Help with a Colnago Super
03-31-09, 03:59 AM
#1
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Help with a Colnago Super
Hi there,
been going through lots of threads, and its really confusing me.
I bought an old colnago super (i think) from the classifieds.
I am now trying to identify it.
The previous owner had already re-sprayed it to a horrible red with black on the lugs. And he had no recollection of the original color scheme.
I proceeded to strip all the paint. No chrome whatsoever underneath.
But at the BB, i found a serial number under all the paint.
C800852
and at the rear drop, Colnago G11
Similarly marked on the fork on the steerer tube, and you can just barely make out the columbus dove.
2 top tube braze-ons for the brakes.
1 h20 on the downtube.
pics to follow.
been going through lots of threads, and its really confusing me.
I bought an old colnago super (i think) from the classifieds.
I am now trying to identify it.
The previous owner had already re-sprayed it to a horrible red with black on the lugs. And he had no recollection of the original color scheme.
I proceeded to strip all the paint. No chrome whatsoever underneath.
But at the BB, i found a serial number under all the paint.
C800852
and at the rear drop, Colnago G11
Similarly marked on the fork on the steerer tube, and you can just barely make out the columbus dove.
2 top tube braze-ons for the brakes.
1 h20 on the downtube.
pics to follow.
03-31-09, 04:14 AM
#2
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There's not such thing as a meaningful Colnago serial number scheme from that era. It's tempting to believe in the case of that bike that the number on the BB points to 1980, but I think based on the visible details (and assuming under-the-BB cable routing and braze-on front D) the bike is just bit later: 1981-82.
03-31-09, 04:25 AM
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hi, thanks for responding. So the serial numbers don't mean anything huh.
forgot to mention, there isn't a braze on front D. its just a plain seat tube. Requires a clamp on front D.
I thought it would be a early 80s model, so i checked up bulgier.net and came up with this.
any idea why no chrome on my example? Could it be a add-on then?
forgot to mention, there isn't a braze on front D. its just a plain seat tube. Requires a clamp on front D.
I thought it would be a early 80s model, so i checked up bulgier.net and came up with this.
any idea why no chrome on my example? Could it be a add-on then?
03-31-09, 04:35 AM
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Let's just say no one's ever been able to make head or tails out of the numbers on Colnagos until later in that decade, and plenty of people have tried. The number on the BB of yours could have been placed there by a subcontractor. I would bet your Colnago is from the same period as the one in that bulgier catalog. I also owned one from that same period myself (maybe it didn't have the derailleur braze-on, I can't recall). Sometimes the presence or absence of chrome is meaningful on Colnagos, other times not. Colnago was selling a lot of bikes at that time, and some don't fit the mold. Mine had a chrome fork.
03-31-09, 07:57 AM
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Marc5
can you post a photo of the chainstay bridge on your bike?
but based on the photo's above I'd say it's an 1981 frame
due to brake cable guides on top of top tube, and Colnago engraved in chainstays.
In 1982 Colnago changed the cable guides to the bottom of the top tube.
(info courtesy CR list).
Marty
can you post a photo of the chainstay bridge on your bike?
but based on the photo's above I'd say it's an 1981 frame
due to brake cable guides on top of top tube, and Colnago engraved in chainstays.
In 1982 Colnago changed the cable guides to the bottom of the top tube.
(info courtesy CR list).
Marty
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03-31-09, 08:23 AM
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I have the Colnago dating guide saved from the CR list, but it is too long to post here or to PM. Send my your email and I'll forward it to you.
03-31-09, 08:27 AM
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I'm trying ot date one as well and as far as I can tell mines a 1980 model. Yours seems to newer than mine.
If you could post a picture of the rear brake bridge and the chainstay bridge by the BB it would be helpfull.
If you could post a picture of the rear brake bridge and the chainstay bridge by the BB it would be helpfull.
03-31-09, 08:33 AM
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OFG..Ihope you dont mind:
from the folks at CR:
Lugs:
1969: Cutouts in all 3 lugs, all clubs are the same size. Note however that
one experienced member recalls differently "I've never seen a Super with
cutouts all the same size. That would be physically impossible anyway,
based on the sizes of the lug tangs."
