w98seeng

I bought a Bianchi today at an auction and I can not find any info on the bike with these parts.

I know the 1051 105 components were only out in 1987 and 1988, so unless the parts are not
original, the bike is from that era. My guess is 1989.
Columbus Cromor frame and fork
Gipiemme dropouts
105 7 Speed Index 1051 grouppo
number on BB - Drive side - 6386 and the other side - 6.W or M.9
Bianchi stem
ITM handlebars

Any help identifying bike would be great.

Thank You,
Ian

w98seeng

The date code on the crank is NA, that is January 1989.

I started cleaning the bike and I haven't seen a greasier bike in a long time.
I guess the grease helps prevent rust as there isn't a speck on it.

Ian

billytwosheds 

Nice find, @w98seeing.

I'm a day away from picking up a Bianchi similar to that. The Columbus tubing and groupset on there are solid, and yes the grease may have helped prevent rust. My 3Rensho project was in a similar situation with mud/grime, and there's little rust underneath it.

There is a scan of the 1987 Bianchi catalog floating around the Interwebs with your bike in it, though a couple years earlier.

I'd check there for details.

w98seeng

Thanks for the response billytwosheds. I saw a picture of a 1989 Brava frame and it's not quite the same.
The top of the seat stays have Bianchi embedded in them and the rear dropouts do not have the little adjustment
screws like mine does. I have also noticed that the brava's come in black.

Thanks again,
Ian

w98seeng

Anyway, a little more info now that I have started to take the bike apart. The BB is a BB53 sealed unit, so I presume
it has been replaced, 70mm and both sides are right hand threads, so the frame is an Italian frame. There some bad
news though.

I guess I will just sell the parts as a group now.

tronnyjenkins 

No fun!
Looks like it's been a mile or two, that's for sure!
Good luck on whatever you decide.

P.s. I'm thinking that's a Campione d'Italia judging by the components and Cromor frame, but I could be wrong. It's also high possible that the parts aren't original...

w98seeng

That was what I was thinking as the Campione D'Italia is the only Bianchi in this time period with the same colors.
The exact colors to be exact, but of course that bike is a mix of Campy, Ofmega and others. As for the parts not
being original, I would like to know why change the whole group to period correct 105?

Can this be welded? I know this question is like opening a bee hive, but asking couldn't hurt. Fine, the frame will no
longer be saleable (good word?), but I can still use it. I have a MIG welder and I figured if I wrapped the vicinity of
the crack with wet towels I could keep the frame cool, just the crack would get hot, but little tacks at a time would
prevent major overheating. Then grind it smooth.

Anyway, before I try anything, I will wait and see if anyone responds.

Ian

ThermionicScott 

You should see if @Catnap is interested in trying to fix it.

tronnyjenkins 

The welding question I cannot answer.

I didn't notice that the components all matched when I answered earlier. I don't know if Columbus tube bikes were ever sold with Japanese components. It could've been sold as a frameset.

w98seeng

I never thought of that. Thanks

As the bike was only worth around $500-$600 when new (maybe?) I will scrap the frame and sell the 105 group separately.

Ian

Catnap 

to repair this frame, a builder would have to replace the head tube and head lugs completely. it's a pretty serious undertaking, and the best solution is probably just to trash it. Cromor is the lowest-level Columbus tubing so it's not like this is a high-end frame anyway. if you're local to NYC i'd be willing to take a shot at fixing it, but i wouldn't bother shipping it to me if you're not local.

w98seeng

I'm in Montreal, so the frame is being tossed.

Thanks,
Ian