Originally Posted by
GP210
I guess "7" stand for the date code...
OP: yes, that's the date code and stands for 1977.
That right there is why dating by codes on the existing parts is a lottery; people swap parts in/out all the time. There's just no way to accurately know a bike's history of changes - or whether one has retained original spec since new.
That said, I think 1981 is about right, too. Diamond stays, cable routing under the shell, Portacatena dropouts - which appear to be non-threaded. The brake bridge seems to be the Gipiemme version with the separate threaded insert for recessed application (my Bianchi from 1981 uses the same). Also, it appears the "Benotto" script cast into the seatstay caps is the later, slanting version - perhaps a transitional piece? Would need a close-up photo to confirm, but it doesn't look as though it matches the frame decal graphics from here.
Niiiiiice frameset, OP! The chrome on the fork looks near-perfect; that's gonna build up into a super-fine bike
DD