1970: Cutouts in all 3 lugs, but club in bottom head lug is now larger than
the other lugs.
1971: Cutouts in all 3 lugs, but club in bottom head lug is now larger than
the other lugs.
1972: 3 lugs cutout, all same size.
1973: 3 lugs cutout, all same size. There is general consensus on this too
but note again that an experienced member believes the single cut-out came
earlier; may have been as early as 1972.
1974: Cutout in bottom headlug only.
1975: Cutout in bottom headlug only.
General comments: the "fluffier/bulbous" club cutouts appear on the earlier
bikes. The smaller/leaner cutouts began to show up, give or take, sometime
after 1975.
Fork Crown:
1969: Two holes in each side of crown, crown itself is a sand cast type
crown. Some may also have Vagner forged crown, two holes in sides.
1970: First use of investment cast semi-sloping crown, two holes in each
side.
1971: IC crown, two holes in each side of crown
1972: IC crown, two holes in sides and club in top of each side of crown for
the first time.
1973: IC crown, club on top of each side of crown.
1974: IC crown, club in top of each side of crown.
1975: IC crown, club and "COLNAGO" on top of each side of crown. There were
numerous contributions supporting this but again, a experienced member took
the time to write "this is too early for the *Colnago* in the crown. I
think that came in by 1977 or so. The first generation Mexico's had no
"Colnago" in the crown, and their first year was 1975...earliest possible
year for the Colnago stamp in the crown would be 1976, but I'm betting it
was later than that.
Fork Tangs:
1969: Fork tangs are blank.
1970: Fork tang can be blank and a wide tang as opposed to the typical
narrower ones.
1971: Often blank narrow tangs.
1972: Narrow tangs with two holes, upper hole larger than lower hole.
1973: Some narrow tangs with two holes but now usually with club in them.
1974: Tangs with clubs.
1975: Tangs with clubs
Seat Stay Caps:
Years??: Plain fluted, ??" length
Years??: Plain fluted, ??" length (I think the length changed)
Years:??: Fluted with "COLNAGO" cast along the flute length.
Rear Brake Bridge:
Years??: Round tube w/brazed on washer (facing the brake caliper),
reinforced at seat stays, for nutted brake bolts.
Years??: Round with square/cube area that accepts recessed brake bolt, (did
this have a club in the top?).
Bottom Bracket:
1969: Circular drilled holes pattern in BB shell.
1970: Club cutout in BB shell.
1972: Club cutout in BB shell.
1973: Club cutout in BB shell.
1974: Club cutout in BB shell.
1975: Club cutout in BB shell.
Drop-out's:
1974/75: Sometime between '74 & '75 there should be a change from long
Campag drop-outs to the shorter ones.
Braze On's:
197? & earlier: none except chain stay derailleur cable stop
197? - 197?: Above plus over BB cable guides
197? - 197?: Above plus shift lever mounts
197? - 197?: Above plus one set DT water bottle mounts
19?? - 19??: Above plus ST water bottle mounts
1976/77: Above plus first appearance of two TT brake cable guides (note that
the "Colnago" cast into the fork crowns definitely happened before the
addition of TT brake cable braze-ons).
Decals:
1968/69: The playing-card-style decals appeared on frames imported to North
America in 1968 or 1969.
1969: Playing card graphics.
1970: Playing card decals?
1971: Playing card graphics?
1972: Graphics change, now just Colnago on DT and first appearance of head
decal just a club with Colnago underneath.
1973: First appearance of "wreath" decal on seat tube, between the bands.
1975: Another graphics change?
1977/78: Another graphics change?
Chrome:
Generally the Colnago crowns are chromed.
General comments: Sometimes the dropouts are chromed on these early bikes.
This varies. Head-lugs were chromed sometimes also, nearly always on show
bikes..but not confined to them.
Known Original Standard Colors:
1972/73: Turquoise/baby blue
Early/mid 70's: Candy green, candy red, candy blue, Molteni orange, yellow,
mauve metallic, black, silver, white, pearl white, electric blue,
salmon-metallic (similar to Cinelli Rose, but lighter), light purple
metallic.
