Standard Issue

Hi, I'm doing business with a guy who mentioned he had a very old Bianchi. We got to talking and I became very interested. I requested pics and sent a few.
He know's it's from '53, it's got a campy gran Sport rear D and it used to be Celeste but the paints been stripped and the frame primered. If anyone can shed some light on this bike I'm sure he'd appreciate it. He's considering selling it and wants as much info as possible.
https://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_0482.jpg
https://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_0477.jpg
https://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_0480.jpg
https://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_0485.jpg
https://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMG_0489.jpg

Bianchigirll 

any pics of the complete bike? I think some more knowledgable memebrs will chime in soon but I am not sure '50s bikes had what we think of as your standard derailleur. I think a Cambio Corse (is that right guys?) system or something attached to the chainstay to move the gears would have been more common.

Standard Issue

He did verify it has a gran sport rear d and thinks this bike may have been it's debut.
There are date stamps on the bb shell and headset

wrk101

Paint stripped and frame now primered. Ouch... A collector would probably have accepted a lot of patina (paint wear and loss) on a bike almost 60 years old.

Bianchigirll 

I agree.

any pics of the whole bike? what is the asking price?

Picchio Special

No, the Gran Sport debuted in 1951. 1953 marked the introduction of the common production variant that remained largely unchanged for a decade.

Standard Issue

He didn't send any Pics of the whole bike but I'll see if I can snap some when I go over.
He didn't even entertain an asking price. He wants to do his homework and make sure it goes to someone who will properly restore it.

iab

Sweet bike. Likely a Campione del Mondo after Fausto's win in 1953. That is maybe why the owner said debut. Forum member Gary Fountain has a 1954, you should ask him more questions. Looks like most of the bits are there, makes restoration easy but Gran Sport derailleurs are common. Likely Universal 51 brakes, Bianchi cranks and Fiamme rims laced to Bianchi hubs. Paint it celeste and add the cool red decals and bob's your uncle.

Looks my size but worth more than I can spend. He shouldn't worry about getting it properly restored. When the buyer forks over $1,500 or so for it, they won't be making it a fixie.

Edit: Even has the Universal brake cable clamps. SD Bicycle garage sells those for $50 a set.

iab

Any news?

Standard Issue

I went and saw the bike while picking up another bike. He's decided go put it in storage for a while while he figures out what to do with it. I didn't know this but he also has the original rear fender.

iab

Any pictures?

Standard Issue

Of the bike or the fender? I didn't take any pics of either, the only pictures I have are the ones posted above.

joehanus

sweet bike, would love to see more pics as well

umpire54

A little late but: The bike is most likely an early model (1953-55) Bianchi Campione del Mondo with open C&G Campagnolo components. The bike was made to celebrate Fausto Coppi winning the Legano, Switzerland race called the Campione del Mondo (I have one just like it including it being painted black) They are very interesting bikes and pretty rare although many have surfaced since I found mine in 2010 seems they were all in hiding. I can’t see the whole bike, it could be a Bianchi Tour de France issued for the same reason when Coppi won it in 1952. Early Campy Grand Sport components, should have Universal 51 brakes, several different stems and head sets were made as there were professional bikes made for racers and “commercial” ones made for the public celebratory version. The professional versions as far as I can tell used different crank assembly’s from Campagnolo and Fausto Coppi’s bike had special aluminum (very rare in 1953) crankset custom made but looked like the steel Bianchi B version made for the public.