Help identifying Colnago for restoration
 

Hi there,

We found this bike for a friend and he is about to restore it but so much research on internet did not help identifying its model and necessary decals. Thank you in advance for your help.

there is something unique going on at the bottom bracket shell down tube socket.
My take is there is a chance it has a new front end as the lugs don't match to typical.

Colnagos are pinned, feel for pin(s) at the bottom bracket. Similar to what you should find at the fork steerer.

Yeah, that looks like a Colnago except for the head lugs. The bottom bracket tang looks like it broke when they pulled the down-tube. I would agree the front triangle was replaced at some point.

The rest looks like later 70's Super.

The front fork looks to be Colnago mid-seventies (say 1976) but the frame is interesting to me. the short Campy dropouts came out around 1974 and some early Colnago frames did have 3 top tube cable guides. From what I read, Colnago introduced the short rear dropouts in 1976. The '7' stamp on the steerer tube and rear dropout link both frame and fork. I'm wondering if that was to identify both frame and fork when it may have been re-painted some time in the past.

I would expect to see more Colnago 'Ace of Clubs' cast into the lugs of the frame. I wonder if the frame was rebuilt after an accident and some lugs were replaced? Thats not to say that Colnago didn't build it that was originally. It is hard to pin down Colnago to a standardised build regime.

I bet the rear dropout drive side does not have the bosses forged in for the chain rest, if so, my guess, '76-78.
The headlugs look un thinned and if memory serves British in origin? Maybe French.
A lug look I associate with MKM, or Bob Jackson by this era.

The head angle may also be a bit shallow, indicating a use as found, no blacksmithing.
Rebuilt front end.

The fork is similar to my '77 Super as is much of the frame. Interesting frame! I wish you the best in your restoration.

What is the significance of those numeral "7" stamped in some places? I'm not familiar with this, is it specific to Colnago?

Bill

The numbers are widely believed to be batch numbers or even subcontractor identification.
There will be other bikes with the same number.
14 shows up frequently.
Serial numbers did not exist on many "small" Italian builders frames.
Not till the EU pressed them for ID for warranty and recall tracking.
Might have been a good way to dodge the tax man 40 years ago too...

Thank you for your comments and information. As some of you pointed out, there really seems to have been a rebuilding on the frame. BB lug is flawed in close inspection, right. My friend will take photos of all after taking off the paint ,and share with you. Maybe we can see some rebuilding marks?

Also a side note. The guy who sold the bike said that, it was from a Greek professional cyclist of the time. Do you think it was common for the professionals at that time to rebuilt their bikes when it was broken?

best

[MENTION=57478]repechage[/MENTION]: Thanks much, I had previously seen a few of those stamped numerals on Italian framesets, just had no idea what they signified. Once again, I learned something here.

Bill

Greece has not in recent times been an exceptionally wealthy country. I would think that pro cyclists anywhere other than the very top of the heap in that country would not be rolling in money or free sponsorship bikes.

I met a few cyclists in Mexico in the mid seventies who were trying to eke out a living as pro cyclists. For most of them a Colnago, repaired or otherwise, was not within their means.

So yes, I think the story could be true.
Brent

That made me recall, Tour of Mexicali, 1974. One of the local teams had a station wagon as a support vehicle. Tied to the roof were two bikes, they appeared to me as bikes that started life as an English type 3 speed, single ring up front, dereaileur at the rear, and a line of 4 mm holes drilled along the tubes about every 25 mm, definitely drillium.

Here is the stripped frame:
BCM lugs is apparent but can you see some modification?

BCM is for Bocama.
That screams repair.
Colnago used what looks like a Prugnat 62D with the added Club cur out to the lower head lug.
I think for the best repair evidence you need to inspect the down tube socket at the bottom bracket sans paint.