General comments: some wrote to advise you could get a Colnago painted
nearly any color you can imagine.
Known variations:
With Colnago in the earlier years there are a few slight variations
possible, mainly in the fork tangs. One list member has a '74 with no fork
tangs at all. He also had a '74 that had a club in the
bottom headlug and the SEAT lug only, none in top headlug (he suspects a
stray leftover cutout seat lug). Another member also knows of an original
'72 track bike with road blades in a Vagner crown and no chrome. Finally
two list members have/had ~1975 frames where the crowns were painted, not
chromed.
Mexico notes:
Early first-generation Mexico's looked just like older Supers, except for
the thinner tubing.
from the folks at CR:
Lugs:
1969: Cutouts in all 3 lugs, all clubs are the same size. Note however that
one experienced member recalls differently "I've never seen a Super with
cutouts all the same size. That would be physically impossible anyway,
based on the sizes of the lug tangs."
1970: Cutouts in all 3 lugs, but club in bottom head lug is now larger than
the other lugs.
1971: Cutouts in all 3 lugs, but club in bottom head lug is now larger than
the other lugs.
1972: 3 lugs cutout, all same size.
1973: 3 lugs cutout, all same size. There is general consensus on this too
but note again that an experienced member believes the single cut-out came
earlier; may have been as early as 1972.
1974: Cutout in bottom headlug only.
1975: Cutout in bottom headlug only.
General comments: the "fluffier/bulbous" club cutouts appear on the earlier
bikes. The smaller/leaner cutouts began to show up, give or take, sometime
after 1975.
Fork Crown:
1969: Two holes in each side of crown, crown itself is a sand cast type
crown. Some may also have Vagner forged crown, two holes in sides.
1970: First use of investment cast semi-sloping crown, two holes in each
side.
1971: IC crown, two holes in each side of crown
1972: IC crown, two holes in sides and club in top of each side of crown for
the first time.
1973: IC crown, club on top of each side of crown.
1974: IC crown, club in top of each side of crown.
1975: IC crown, club and "COLNAGO" on top of each side of crown. There were
numerous contributions supporting this but again, a experienced member took
the time to write "this is too early for the *Colnago* in the crown. I
think that came in by 1977 or so. The first generation Mexico's had no
"Colnago" in the crown, and their first year was 1975...earliest possible
year for the Colnago stamp in the crown would be 1976, but I'm betting it
was later than that.
Fork Tangs:
1969: Fork tangs are blank.
1970: Fork tang can be blank and a wide tang as opposed to the typical
narrower ones.
1971: Often blank narrow tangs.
1972: Narrow tangs with two holes, upper hole larger than lower hole.
1973: Some narrow tangs with two holes but now usually with club in them.
1974: Tangs with clubs.
1975: Tangs with clubs
Seat Stay Caps:
Years??: Plain fluted, ??" length
Years??: Plain fluted, ??" length (I think the length changed)
Years:??: Fluted with "COLNAGO" cast along the flute length.
Rear Brake Bridge:
Years??: Round tube w/brazed on washer (facing the brake caliper),
reinforced at seat stays, for nutted brake bolts.
Years??: Round with square/cube area that accepts recessed brake bolt, (did
this have a club in the top?).
Bottom Bracket:
1969: Circular drilled holes pattern in BB shell.
1970: Club cutout in BB shell.
1972: Club cutout in BB shell.
1973: Club cutout in BB shell.
1974: Club cutout in BB shell.
1975: Club cutout in BB shell.
Drop-out's:
1974/75: Sometime between '74 & '75 there should be a change from long
Campag drop-outs to the shorter ones.
Braze On's:
197? & earlier: none except chain stay derailleur cable stop
197? - 197?: Above plus over BB cable guides
197? - 197?: Above plus shift lever mounts
197? - 197?: Above plus one set DT water bottle mounts
19?? - 19??: Above plus ST water bottle mounts
1976/77: Above plus first appearance of two TT brake cable guides (note that
the "Colnago" cast into the fork crowns definitely happened before the
addition of TT brake cable braze-ons).
