billster1

Hey All,

I scored an old Bianchi in a trade and, though I know nothing about such things, I'm really excited about it. It needs some work, but I've never had a decent road bike before, so I thought this would be a perfect project. This guy was going to make it his project, but he never finished it, so it sat under his house for years. The guy basically gave it to me as it didn't really fit him and he said it was the perfect size for me. It was filthy and missing a few parts, but it was basically a whole bike. I gave it a good scrubbing and it cleaned up okay. I don't have pics yet, but I figured I'd start the thread with what I've got so far and then update.

The Celeste paint is really faded and scratched, but I don't really care about that at all. I might touch up to keep the rust out. Campy chrome dropouts. The fork seem to be all chrome painted over in Celeste. It's a got reddish Bianchi logos on the downtube, with a drop shadow in gold. There are no other Bianchi markings on the frame. It's got a "405" and a "ZB" stamped on the seat tube. It's got a "B" engraved and painted red on the fork crowns, seat stay faces, and downtube. Piaggio stickers on seat tube, Made in Italy sticker on the downtube bottom and a ripped up Colombus sticker of blue and gold with a dove on the upper part of the downtube. I can only read Tubi Spec. and the rest is ripped off. Mavic Open Pro rims with a Campy low-flange in the front and a Campy Record in the rear. Suntour Winner cog set. Wheels were built by Steve "Gravy" Gravenites, signed and dated. The tires are Michelin gum/Celeste/black and still hold air. 3TTT engraved "Bianchi" stem. 3TTT bars w/Olympic ring logo. Campy headset. Celeste "Bianchi" logo Impero pump w/Campy umbrella clip. Campy patent downtube shifters. Campy Strada crank with two Campy rings. Campy front changer. Campy Nuovo Record rear changer. No brakes, levers, seatpost, seat or pedals. I scored some old Campy brakes (I hope they fit) and levers, a Campy seatpost with Celeste Bianchi seat (shredded). I also ordered some Celeste bar tape, cable housing, bottle cage and bottle. I've got some MKS pedals to throw on while I look for some Campys for a decent price.

It's no beauty queen, but I think it'll make a great rider. I know it's not a 'grail' Bianchi or anything, but I'm reckon it's worth putting a little dough into and try to keep it original. From trolling the web I'm figuring it's a late 70s or very early 80s mid-range bike. I never saw another dark red/gold Bianchi logo anywhere, so ??? No geometric slashes next to the Bianchi script, either. Anyway, I'm hoping to have my wannabe Super Leggeri together in the next week or two. Any thoughts from the powers that be about this bike would be greatly appreciated. I will post pics very soon. Thanks in advance. Ride on. I only picked this icon because it looks Celeste. I've got the fever.

Otis

Campy drops would put it above midline, probably a Campione d' Italia/Mondo or a Tipo Corsa model from the early 80's. I've seen both of those models with the red/gold decals, and red/gold fills in the pantographed parts. These were the top of the non-Reparto models.

billster1

Thanks very much for the info. I just saw a frame for sale on Ebay that looks just the same, but it's in much better shape and it's got the exact same decals. This is plenty of bike for me. Happy. Will post pics soon. Thanks again.
https://cgi.ebay.com/Bianchi-Campione...ht_7526wt_1141

Bianchigirll 

I can't wait to see pics of your frame. I don't think the frame on ebay is a Campione de Italia. the CdI was not a model then and the decal on the TT does not look like it says CdI. I think it is a Super Leggera

T-Mar

I'm assuming the ZB on the OP's seat lug is actually, a 2.B, which would make it a 1982 model. Regarding the Ebay frame, it clearly has a tretubi decal, so wouldn't it be a Camapione d'Italia or Nuovo racing, depending on the exact year? It also doesn't have the amount of chrome that I would have expected on a Superleggera of the era, though I must admit, the Portacatena dropouts and bridge finshing are higher than I would have expected on a Nuovo or Camapione, so it may be some unique, non-USA model.

Otis

The frame on ebay looks totally correct for a early 80's Campione d' Italia (which was a model then) with the original post and stem. It's definitely not a Super leggera or a Reparto frame. It's tretubi for one thing, and the Reparto bikes from that period always had "Bianchi" engraved in the stay tops, not the "B" in a circle. The CDI was the model between the Reaparto bikes and the Nuovo Racing level bikes. The one on ebay is a very nice example.

Bianchigirll 

OH of course how could I have made such a mistake

billster1

billster1

Should have it together by the weekend! Thanks for all the info. Can't wait to ride it.

roccobike

Good luck with it. Something about Celeste, those bikes look so good.

rothenfield1

That's absolutely delicious

billster1

I can't wait for the first run on it. I live by nice path along the LA River and you can just go and go. No cars allowed. The cogset is so tight compared to any of the mountain bike stuff I ride, I'm sure my thighs are in for a treat when I start to train climbing. Can't wait!

rothenfield1

^^^
If your riding MTB with any consistency, the race gearing shouldn't be that much of an issue. However, if your like me, I find that I need to replace the freewheel with a 28T for climbing long hills.

realestvin7

Awesome! That bike doeasn't look near as bad as I'd expected from reading the description in the original post. Kudos.

billster1

It cleaned up really nicely. I washed the whole thing with lots of warm water and a little mild soap. The really nasty bits I hit with Naphtha and 0000 steel wool, which is in the b.g. of this shot. The fork is pretty scratched up. A couple of people have said I should strip the fork, since it's chrome underneath the paint, but I can't right now. I just want to ride it. I'm never going to sell this one. I'm going to ride it until the wheels fall apart, and Gravy built 'em, so that should be well after I'm dead and gone. ;-)

billster1

billster1

rothenfield1

Cleaned up nice in-deed. Give us a ride report when you can.

Need to adjust that rear brake, if you haven't already done so.

deleterious

Mid-80s Celeste saddle coming up on ebay in a few days: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270690926189&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT#ht_500wt_1156



You'd be bidding against me though

billster1

Ah, that's a nice seat, but, perhaps a bit too clean for this patina green machine. I managed to score one for 10 bucks with the appropriate shearing off of the corners from wall leans, etc. You can't really see it in this picture, but it's there. All these pics were taking with parts just hanging on. Bike is now complete and will be 'field-tested' in Palm Springs, CA tomorrow. New pics to follow. Thanks for all the info!

gioscinelli 

Nice find! Have lot of fun!

hamish5178

Brake cables running to the wrong brakes. . Or are you Australian?

billster1

No cables present in the picture, just housing balancing on the only way I could get them to stay for a picture. ;-) Complete pics coming.

billster1

Holy smokes, way too rich for my blood. That's not much more than the budget for my bike!

Bianchigirll 

it is too bad the original brakes are missing. it may have helped identify the model much better. with the Tre Tubi frame this could be a CdI a Campione del Mundo or a Tipo Corse. there were slight differences in the components. if the cranks are Campi (and orginal) figuring out if they are Gran Sport or Super Record would tell the difference.

very nice looking Bianchi. are the levers Victory to match the calipers?