1985 Eddy Merckx Corsa, Faema colors
10-31-11, 11:43 AM
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1985 Eddy Merckx Corsa, Faema colors
I joined up here to research this bike that fell into my lap. It was bought by the father of a colleage at work who owned really was the sole owner. When he passed, the son got the bike but did not ride it. I bought it from him with the intent of keeping it as art. The bike is too big for me, but it was immediately obvious it was cool bit, so I figured I'd just hang on to it. Unfortunately, all the research has introduced me to the incredible world of older steel bikes, and now I am going to have to get one that I can ride. But I don't think I will find one quite like this:
1985 Eddy Merckx Corsa, confirmed by Gita. Sold by Nestor Gernay in Savannah. Faema paint with EM pictures; interestingly slightly different pictures than at least 2 others I have seen while doing research. It's a true time machine: other than dry rotted Cyclepro tubulars and a horrible replacment seat, the bike is virtually as-sold. The bars were covered by hideous foam Spenco covers, but the underlying black bar tape was still there. The Mavic rims still have grey anodization on the brake surfaces, and I think the brake pads are original as well. Full campy, which Mr. Gernay says is Super Record (I honestly don't know for sure). I don't think the cables have ever been changed.
I dropped the wheels off for the new tires to be mounted and the shop owner went nuts looking at the hubs. I wish we had never gone away from loose bearings!
The white paint is a very pretty pearl, but it does have a fair bit of scratches and imperfections. But there is no way I would repaint it.
More interesting to me is the geometry. Despite being fan of Eddy Merckx, I have never been one that would fit his frames. I have long legs and a short trunk, just the opposite of his typical frame setup (long TTs for size). But I pull a 59.5 c TT with a seat tube of 64. I wonder if the geometry is custom? The owner does not know. (I updated those numbers. That's spot on, both c-c)
Just curious what folks think of this?
And anyone have a 55 cc TT Colnago Master languishing in their garage?
1985 Eddy Merckx Corsa, confirmed by Gita. Sold by Nestor Gernay in Savannah. Faema paint with EM pictures; interestingly slightly different pictures than at least 2 others I have seen while doing research. It's a true time machine: other than dry rotted Cyclepro tubulars and a horrible replacment seat, the bike is virtually as-sold. The bars were covered by hideous foam Spenco covers, but the underlying black bar tape was still there. The Mavic rims still have grey anodization on the brake surfaces, and I think the brake pads are original as well. Full campy, which Mr. Gernay says is Super Record (I honestly don't know for sure). I don't think the cables have ever been changed.
I dropped the wheels off for the new tires to be mounted and the shop owner went nuts looking at the hubs. I wish we had never gone away from loose bearings!
The white paint is a very pretty pearl, but it does have a fair bit of scratches and imperfections. But there is no way I would repaint it.
More interesting to me is the geometry. Despite being fan of Eddy Merckx, I have never been one that would fit his frames. I have long legs and a short trunk, just the opposite of his typical frame setup (long TTs for size). But I pull a 59.5 c TT with a seat tube of 64. I wonder if the geometry is custom? The owner does not know. (I updated those numbers. That's spot on, both c-c)
Just curious what folks think of this?
And anyone have a 55 cc TT Colnago Master languishing in their garage?
Last edited by J. Salmon; 10-31-11 at 05:58 PM. Reason: Fixing size details
10-31-11, 12:00 PM
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OldSchool
All I can say is you've got a lot of nerve, showing up like this, on just your second post. Well done!
10-31-11, 12:31 PM
#6
Senior Member
My understanding is that Merckx offered a few types of geometries, including "century" geometry. My two Merckx bikes are 62 seat tubes with just over 58 top tubes. So my experience is the opposite of what the OP describes regarding long top tubes for the size. So don't give up hope on finding a Merckx that fits!
Beautiful bike by the way. Always like the Faema color scheme. Looks like Super Record.
Beautiful bike by the way. Always like the Faema color scheme. Looks like Super Record.
10-31-11, 01:00 PM
#7
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I'd say that it would last a day on your local Craigslist at $1200 so aim for $1350 and see what happens. You could try posting in the main forum's "The frame doesn't fit pass-around game" stickied thread, someone may have a 55cm frame that they would trade you for that Merckx.
10-31-11, 04:49 PM
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Constant tinkerer
10-31-11, 04:59 PM
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Very nice indeed.
11-13-11, 09:40 PM
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Continuing the cleanup
The more I sort it, the better it seems to look. So the paint is certainly not perfect, but I don't intend to touch it up at all. The parts though, are perfect. Honestly, it seems better than NOS; a smidge of patina so that you know its old, but essentially unused. The original owner supposedly rode the bike quite a bit, but obviously the definition of "quite a bit" varies. The chain shows zero stretch. The brake shoes appear near to unused.
Under the horrible Spenco foam grips was a bit of the original black grip tape, so I replaced it with like color. I found some images with red housing, so I found some that matches the frame spot on. I had new Vittoria tubies mounted, and I have a white Selle Italia Turbo on the way. It wasn't the seat that came on the bike, but I could certainly imagine someone mounting one up back in the day. Once it shows up I can take it for a bit of a test ride and see what's what.
Under the horrible Spenco foam grips was a bit of the original black grip tape, so I replaced it with like color. I found some images with red housing, so I found some that matches the frame spot on. I had new Vittoria tubies mounted, and I have a white Selle Italia Turbo on the way. It wasn't the seat that came on the bike, but I could certainly imagine someone mounting one up back in the day. Once it shows up I can take it for a bit of a test ride and see what's what.
09-27-19, 02:14 AM
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sorry: this is EM (Professional) late version (without chain bridge) from 1984 from the modified Team Issue series. The serial number is too early for Corsa (which should have chain bridge and lugs with cut-outs). A beautiful bike...
09-27-19, 05:58 AM
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Beautiful bike, location matters when selling on CL. That bike would not likely sell at $1200 on my local CLl which is a mid sized city in the midwest.
Also I am not really up on Merckx prices--and they are obviously desirable bikes--but $1200-$1350 seems high to me particularly given that the market for vintage bikes is softening up.
Also I am not really up on Merckx prices--and they are obviously desirable bikes--but $1200-$1350 seems high to me particularly given that the market for vintage bikes is softening up.
09-27-19, 06:26 AM
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The OP hasn’t been active in almost 8 years.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
09-28-19, 03:43 PM
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Gorgeous bicycle!
09-28-19, 04:05 PM
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