Decals:
1968/69: The playing-card-style decals appeared on frames imported to North
America in 1968 or 1969.
1969: Playing card graphics.
1970: Playing card decals?
1971: Playing card graphics?
1972: Graphics change, now just Colnago on DT and first appearance of head
decal just a club with Colnago underneath.
1973: First appearance of "wreath" decal on seat tube, between the bands.
1975: Another graphics change?
1977/78: Another graphics change?
Chrome:
Generally the Colnago crowns are chromed.
General comments: Sometimes the dropouts are chromed on these early bikes.
This varies. Head-lugs were chromed sometimes also, nearly always on show
bikes..but not confined to them.
Known Original Standard Colors:
1972/73: Turquoise/baby blue
Early/mid 70's: Candy green, candy red, candy blue, Molteni orange, yellow,
mauve metallic, black, silver, white, pearl white, electric blue,
salmon-metallic (similar to Cinelli Rose, but lighter), light purple
metallic.
General comments: some wrote to advise you could get a Colnago painted
nearly any color you can imagine.
Known variations:
With Colnago in the earlier years there are a few slight variations
possible, mainly in the fork tangs. One list member has a '74 with no fork
tangs at all. He also had a '74 that had a club in the
bottom headlug and the SEAT lug only, none in top headlug (he suspects a
stray leftover cutout seat lug). Another member also knows of an original
'72 track bike with road blades in a Vagner crown and no chrome. Finally
two list members have/had ~1975 frames where the crowns were painted, not
chromed.
Mexico notes:
Early first-generation Mexico's looked just like older Supers, except for
the thinner tubing.
03-31-09, 08:50 AM
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I came across both in the question section of an ebay ad. apparently, once an auction closes the questions disappear.
03-31-09, 08:51 AM
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Part 2: credit goes to Chuck Schmidt for putting this together.
COLNAGO DATING
To the subject of clubs on decals and clubs cut into lugs...
Ernesto Colnago has stated that the inspiration for changing his logo
to the Ace of Clubs was the result of Michele Dancelli winning the
'70 Milano-San Remo for Molteni while riding a Colnago. "La
Primavera" (the spring) is the nickname for Milan-San Remo and the
Ace of Clubs represents the spring flowers.
Steven Maasland previously elaborated about the club/flower tie in:
"The 'asso di fiore' is correctly translated as 'ace of clubs',
however there is also a double entendre in Italian that is lost here
as 'Fiore' is also 'flower', the symbol of the San Remo area. After
the San Remo race win, Colnago spoke to the very well-known Italian
sports reporter, Bruno Raschi, who was preparing his race report.
He came up with the saying that the 'in fiore' bike won the race.
This was a play on the fact that the race known for the 'riviera dei
fiori' (flower coast) as well as 'in fiore' (flowering or blooming).
That particular race win was very important for Italian cycling
because it was the first San Remo race won by an Italian in many
years, hence the 'flowering' part in the 'flower' race."
Okay, so that would explain the "playing card" club logo decals used
later in 1970, but what about Colnagos built before that date with
the same club shape cut in the lugs?
It has been mentioned before that the club cut in the lugs of the
Colnago Super was a tribute to Gloria where Ernesto Colnago first
apprenticed at 13 years of age and worked for almost a decade.
Gloria used a large lily at the sides of the lugs and bottom bracket;
the three petals of the club echo the three petals of the lily.
Here's the latest version of the frame dating (some dates plus or
minus a year):
=====================================
Colnago Super Frame Dating (10.14.07)
=====================================
1968 -- First Super(?)
