Classic & Vintage - 1983 components, 1985 bike?

I found an old Bianchi at a garage sale a couple of months ago, and after a few emails, a friendly but anonymous person at Bianchi USA told me it was probably a 1985 Classica. Then I discovered that the date codes on its Shimano components were all from 1983. Does this mean the bike is older, or was it common for parts to sit around for over a year before being used?

(It doesn't matter all that much what model it is -- it was probably entry-level to begin with, and I got it as a utility bike, so it's hardly a matter of collector value -- but I'm curious. The only decals on it are Bianchi logos/badge, a badly faded Piaggio sticker, and one from a bike shop. I can post details and photos if anyone wants to take a shot at ID'ing it.)

I found an old Bianchi at a garage sale a couple of months ago, and after a few emails, a friendly but anonymous person at Bianchi USA told me it was probably a 1985 Classica. Then I discovered that the date codes on its Shimano components were all from 1983. Does this mean the bike is older, or was it common for parts to sit around for over a year before being used?

(It doesn't matter all that much what model it is -- it was probably entry-level to begin with, and I got it as a utility bike, so it's hardly a matter of collector value -- but I'm curious. The only decals on it are Bianchi logos/badge, a badly faded Piaggio sticker, and one from a bike shop. I can post details and photos if anyone wants to take a shot at ID'ing it.)
Maybe you got the wrong answer from Bianchi. Maybe the parts were made in 83 and got stuck on a 85 model. Does it really matter?

"anonymous person at Bianchi USA told me it was probably a 1985 Classica. Then I discovered that the date codes on its Shimano components were all from 1983. Does this mean the bike is older, or was it common for parts to sit around for over a year before being used?"

It was very common for a batch of parts to sit around; big companies like Schwinn (well, they WERE big...), Raleigh, Bianchi, bought Campagnolo parts by the truck load, and parts got re-ordered when stock ran low.

It's also very possible that that the guy at Bianchi got the date off by a year or so.... Afterall, it was 20 some odd years ago.

It can be very difficult to establish the precise vintage of a particular bicycle, although one can generally make a pretty good +/-2 year guess.

I am pretty sure my Capo is a late 1958 or a 1959 model, because I know the serial numbers of several 1960 models, which bore special "30-year anniversary 1930-1960" decals and ornate brazed-on metal trim on the seat stays, rear dropouts, and fork crown. (Mine is a bit plainer looking, although with the same ornate lugwork.) Production, according to Harald Cap, son of company founder **** Cap and current owner of the business, was about 5K units per year, and my serial number is about 5000 lower than those of the 1960 Capos I have seen.

Likewise, I know my Schwinn frame was made in June 1988, because of the F8xxxx serial number, a reversion to the single-letter system Schwinn had used in the early 1960s in its Chicago plant, and which the Greenville MS plant had adopted. Also, Schwinn's top-of-the-line mountain bike had the "Project KOM-10 Team Issue" designation for only two years, 1988 and 1989, when Schwinn was sponsoring Ned Overend's (fabulous name for a mountain bike racer!) mountain bike racing team.

The guy who founded the PX-10 website is the one who told me that the B0xxxx serial number on my Peugeot PKN-10 denoted 1980 production.

My Bianchi was definitely produced in the very early 1980s; I am guessing 1981 because of the M1xxxx serial number, but this is unsubstantiated. The rear derailleur, a Campag. N.R., bears a "Pat 80" stamp.

Sydney asks, "Does it really matter?" No, it really does not, but many of us find establishing the date of manufacture and the true age of the bike to be an interesting dimension of our hobby. The first thing many people ask when they see an antique clock or piece of furniture is, "How old is it?"

The 1984 Bianchi downtube logo had a line protruding from the front of the 'B' and the tail of the 'i', along the longitudinal axis of the logo.

The 1985 Bianchi downtube log had had an emblem in font of the 'B'. My best attempt at a description is that it was shaped like a hockey stick, laying on its side, with the blade next to the 'B' and pointing down. Below the hockey stick was another, thinner line that ran parallel to the shaft of the hockey stick, up to the blade.

As for 1984, we can eliminate that possibility, with a fair degree of confidence. The Classica was spec'd with SunTour, Dia-Compe and SR (not Sugino!) components that year.

The 1985 Bianchi downtube log had had an emblem in font of the 'B'. My best attempt at a description is that it was shaped like a hockey stick, laying on its side, with the blade next to the 'B' and pointing down. Below the hockey stick was another, thinner line that ran parallel to the shaft of the hockey stick, up to the blade. That's what my bike has, so a 1985 it is. Thanks!

There is an interesting interview with Mr. Shimano in the new "Rivendell Reader". There has been a lot of press about a "shortage" of ten speed Ultegra parts. But in reading the interview, a different impression is given. Big bike companies were worried about a POSSIBLE shortage of ten speed Ultegra parts. So, they ordered far more parts than they could use, in hopes that "during a shortage", their "big" order would get them "enough" parts.

Well, Shimano shipped ALL the parts that were ordered, even though that resulted in some parts being shipped long after the normal time for the "new" bikes to be completed and sent to the stores.

If Mr. Shimano is correct about what happened, some bike companies may now have a two or three year supply of some Shimano parts. So, some guy is going to buy a "2007 Trek", and be wondering why the Shimano date codes indicated the parts are three years old.

Maybe you got the wrong answer from Bianchi. Maybe the parts were made in 83 and got stuck on a 85 model. Does it really matter?

Sydney, did you have to practice that condescension, or is it a gift?