Botte66

I am brand new to Bike Forums. In fact this is the first time I have posted to any forum. Y'all seem like a bunch of old duffers like me who are enjoying becoming reacquainted with our old bikes. I have purchased from eBay a 1960s or early 70s (seller's description) Bottecchia frame. I want to build it into a good rider in memory of a Bottecchia I had as a teenager. I have tried to include pictures with my post, but get a message that I am not allowed to until I have made ten posts. What does that mean? Do I need to go on existing threads and make ten responses? Okay the pictures will come. My puzzle with the frame is that it has no chrome. All the pictures I have seen of Bottecchias of this vintage have chrome lugs and fork ends. I have compared my lugs to the pictures and they are shaped the same so I would say that the dating is accurate. The dropouts are pantographed with the Campagnolo name so I think the frame is the upper racing version used by the Professional. There are no braze-ons such as the entry models have; another indication it is the upper level frame. But why is there no chrome? I have two guesses. First, it is a bike not made for the U.S. market. Maybe Bottecchias made for European markets were not chromed. Second, maybe it it is early 60s before they started chroming every frame. Can any of you shed light on this puzzle? I will add pictures when I am allowed.

cdmurphy 

Hello Botte66,

Welcome to the forum. You need to make at least 10 posts to be able to upload images, but you may be able to embed links to images hosted somewhere like Flickr before then. A common suggestion is to go to the "Introductions" forum and say hello to 9 other people.

As for your Bottecchia, it certainly sounds like a quality frame. The lack of chrome could be a cost savings measure for a slightly lower spec model, or it may have been repainted at some point. I'm sure others with more knowledge of Bottecchias will be along shortly.

T-Mar

It is more likely to be post boom, when they started eliminating chrome on the higher end models. Pending pictures, my guess would be circa 1975-1976.

randyjawa 

Perhaps a Bottecchia De Luxe...

zukahn1 

As for the chrome a lot of higher end race models from the 60's and 70's were offered in no chrome version as a option.

CoRide59

Botte66 forwarded some pictures to me, so I could post them to the forum. His comments will follow...

0817-102 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

0817-103 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

0817-105 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

0817-106 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

0817-107 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

0817-113 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

0817-116 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

0817-119 by Ed Lutz, on Flickr

CroMo Mike 

Early 1970's Giro d'Italia and Professional both used the same Columbus SL frames, which were chromed all over then painted except the lower stays and fork (socks) and head lugs. I have a 1972 Pro. Both had the Campy dropouts with fender eyelets. Yours appears to be repainted over chrome. And yours has the no-name lower line headset that was used on the Giro. So I'd say an early 70's Giro.

Botte66

Thanks to Ed Lutz for posting my photos since I am too new to be allowed. Two of my best friends in high school were Lutz brothers, Nathan and Mark. We rode our ten speeds on an 800 mile trip across South Africa. That's when I had my first Bottecchia. I have no idea what model it was and I have no pictures. I was 15. I acquired this frame from eBay with the paint in poor condition and no decals. The silver you see in the photos is where I have steel wooled the frame. There is no chrome. I intend to repaint it myself with rattlecans. The headset is a good clue and I guess points to a Giro. That's the kind of help I need. Also the comment that some upper models came unchromed as an option is good to know. If I can be assured that it is a late 60s/early 70s model then I know what components to look for versus those for an early 60s model.

juvela

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Headset is Way-Assauto.

Gear hanger lacks small hole for spring of Campag Sport model rear mech. This hole nominally disappears 1973. Lack of braze-ons suggests frame just very slightly later than that date.

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jon c. 

That's cool. I have fond memories of bike treks at that age, but nothing nearly that long or interesting.

John E

Keeper alert (assuming it fits you properly). Very nice! We are keen to track your build progress.

Botte66

I take back what I said about the frame not being chromed under the paint. My only experience with chrome has been the bright shiny finish like you see on a car. Now that I have read about Bottecchia putting a dull chrome on the entire frame before painting it, I would say that mine looks that way.

Botte66

I will be happy to post progress reports as I build the bike, but I expect it to be slow: 6-12 months. Partly that is waiting for the right components to become available on eBay, plus I have to spread my spending out, and I want to allow lots of time for paint to cure.

bikemig 

eBay is a mixed bag for finding parts at OK prices. I did pretty well on eBay finding parts for a mid 70s Peugeot PR 10 but I was lucky. Also the build does not need to be 100% catalog correct. Everyone feels differently about this. I wanted largely French parts on my PR 10 from the right period but I did not care whether they were catalog correct or not. YMMV.

Your best bets are (a) find a donor bike or (b) keep your eye out on the C&V for sale forum. Those prices tend to be better than eBay price.



Good luck with the build! This will be fun.

Botte66

I don't intend to rebuild the bike to original specs. I couldn't even if I wanted to unless I can narrow the date down. What I do want to do is build it period correct with components that will make it a good rider. I plan to ride this bike, not hang it on a wall. My big goal is to ride Route 66 on a 1966 (or close to it) ten speed when I am 66. I am a photography buff (actually earned my living for 20 years from a portrait business until digital technology ruined the industry) so will document the trip on 1966 cameras and film. I have two years to get ready.

Botte66

If you have a 1960s Bottecchia model would you please post pictures of it? I would like to compare my frame to yours to see when Bottecchia started making this style. I know mine was made late 60s to early 70s but I would think to get the date more definite. I would also like to see what components they put on, especially the Giro d' Italia model.