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Celeste Bianchi Vintage?

Old 06-21-17, 07:55 AM
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Celeste Bianchi Vintage?

Took a shot in the dark on this - Always loved Celeste Bianchis.

Can see the Chrome fork crown, celeste frame pump and Campy Groupo.

Trying to gather information on this bike. Year Model etc

I pick up this evening and will get up close and personal with this. CAN'T WAIT!!!!
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Old 06-21-17, 08:35 AM
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Originally Posted by duranduran
Trying to gather information on this bike. Year Model etc

Welcome to the forums. Is that the only pic you can get? Where are you and the bike? At fist glance it seems the frame and components don't match.

The frame appears to be a '87 Mondiale but the catalog doesn't show a chromed fork crown. The color is slightly off the '87 was Metallic Celeste which looks whiter but this looks more like Mint Celeste. I am having trouble with this pic discerning if the World Championship decal is rectangular or round, round would be '88, but then the decals are off.

The components appear to be later maybe Athena ('99-2002ish) or maybe Stratos when that style of brake filtered down, I just can't tell from the pics.
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Old 06-21-17, 08:37 AM
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The Columbus decal is the pre-1988 version of SL, though you sometimes saw these carried over into 1988, depending on stock and stock rotation practices. The components are hard to identify from a non-drive side photo but based on the brake calipers, appear to be Camapgnolo Athena. This group was introduced in 1988. Assuming everything is OEM, it should be 1988. However, the Bianchi decal style is incorrect for a 1988, USA market model. It may be a foreign market model which complicates identification for most members, who are familiar with USA models.

Alternately it may have been rebuilt. It has been frankenbiked to at last some extent, as those are not Campagnolo brake levers. The combination of dual bottle bosses, pump peg, front derailleur hanger and Campagnolo dropouts would put this circa 1986 for a USA market model. The USA models went to Gipiemme dropouts for 1987 and continued into 1988.
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Old 06-21-17, 08:50 AM
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Thank you T-Mar and Bianchigirll!!

I am in Colorado. Will take detailed pics and hopefully get serial number. Anything else I should post?
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Old 06-21-17, 09:09 AM
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The wheels are mismatched. The front has a newer tire, I'm guessing it's the wheel that has been replaced. Inspect closely for head-on crash damage.
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Old 06-21-17, 09:34 PM
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May not be US bike

Originally Posted by T-Mar
The Columbus decal is the pre-1988 version of SL, though you sometimes saw these carried over into 1988, depending on stock and stock rotation practices. The components are hard to identify from a non-drive side photo but based on the brake calipers, appear to be Camapgnolo Athena. This group was introduced in 1988. Assuming everything is OEM, it should be 1988. However, the Bianchi decal style is incorrect for a 1988, USA market model. It may be a foreign market model which complicates identification for most members, who are familiar with USA models.

Alternately it may have been rebuilt. It has been frankenbiked to at last some extent, as those are not Campagnolo brake levers. The combination of dual bottle bosses, pump peg, front derailleur hanger and Campagnolo dropouts would put this circa 1986 for a USA market model. The USA models went to Gipiemme dropouts for 1987 and continued into 1988.

Found owners information and emergency contacts in seat pack. Owner was a Lt. Colonel in the Army and his contact card was written in Dutch French and German
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Old 06-21-17, 09:37 PM
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Ah, so that could definitely mean non-US model.
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Old 06-21-17, 09:39 PM
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Have bike. More pics

Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
Welcome to the forums. Is that the only pic you can get? Where are you and the bike? At fist glance it seems the frame and components don't match.

The frame appears to be a '87 Mondiale but the catalog doesn't show a chromed fork crown. The color is slightly off the '87 was Metallic Celeste which looks whiter but this looks more like Mint Celeste. I am having trouble with this pic discerning if the World Championship decal is rectangular or round, round would be '88, but then the decals are off.

The components appear to be later maybe Athena ('99-2002ish) or maybe Stratos when that style of brake filtered down, I just can't tell from the pics.
Here are more pics
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IMG_0456.jpg (94.5 KB, 166 views)
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IMG_4943.jpg (95.1 KB, 167 views)
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Old 06-21-17, 09:50 PM
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Front wheel non Campagnolo

Originally Posted by brian3069
The wheels are mismatched. The front has a newer tire, I'm guessing it's the wheel that has been replaced. Inspect closely for head-on crash damage.
More pics. Rear wheel has Campy hub
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Old 06-22-17, 05:19 AM
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It is a 1988 model based on both the serial number and CdM decal. However, based on the Bianchi graphics and presence of Campagnolo dropouts, it is not a USA or Canadian model. The group is 1988-1991 Campagnolo Athena, while the date code on the crank is for 1989. While frames are often built and stockpiled pending receipt of components orders, this frame pre-dates the components by at least eight months. While this length time does not totally eliminate the possibility of the components being OEM, it has me leaning towards the bicycle having been rebuilt or built from a frameset. Given that it is a foreign model and the higher probability of the components being non-OEM, I cannot help with a model identification. Perhaps, some other members having knowledge of foreign market models can provide more information.
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Old 06-22-17, 10:25 AM
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Any guess to Value

Originally Posted by T-Mar
It is a 1988 model based on both the serial number and CdM decal. However, based on the Bianchi graphics and presence of Campagnolo dropouts, it is not a USA or Canadian model. The group is 1988-1991 Campagnolo Athena, while the date code on the crank is for 1989. While frames are often built and stockpiled pending receipt of components orders, this frame pre-dates the components by at least eight months. While this length time does not totally eliminate the possibility of the components being OEM, it has me leaning towards the bicycle having been rebuilt or built from a frameset. Given that it is a foreign model and the higher probability of the components being non-OEM, I cannot help with a model identification. Perhaps, some other members having knowledge of foreign market models can provide more information.
Thank you for the great information.

