mcunning75

Quick question - is this particular frame and fork worth $300? I simply need a sanity check before I agree.
Thanks so much,
Mark

FastJake

I think so. I'd take a $300 Colnago any day.

As long as it's not fake. I'm no Colnago expert and can't tell much from the one small picture. If you can somehow verify it's real I say go for it.

howsteepisit

Hell yeah!

zukahn1 

I would say yes if it has no Damage issues. It does look to be real it's hard to tell from the photo but I do see what look like all the right panograghs and markings which are pretty hard to fake. I see similar frames selling for $500+ pretty regular on ebay so $300 seem pretty good.

exxongraftek

+1 Use both your eyes and a string or tape measure to be sure the frame is straight.
Should be equal measurement distance between the head tube and the rear dropouts, also from the top of the fork steer tube to the fork dropouts on each side.
Also make sure there is no ridge, dimple or flaking paint underneath either of the head tube lugs where they join the frame tubes.
For $300 I'd buy even if not my size!

jet sanchEz

I saw that listed on CL and thought that the asking price of $450 was reasonable so, yeah, $300 is definitely a great deal.

mcunning75

Thank you all for the feedback. I am now the proud owner of a Colnago frame and fork. See photos. Now the questions is - What should I do with it? I'm looking at this as an investment. Suggestions welcome!

FastJake

You won't make any money building it up into a complete bike if that's what you're asking. Want to make it an investment? Store it in a cool dry place for 50 years and then sell it.

But my real opinion is that you should ride it or re-sell it to someone that will.

OldsCOOL

I would be looking for drivetrain (era) parts as budget allows. Anything you put on that frame as long as it was an issued component you will have a growing investment.

american psycho 

wash it, polish the surface rust off the chrome, wax it, build it up, and ride it.

what's the spacing in the rear? if it's 130 I'd put a Campagnolo 8, 9, 10, or 11 speed group on it.

you could probably make 30-50% return by cleaning it up and putting it on flea-bay, although it looks big for Asia.

you won't get rich flipping bikes.

mcunning75

Thanks! What do you use to polish the chrome? What do you generally use to clean, polish, wax your bikes?
The spacing is 126 mm in the rear. The correct era Campagnolo components are expensive. Not sure I have the budget right now, but over time I certainly could.

FastJake

I just use car stuff, it works really well. Go to an auto parts store and get chrome polish and car wax. It will look amazing when you're done. And the amount of surface area on a bike is so small it doesn't take long to do when you've just got the bare frame/fork.

SJX426 

BTW, it looks a lot like my 1983 Superissimo based on the chrome lugs, seat stay caps and chain bridge. Campy SR group would be the ultimate
[IMG]1983 Colnago Superissimo by [URL="https://www.flickr.com/photos/112094846@N08/"], on Flickr[/IMG]

mcunning75

Wow, thanks! Very similar. Nice looking bike. Great job. So, what do you think it's worth?

SJX426 

It depends on the market and where the market location. I have not looked in the last 5 years as this is a keeper for me. I have replaced a couple of parts like the pedals, post, binder bolt and consumables, so I think I could get my money back but not the time I spent working on it. This is the way it is now but not the way I ride it. I replace the cockpit with longer stem and different bars and typically put SPD's on for rids. I suspect I might be able to get close, if not in, the 4 digit neighborhood. If I were to sell it, I would consider parting it out for the maximum $$, unless a good offer came in.

Keep in mind that these models don't have SN's and determining the vintage to the year, is near impossible. I suspect it is an 83 because of the pat 83 on the RD, which looks original. It may have been a frame set built when it was sold as long as a year after it was in the LBS. Who knows. The features tell the story, however, cable routing, seat stay caps, chrome application, paint scheme, but not much else. Panto is indeterminate indicator, as these frames were not consistent in configurations. I am thinking of the brake bridge embossing. Mine isn't where many others, older and newer, are. Ernesto was interested in selling bikes not tracking feature changes or quantity of which model based on SN's. Note than nearly none of them have model designations. We speculate which model a specific bike is, a Mexico, Super and Superissimo. With decals falling off in the wind of great rides, the history of a specific bike is often lost.

Thanks for the "Wow"! I like this picture of it as it hides many flaws (both patina and abuse scars)!

spudly

I have the same frame: a 1982 (I believe) Superissimo. They are much less common than the ubiquitous Supers and possibly were of somewhat higher quality (better bb?). Can't tell you how it rides because I've never gotten around to building it up.