1968 -- Fork crown (sand cast) with two holes in each side
1968 -- Fork tangs wide, no cutouts
1968 -- Club cutouts in all three lugs
1968 -- Bottom bracket shell with drilled holes (eight in circle plus
one in center)
----
1970 -- Fork crown (investment cast semi-sloping) with two holes in
each side
1970 -- "Playing card" club decal graphics (inspired by 1970 Milano-
San Remo victory)
----
1971 -- Fork crown with clubs in top and two holes in each side
1971 -- Fork tangs narrow, no cutouts (or rarely no tangs)
1971 -- Club cutouts in all three lugs but club in lower head lug is
now larger
1971 -- Bottom bracket shell with club cutout
----
1972 -- Club/COLNAGO decal on head tube/seat tube (two seat tube
Worlds bands) and COLNAGO on down tube
1972 -- Fork tangs with two holes (or very rarely three holes tangs
or no tangs)
1972 -- Cable guide braze-ons top of bottom bracket shell
1972 -- Water bottle braze-ons on downtube
----
1973 -- Wreath seat tube decal with Worlds band at top and bottom
1973 -- Fork crown with clubs on top but no holes in each side
1973 -- Fork tangs with club cutouts (or rarely two hole tangs or no
tangs)
1973 -- Club cutout in lower head lug only
----
1974 -- Shifter braze-ons on down tube (option before this)
----
1975 -- Vertical COLNAGO seat tube decal with diagonal Worlds band at
top
----
1976 -- Fork crown with COLNAGO added to clubs on top
1976 -- Short Campagnolo or COLNAGO dropouts
----
1977 -- Top tube cable guide braze-ons (option before this)
----
1978 -- Fork crown for recessed brake bolt with shallow triangles cut
into back
1978 -- Brake bridge for recessed brake bolt
----
1980 -- Fluted seat stay caps engraved COLNAGO and straight seat
stays (no longer biconical)
1980 -- Brake bridge with cast square boss for recessed brake bolt
----
1981 -- Chain stay bridge is small spool shape (no longer tube)
----
1982 -- Chain stays stamped COLNAGO on sides
1982 -- Cable routing on underside of bottom bracket
----
1983 -- Aerodynamic fork crown
NOTE:
Dates are plus or minus one year; changes in frame details might have
occurred the end of one year or the beginning of the next for example
or may have been offered as an option before becoming standard.
Paint schemes, panels, decals and chrome varied according to how
importers spec'd their frames, so this all varied considerably and
there are lots of anomalies. ALL CORRECTIONS WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED!
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena
California
USA
To the subject of clubs on decals and clubs cut into lugs...
Ernesto Colnago has stated that the inspiration for changing his logo
to the Ace of Clubs was the result of Michele Dancelli winning the
'70 Milano-San Remo for Molteni while riding a Colnago. "La
Primavera" (the spring) is the nickname for Milan-San Remo and the
Ace of Clubs represents the spring flowers.
Steven Maasland previously elaborated about the club/flower tie in:
"The 'asso di fiore' is correctly translated as 'ace of clubs',
however there is also a double entendre in Italian that is lost here
as 'Fiore' is also 'flower', the symbol of the San Remo area. After
the San Remo race win, Colnago spoke to the very well-known Italian
sports reporter, Bruno Raschi, who was preparing his race report.
He came up with the saying that the 'in fiore' bike won the race.
This was a play on the fact that the race known for the 'riviera dei
fiori' (flower coast) as well as 'in fiore' (flowering or blooming).
That particular race win was very important for Italian cycling
because it was the first San Remo race won by an Italian in many
years, hence the 'flowering' part in the 'flower' race."
Okay, so that would explain the "playing card" club logo decals used
later in 1970, but what about Colnagos built before that date with
the same club shape cut in the lugs?
It has been mentioned before that the club cut in the lugs of the
Colnago Super was a tribute to Gloria where Ernesto Colnago first
apprenticed at 13 years of age and worked for almost a decade.
Gloria used a large lily at the sides of the lugs and bottom bracket;
the three petals of the club echo the three petals of the lily.
Here's the latest version of the frame dating (some dates plus or
minus a year):
=====================================
Colnago Super Frame Dating (10.14.07)
=====================================
1968 -- First Super(?)
