnano still built the frames with them to suit other brakesets. If yours does not have this boss it would seem to indicate a later ommission to the Gran Premio model line.

For what its worth, here's a 60s Premio on Legnano's sales sheet:

The information seems to be conflicting to me. The 60's Gran Premio's had chromed lugs. Yours look like those, but look painted over. On the other hand, the 60's GP's used Universal centerpull brakes which required the unique cable hanger which that thread boss behind the seat post was necessary for. The sticker on the head tube says 1970's to me but you say the previous owner gave you the headbadge. The headbadge was last used in 68 or 69. Why would the owner put on a sticker when he had the original headbadge? Are there mounting holes for the original headbadge?

I'm going to guess that this is a mid-1970's bike, mainly because of the missing thread boss. My 1974 Gran Premio still has the boss behind the seatpost even though it came with Universal sidepull which did not require the cable hanger. The brake hanger boss on my bike is not threaded but Legnano still built the frames with them to suit other brakesets. If yours does not have this boss it would seem to indicate a later ommission to the Gran Premio model line.

It look like having holes filled when they repaint. The fork tube has cuts indicating that someone previuously used wrong, too long srews to attach the headbadge.
I see the seat tube has a small hole, not a threaded boss.

For some unknown reason I can't view your additional Legnano pics. I'm seeing a lot of other pics including ones of Aliso Creek Trail, my favorite and safest local ride. We might be neighbors!

Re your serial number you are missing the letter E or F before the N. As additional info filters in I'm leaning towards an early 60's Legnano, especially after you found a threaded hole between the seat stays at the seat lug.

Hi Retyred,
I am indeed your neighbor if you are in Mission Viejo. I'm in Laguna Hills.
Sorry for the pics. I did change the setting, now everyone can see it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uy_le/sets/72157631146722672/

Great, I can see pics now. Definitely no older than 1961 because of the threaded hole for the CP brake hangar. Serial number looks to be complete as another Legnano on the registry has a shortened serial number. That's a great color, I believe it is one I've seen on newer Legnanos. When you get it reassembled let's do a ride along Aliso Creek.

Since you live in Laguna Hills and my 'bike cave' is there, come on by sometime and see my collection of vintage steel. I'm next door to the Orange County Bicycle garage. Here's a 'teaser' pic.268519

That's quite a collection, "retyred."

That's quite a collection, "retyred."

Yes, eclectic best describes it. The only common denominator is vintage lugged steel, friction shifting, 1950's thru mid 70's. Come on by sometime, coffee's on and beer is cold. :p

Sure I will be there soon!

Yes, eclectic best describes it. The only common denominator is vintage lugged steel, friction shifting, 1950's thru mid 70's. Come on by sometime, coffee's on and beer is cold. :p

Hi Retyred,
Would you please let me know a local shop that can install tubular tire. What is the cost? I love to have tubular on my Legnano but if the cost is too high the I may switch to clincher. my rim now are Mavic GP40.
Thanks
Tien

I just open to check the stamp on front axle nut. It has "camp 9x26".
Can anyone help me identify the year it made?
Thanks

Probably not be the original wheels. If they're GP 40's they're likely not. But the hubs could be. If the Campy hubs are as old as the frame, the lock nuts should have a date code on them...I think.
Do the hub barrels say "Record" on them? or no Record?

Finally, I get my bike back to presentable condition. It took me a month to completely overhaul the bike. I take apart every single nut and bolt to clean and lubricate, including the freewheel. I try to keep everything from the bike so only the tape, hood, cable housing, tires and tube are new. Although the bike was very dirty and rusty, the internal gears in a top condition thanks to the previous owner who keep it well maintained when he still riding it. I was a little bit doubtful when he said he replace the BB with a titanium one (never heard of it), but it is true.

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That's a beauty.