I just picked up a Benotto frame, with no model name on it anywhere. Any ideas on what I have?

Fork is chrome, Campy headset. No discernible serial number on the BB, just this cutout and a few barely-stamped numbers by the thread, one looks like it says xx-5C (can't read the xx):

Here's the dropout:

Here's the fork:

Seat lug:

Here's entire frame:

The frame paint and decals look great in that last picture, but on the other side all the decals are missing, and hte headbadge decal is peeling off. With the rust around the DS chain stay, and the paint scrapes and chips, I may strip this and rattle-can it.

There were some miscellaeus parts. Two sets of tubular rims (one on Specialized hubs), and Cinelli handlebars with a Cinelli stem. The brakes are Chang Star, whiskey-tango-foxtrot? I see no name on the crankset. No BB spindle or shifters or seat post.

Here's the crankset:

And in a strange twist of fate, someone else is asking about another Benotto frame that looks almost identical to mine!

Okay, more info on my frame (the one in this thread!).

Columbus tubing on the steerer tube, chromed as well. 27.1 seat post it would appear (a 26.6 is about half a mm too loose).

Note that on mine, the derailleur cabe guides are brazed on top of the BB. Howevrer, there isn't a brazed FD mount.

Weight of frame, without fork but with heaset races and seatpost bolt, is 2001 grams.

Bump

Bump...can anybody help me identify this? T-mar? Anyone?

(Thanks for re-titling the thread, Siu. Our mods do a heckuva good job!)

The missing paint around the rear dropout makes me wonder if there wasn't some sort of repair made there. If the rest of the paint is good I would just redo that one area. The finish is the classic Benotto team livery. Just get some repro decals for it. I don't know the model number but it's definitely a higher-end model.

Given the Columbus steerer and post size, it is Columbus SL. It's no older that 1978, no younger than 1982 and I'm leaning heavily towards 1987-1979. A model 3000 would appear to be the best candidate.

Thanks T-mar. Unfortunately someone stripped all of the Campy components from it, except for the headset. I don't want was to throw a ton of cash into it by repurchasing vintage Campy stuff so I will build it up with Suntour Cyclone Mk II derailleurs, lightweight and I have the RD on hand. Shimano on it just seems wrong...

One more clue for anyone who may find this thread in the future. This bike has diamond shaped chain stays, and with the derailleur cable guides above the BB, not below, I understand why T-mar dates it as 78 to 79. Googling 1978 Benotto 3000 turned up a couple of hits that seem to match exactly.

BTW, I forgot to mention that the crankset appears to be a Cambio Rino Crono. They're definitely Cambio Rino chainrings.

Thanks, there was a Rino front derailleur and front hub in a box of stuff included with it. I thought about getting a Rino RD to go along with it but the folks on EBay are mighty proud of their stuff...

sure it's just the pic, but top tube looks bent in the clamp ...

Must've been the camera, fortunately it's straight in real life Even from 10 feet away though it's visibly in need of repainting.

I won't post what I paid for it, I don't want to gloat. Of course the purchase price will be insignificant by the time I build the thing up.

I just picked up a benotto too..having a real hard time identifying it also .