1968 -- Fork crown (sand cast) with two holes in each side
1968 -- Fork tangs wide, no cutouts
1968 -- Club cutouts in all three lugs
1968 -- Bottom bracket shell with drilled holes (eight in circle plus
one in center)
----
1970 -- Fork crown (investment cast semi-sloping) with two holes in
each side
1970 -- "Playing card" club decal graphics (inspired by 1970 Milano-
San Remo victory)
----
1971 -- Fork crown with clubs in top and two holes in each side
1971 -- Fork tangs narrow, no cutouts (or rarely no tangs)
1971 -- Club cutouts in all three lugs but club in lower head lug is
now larger
1971 -- Bottom bracket shell with club cutout
----
1972 -- Club/COLNAGO decal on head tube/seat tube (two seat tube
Worlds bands) and COLNAGO on down tube
1972 -- Fork tangs with two holes (or very rarely three holes tangs
or no tangs)
1972 -- Cable guide braze-ons top of bottom bracket shell
1972 -- Water bottle braze-ons on downtube
----
1973 -- Wreath seat tube decal with Worlds band at top and bottom
1973 -- Fork crown with clubs on top but no holes in each side
1973 -- Fork tangs with club cutouts (or rarely two hole tangs or no
tangs)
1973 -- Club cutout in lower head lug only
----
1974 -- Shifter braze-ons on down tube (option before this)
----
1975 -- Vertical COLNAGO seat tube decal with diagonal Worlds band at
top
----
1976 -- Fork crown with COLNAGO added to clubs on top
1976 -- Short Campagnolo or COLNAGO dropouts
----
1977 -- Top tube cable guide braze-ons (option before this)
----
1978 -- Fork crown for recessed brake bolt with shallow triangles cut
into back
1978 -- Brake bridge for recessed brake bolt
----
1980 -- Fluted seat stay caps engraved COLNAGO and straight seat
stays (no longer biconical)
1980 -- Brake bridge with cast square boss for recessed brake bolt
----
1981 -- Chain stay bridge is small spool shape (no longer tube)
----
1982 -- Chain stays stamped COLNAGO on sides
1982 -- Cable routing on underside of bottom bracket
----
1983 -- Aerodynamic fork crown
NOTE:
Dates are plus or minus one year; changes in frame details might have
occurred the end of one year or the beginning of the next for example
or may have been offered as an option before becoming standard.
Paint schemes, panels, decals and chrome varied according to how
importers spec'd their frames, so this all varied considerably and
there are lots of anomalies. ALL CORRECTIONS WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED!
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena
California
USA
03-31-09, 09:26 AM
#15
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lancaster County, PA
Posts: 5,045
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
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Marc5
can you post a photo of the chainstay bridge on your bike?
but based on the photo's above I'd say it's an 1981 frame
due to brake cable guides on top of top tube, and Colnago engraved in chainstays.
In 1982 Colnago changed the cable guides to the bottom of the top tube.
(info courtesy CR list).
Marty
can you post a photo of the chainstay bridge on your bike?
but based on the photo's above I'd say it's an 1981 frame
due to brake cable guides on top of top tube, and Colnago engraved in chainstays.
In 1982 Colnago changed the cable guides to the bottom of the top tube.
(info courtesy CR list).
Marty
As Chuck says (and as a lot of folks fail to read), the Super timeline is plus or minus a year, and it's also tentative. But I think given what we do know, my initial guess was right on target: 1981-82.
03-31-09, 09:28 AM
#16
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The shorter guide was probably Eric Elman's; it's more tentative than Chuck's, which was an attempt to improve on it. It's still posted at 43bikes. Post or shoot me some pics of yours and I'll try to help, and I can run it by a couple of other Colnago owners too. There's some disagreement about Chuck's guide among the cognoscenti as well.
03-31-09, 09:49 AM
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well it was cable routing wasn't it??? ha.
least I got that right, way to early to be trying to sound like I know what
I'm talking about.
Marty
least I got that right, way to early to be trying to sound like I know what
I'm talking about.
Marty
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03-31-09, 12:07 PM
#19
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Marc5
can you post a photo of the chainstay bridge on your bike?
but based on the photo's above I'd say it's an 1981 frame
due to brake cable guides on top of top tube, and Colnago engraved in chainstays.
In 1982 Colnago changed the cable guides to the bottom of the top tube.
(info courtesy CR list).
Marty
can you post a photo of the chainstay bridge on your bike?
but based on the photo's above I'd say it's an 1981 frame
due to brake cable guides on top of top tube, and Colnago engraved in chainstays.
