Vintage singer

Looking for help confirming the identity of another vintage bike. I believe this is a 1982 or 1983 Mexico similar to the one Saronni used to win the rainbow stripes in Goodwood. Do you think that is correct? I don't see a serial number on the bottom bracket. Is it somewhere else? Can anyone explain the Paolucci Rieti decal on the down tube and water bottle? Thank you for your help.

Sir_Name 

Nice bike, I have its taller brother. Mine's an '83. What is the date code on the rear derailleur? Crimped top and downtubes = Nuovo Mexico. There should be a number stamped on the drive side dropout, unfortunately the number won't help in dating the bike. What's the story with yours? Any plans for it? Yours is in great condition and appears to be mostly original.

Kactus

A local bike shop maybe?

Vintage singer

Yah - it's a 52cm which is what I ride. The date code on the derailleur is 81. There is a number stamped on the drive side dropout. I'll have to check it out tonight when I'm home. I bought the bike from a local fellow whose elderly Italian neighbor purchased it during a visit to Italy. The local fellow bought it as a commuter but soon realized its value!! Thankfully he only road it to work for a few weeks. The only thing I have had to change is the hoods (cracked) other than that I believe it is original. It came with a saddle bag full of goodies including shorter panto stems, bearings, campy tools, extra shifters and glue for the tubs. I also got a pair of vintage leather campy riding shoes that the Italian neighbor purchased when he bought the bike. They fit me!

Kactus

A panto'd Nuovo Mexico, tools, shoes, etc.; what a great score!

Sir_Name 

Yeah, great score. Congrats. Here's a bit of information on different Colnago models through the years. The Nuovo Mexico was introduced in '80:

VeloBase.com - Forum Thread View

I'd guess yours is '81/'82 based on the derailleur date code (assuming it's original to the bike). I'm prety certain that mine is an '83 and it has chromed stays (all 4), though it seems you can't fully go by paint to date these either. I know of no significance to the letter/numbers stamped on the dropout. Enjoy.

Here's a an '82-'83 catalog scan:

https://saarf.net/2012/12/06/colnago-catalog-1982-1983/

Vintage singer

Thanks a lot. When I look at the catalog it looks like the Super (paint/chrome but not the fork ), but I guess you are saying the crimped top and down tube identify it as a Nuovo Mexico. It's hard to tell from the catalog photo, but the Super looks like it has crimped top and down tube. The fork crown on my frame is sloping whereas on the Super it is flat. Hmmm....

Vintage singer

Looking at it again its probably not the Super because the Super had a clamp on from derailleur. I think it may be a Nuovo Mexico Profil given the braze on FD, sloping fork crown and under the bb routing of cables. See this article:

https://www.raydobbins.com/misc/Colna...go_catalog.htm

Sir_Name 

Yes, agreed. Nuovo Mexico from c. '82+ assuming the '82 introductory date for the braze-on front derailleur is correct (I have no reason to believe it isn't). That's a very nice bike that appears to have been well cared for. What are the rims? Cant't make them out on my phone. I assume record hubs, yes?

I second Kactus on the Paolucci Rieti decal, BTW.

Vintage singer

The rims are durex - super professional with Colnago sticker. Yes - record hubs. Some well aged Conti Sprinter tubs. I plan to keep the bike as it is though it would be nice to replace the hoods with the colour of hoods that matched the originals (browner colour). I'll ride her in fair weather and, if I am lucky, at Eroica. Again, thank you very much for you input.

Kactus

Bicycle Classics offers excellent Campy reproduction gum hoods. Vintage Bicycle Parts : Brake Hoods, Pads, Cables and Housings

Sir_Name 

Great - You're most welcome. Enjoy, and best of luck getting to Eroica. It's on my list.

BTW, https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ue-master.html

SJX426 

Nailing down this era of Colnago's appears to be like trying to catch a fly with chop sticks! The impression I get is that Colnago mixed and match randomly in order to sell. I have, what I think is a 1983 Superissimo. I can't really find much information about it either. If there is anyone who has/is reading this thread can help, I would appreciate opinions or facts! https://www.flickr.com/photos/112094...7638855474246/
@Vintage singer - beautiful Colnago in great shape!

Sir_Name 

Sorry SJX, afraid I'm not much help with yours - hopefully others can offer. Sure is purdy. It's interesting to see the paint fill in the fork crown details on yours - I experimented with adding some acrylic to mine (originally bare chrome) and am still unsure of how I like the results. Going back to the catalog scans (which I hadn't opened in about 6 months) I see the same details added to some models - usually mirroring decal lettering color.

SJX426 

@Sir_Name - thanks for the reply. My assumption is that the Superissimo was simply a Super with chrome had lugs. The forks on mine are also chrome along with the CS but not the ST's. My suspicion is that many "models" were based on the the same frame set but with variations of the paint coverage and maybe chrome treatment. I have seen some expamples of Supers without the CS bridge but I don't know if they were the same year or not. Superissimo's are a bit more of a mystery than the more popular Supers. But it may not be a big deal.

I noticed that the rear DO to tube interface is a lot nicer than mine, which are crimped. The fork is fine. When comparing the Superissimo to the Pinarello Monello from 1991, there is a significant difference in detail.

Sir_Name 

Interesting observations, @SJX426. I wonder if the destination market had any impact on build/finish details. Mine went to Belgium and stayed there until I got my hands on it, best I can tell.

Or there is/was no rhyme or reason to these details. Some work may or may not have been farmed out as well, which could obviously introduce some amount of variation.

Interesting comments on finish quality between the Colnago and Pinarello, too. When I was searching for this project I was torn between my Colnago frameset and an early-mid 90s Pin. framest. I'm certain I made the right choice for a few reasons, but man did the Pinarello I was eyeing look clean and sharp. Maybe some day...

Vintage singer

Thank you - I will check that out.

Vintage singer

Thanks. When I get the chance, I will post a picture to that forum posting.