I purchased this without any of this knowledge and without knowing size. Can you estimate any value? If it is a rebuild would value only be in frame?

Thanks again for any help.
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Old 06-22-17, 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by duranduran
Thank you for the great information.

I purchased this without any of this knowledge and without knowing size. Can you estimate any value? If it is a rebuild would value only be in frame?

Thanks again for any help.
In 1988, Bianchi USA offered this Campagnolo group on a Columbus SLX frame, which is one step up from SL. So yes, there is good value as a complete bicycle, as the pairing is era correct and not inappropriate in terms of level. There might be some slightly discounted offers because it is not a catalogued, USA model. However, it does have some advantages over the USA models in that it has Campagnolo dropouts and both chain stays are chromed. I'll defer to others on value.
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Old 06-22-17, 11:13 AM
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I still think it is a Stratos or some other later painted group, the color just doesn't look right for oxidized Athena. Plus that big black looking bolt head on the cable clamp and cheap nut. Plus the black dust caps.

The color of that frame plus that beautiful fork crown and style of BB shell make me think it is a slightly older frame. In some of the pics the frame looks very white like the Metalic Celest frame I had for a while.

Didn't the SLX framed Giro with Athena come out in '89?
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Old 06-22-17, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
I still think it is a Stratos or some other later painted group, the color just doesn't look right for oxidized Athena. Plus that big black looking bolt head on the cable clamp and cheap nut. Plus the black dust caps.

The color of that frame plus that beautiful fork crown and style of BB shell make me think it is a slightly older frame. In some of the pics the frame looks very white like the Metalic Celest frame I had for a while.

Didn't the SLX framed Giro with Athena come out in '89?
It definitely isn't later, as the date code on the crank is definitive. Also, 1988-1991 Athena and Xenon were the only rear derailleurs to have the travel limit screws on the top/front of the parallelogram. I didn't think the finish was dull and dark enough to be Xenon, which was essentially, gray powder-coated Athena, but now that you've mentioned it, the black crank dust caps and skewer nuts would be typical of Xenon.
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Old 06-22-17, 12:09 PM
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Campagnolo Xenon?

Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
I still think it is a Stratos or some other later painted group, the color just doesn't look right for oxidized Athena. Plus that big black looking bolt head on the cable clamp and cheap nut. Plus the black dust caps.

The color of that frame plus that beautiful fork crown and style of BB shell make me think it is a slightly older frame. In some of the pics the frame looks very white like the Metalic Celest frame I had for a while.

Didn't the SLX framed Giro with Athena come out in '89?


Found this picture of a Vintage Xenon brake caliper - this looks like the finish of calipers/chainset - is there a cataloged Bianchi with a Xenon Group?
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Old 06-22-17, 01:00 PM
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The dull gray on the crank looks like Veloce to me, but I've never seen a Xenon in person. That's a nice bike.
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Old 06-22-17, 01:14 PM
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Any Guestimates on Value??

Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs
The dull gray on the crank looks like Veloce to me, but I've never seen a Xenon in person. That's a nice bike.


The more I learn about this bike - I think I have come to 2 conclusions - 1) restore this myself and ride it or 2) sell it to someone who can do a much better job restoring the bike to the beauty it deserves.

I think I purchased this at a good price so there is no motive to gouge someone. (learned brake levers and front wheel for sure have been replaced)

Any guess as to it's value as-is?
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Old 06-22-17, 02:30 PM
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I would put value of frame and fork at about $400-450. There are some nice parts on there, like the saddle and rear wheel, but mismatched parts detract from value and I would think maybe $550- $600 for the whole thing. It wouldn't take much to turn into a nice rider if it fits you.
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Old 06-22-17, 03:29 PM
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Sell? or Ride

Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs
I would put value of frame and fork at about $400-450. There are some nice parts on there, like the saddle and rear wheel, but mismatched parts detract from value and I would think maybe $550- $600 for the whole thing. It wouldn't take much to turn into a nice rider if it fits you.
Thank you, that helps.
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Old 06-22-17, 07:17 PM
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Well I still think the frame is slightly older than '88/89, unless they were still using those really nice chromed fork crowns and BB shells on the EU frames.

sadly we will never know for sure what model, if any, it ever was. One thing is for sure it is likely to be a great rider. I'd give it a good overhaul, some decent tires and see how it rides before doing anything else with it.
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Old 06-22-17, 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
Well I still think the frame is slightly older than '88/89, unless they were still using those really nice chromed fork crowns and BB shells on the EU frames.

sadly we will never know for sure what model, if any, it ever was. One thing is for sure it is likely to be a great rider. I'd give it a good overhaul, some decent tires and see how it rides before doing anything else with it.
Thank you Bianchigirll. I did put on last years tires and took it for a spin. Very nice! Adjusted stem and seatpost with no problems. Would definitely need to make some gearing changes to get up my regular hills here in Colorado. The more I tinker with it and look at it, the more I'm loving it
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Old 06-23-17, 01:32 AM
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I wouldn't ride it too much without replacing the grease in the bearings, you wouldn't want to ruin anything.
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Old 06-23-17, 04:50 AM
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Originally Posted by duranduran
Found this picture of a Vintage Xenon brake caliper - this looks like the finish of calipers/chainset - is there a cataloged Bianchi with a Xenon Group?
According to my literature there were no Xenon equipped models catalogued by Bianchi USA. Europe could be a different matter.

Last edited by T-Mar; 06-23-17 at 04:56 AM.
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Old 06-28-17, 06:35 AM
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I still think it is an '85/86 era frame with much later kit but who really knows.

The OP however seems to have already listed this on CL at $600 with v title cleanup and even using the auction houses pics.
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