In 1982 Colnago changed the cable guides to the bottom of the top tube.
(info courtesy CR list).
Marty
The very early 'Saronni' type Supers (early '80 and later...) had no chrome on the main frame or stays, just a full chrome fork. from about '82 on, the right side chain stay was chromed, then later both sides...
But that was also 'variable'. That was about the time when most of Italy was considered Colnago 'Family' and so deemed OK to help with the production... If it was a steel pipe and wasn;t destined for a FIAT plant, the Colnago folks had 1st dibs on it...
That fork crown also speaks of '80-81 models. much later and the flatter fork crowns made way for the 'lighter' appearing semi-sloping crown which followed the fork tube contours... I have a pic somewhere of that...
I would say that the cable guide position was variable, dependin on which 'cousin' was wielding the torch... I have one (master) and have seen plenty of Colnagos, mixed models, all the way into the mid 80's (86) with the 2 cable guides run on top.
I know both the east coast and SoCal saw some weird **** with Colnago decals...
03-31-09, 12:12 PM
#20
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That sloping crown starts in about 1983, and is accompanied on most of the bikes I've seen by the flat (rather than fluted) seatstay tops.
03-31-09, 12:12 PM
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I have an 81/82 super that has exactly the same details as yours. It has a full chrome fork, right chainstay and rear dropouts. Your fork was chromed by looking at the steerer tube. It has been stripped by the looks of it, not unusual before a re-paint because the chrome on these bikes is lousy.
vjp
vjp
03-31-09, 12:23 PM
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hi, thanks for responding. So the serial numbers don't mean anything huh.
forgot to mention, there isn't a braze on front D. its just a plain seat tube. Requires a clamp on front D.
I thought it would be a early 80s model, so i checked up bulgier.net and came up with this.
any idea why no chrome on my example? Could it be a add-on then?
forgot to mention, there isn't a braze on front D. its just a plain seat tube. Requires a clamp on front D.
I thought it would be a early 80s model, so i checked up bulgier.net and came up with this.
any idea why no chrome on my example? Could it be a add-on then?
your chainstay bridge - just like my very early '80...
mine also has no chrome, except for full chrome fork
if you want to see what 'Saronni Red' looks like, at least after aging for 29 years, lemme know
man, they had crappy paint jobs back in those years... surprisingly though, things didn't rust as badly as Reynolds 531 frames do. Must be something in the Columbus tube composition, or maybe just my sweat...
interesting...
from the guide posted above...
"1980 -- Fluted seat stay caps engraved COLNAGO and straight seat
stays (no longer biconical)
1980 -- Brake bridge with cast square boss for recessed brake bolt
----
1981 -- Chain stay bridge is small spool shape (no longer tube)
----
1982 -- Chain stays stamped COLNAGO on sides
1982 -- Cable routing on underside of bottom bracket"
mine, (bought new by me in mid-80 direct from distributor...)
has: biconical fluted seatstays engraved Colnago..., Brake Bridge with square boss, spool shaped chain bridge... >cable routing UNDER the BB<...
plain chainstays with 'chrome' film over the right chain stay...
like I said, there was no real set 'model' spec. just what they had on-hand at the moment the torch was lit.
Last edited by cyclezen; 03-31-09 at 12:40 PM.
03-31-09, 12:29 PM
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Ask and you shall receive:
(I apologize for the dirtyness and Shimano components. I picked it up Saturday afternoon and haven't touched it yet.)
03-31-09, 12:30 PM
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OK, but now you're contradicting yourself - you said in your pervious post that the flatter crown "speaks of '80-81 models," and now you want to push that all the way to '83. Bulgier gives '81 as the date for that catalog, BTW.
03-31-09, 12:36 PM
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This bike is an example of why you can't attribute neat, year-end changes to frame details - it doesn't fit the timeline. It's a 'tweener. The absence of "Colnago" in the caps should indicate late 70's according to the timeline, but the block bridge says circa 1980 or later. Lots of these bikes that don't neatly fit the timeline exist - it's easy enough in this case to say 1979-80 and be pretty much on the money, given the coexistence of two details that should be chronologically separated (according to one theory, anyway).