Originally Posted by
Otis
Very cool. Looks to be an early SLX frame, and Reparto built. That fork crown is pretty rare and would be mid 80's. I've never seen that color combo. Does it have a bottle cage mount on the seat-tube (I can't tell from the pics)?
If you are going to keep, it really deserves a full C-Record gruppo! If you are going to sell it, PM me.
First the Bad News, then the Good news: From what I can tell, ALL parts on this bike appear to be NON-Original except for the SR HS. As others have said, this is a repaint, why the unfortunate mix of salmon on Celeste, I dunno. More bad news, the repaint has covered a lot of original chrome. The frame is most likely one of two very high Bianchi Specialissima Team bike models from 1984 or 1985.
Notice the rear brake bridge: Only came on 83, 84 Specialissima X-3s, and or 1985 Mondiale and Specialissima X-4 (first generation). Notice fork crown, (Cinelli model) only came on 83, 84, 85, 86 high end models such as X-3, Mondiale, Centenario, X-4. I thought it could also be a 1985 repainted Argentine replica, but the head-tube has a decal not engraved ensignia into the head-tube. In any case, this bike came with complete Campy SR, most likely fully pantographed.
Here's the confooosing part: single chromed chain stay sez 83, 84 X-3. Pump Peg on head-tube sez 1985Mondiale or X-4. On the other hand, maybe both rear chain stays were chromed prior to repaint which would make it 85 model for sure.
With all that said, this is most definately a reparto course racing frame of which very few were made. If I had to put money on this I would say that this was an European marketed bike that most likely was a
late 1984 model Specialissima X-3, where they started putting the pump peg on the head-tube.
Thats my story and I am sticking to it.
P.S. I own 2 1982 Tipo-Corsas, 3 (I think) 1982 Specialissima Superleggeras, 2 1983 Specialissima X-3s (I think am the only one who has 2 of these), 1 1985 Specialiisam X-4, and about 3 1985 and 1986 Mondiales. And no, they are not all ridable. peace.