Cyclesmakaron, I promised a report back after the weekend.
I’m afraid it may not be terribly helpful.
The bike I bought, Z 1701 was one of two Merckx’s two brothers bought (as mentioned before).
The brothers spoke this weekend and I got to speak to the second brother.
He does have his bike still as well and I am going to see it Wednesday.
In conversation today this second brother confirmed to me they bought their bikes in 1984 and his brother raced his 9/84.
He remembers the race, the announcer, all of it, just as the first brother told me.

I asked if he has any records though and he does not.
I asked how he recalls it was 1984 vs 1985.

He told me a very significant event happened in his life that year which he will never forget.
He told me what it was. I cannot share it. It is not my right to do so.

Clearly this is not ironclad evidence but it is strong.
If I find out more when I meet him Wednesday I will let you know.

I do not mean to muddy the waters of your factual research.
Two brothers could surely convince each other of the year of an event 36 or 37 years ago.
The fact they both recall the year for different reasons is reasonably strong to me but it’s not a sales receipt.

Without bias either way I am simply telling you what I have been told.

The identical account of two people who identify events based on their unpleasant (and therefore easy to remember) memories cannot be ignored. To complete the picture we have photos - this is another argument.
If you could take photos of the second bike (manufacturer's markings !) it would be great.
I've been trying to formys rather than questioning it :)
So far nothing comes out of it a meaningful picture based on the new data for a few da - Team Panasonic frames for 1986 season and SLX Z566 "demolish" any chronology based on Z1701....

Cyclesmakaron, I went to see the second Merckx from two brothers today. I think the visit further confuses me about dating the frames.
The bike today is marked “8 P” and “E 9943”.
He thinks he owned it a few months before his brothers purchase of Z 1701.
Beyond that he did think it was 1984 but when I asked if it could have been 1985 he said it was too long ago to know.
I did not buy the bike. It was in very nice shape except for an ugly touched up area plainly visible on the top of the left chainstay, in plain view. Really a shame.
So there you have it. E9943 bought by a guy who doesn’t recall much really and the one I bought last week Z1701 by his brother who is sure he raced it in 9/84 but has no dated proof beyond a photo of him on it in a race. A race he says is
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...763982e9f.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...51f4ecc54.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...02e96f041.jpeg
one in 9/84 but that’s not a lot of info for you.
It’s all I know however so I’ll add the three pictures I did take today and then just look forward to others posting.

To tell you the truth I was just waiting for something like this....
The brothers swapped bikes... maybe
I'm not saying it's a very intelligent explanation (especially with the 3cm difference in seat tube length), but it fits flawlessly with everything else:
- E9943 is, by my reckoning, a ~June 1984 production; not a perfect spring, perhaps, but it would have made it to the September 1984 race with no problem.
- Z566 appears then (summer 1984) when the Columbus SLX... already exists.
- A photo and "race receipt" from September 1984 find their place.
- Z1701 built in late 1984 and purchased in spring 1985 is also in its place
- a couple of frames built for Panasonic (September 1985) with Z45xx designations for the 1986 season doesn't shatter either the chronology or the monthly production output of EMC.
I don't know if this is the final version, but...it makes some sense.

If only that could be true, right? They definitely did not swap bikes. One guy is 5’11, one is 6’2”.
Either the timelines are off or they got their bikes a year later.
I cannot add anything unfortunately beyond some random thoughts.
The photo of the race flyer for a race he was in once seems strong but perhaps he rode his previous bike in that race and therefor got the flyer. The photo of him racing could be another race??
If so then your timeline is intact.
If his recollection is correct and he feels the photo supports that recollection than the time line is off a bit.
As to when SLX was first in use by EMC I would think somewhere that information would exist. Didn’t Columbus create SLX before ‘84? Isn’t it possible EMC began using SLX before it is currently believed?
A team could decide to continue their current frames until SLX is used more, ie delay its team use a year?
I don’t have answers but I’m good if my bike is an ‘84 or ‘85.
Thanks for listening to my story.

Information about the introduction of SLX in 1984 is available in many sources, applies to several manufacturers - EMC was not "first in line" (it never was, the next models of tubes were introduced with 1-2 year delay - they were the most hasty with SLX)...
If SLX had been introduced in 1983 the teams preparing for the 1985 season would have had SLX bikes already in the fall of 1984 and we would have had lots of posed photos of Kelme, TeVe Blad, Lotto and Tonissteiner teams at that time with such bikes... We only have photos of bikes with Columbus SL frames, Pro SLX appeared in teams half a year later.
Proven novelties were introduced to teams within a year at most (SLX 84->85; 653 88 ->89; Max, Mxl, Neuron in the same year)
Panasonic markings are the foundation, that cannot be disputed.
The problem exists (existed) with the assumption that memories, EMC frame, photo and receipt are parts of a whole...
If it now appears that a "different bike" appears and the photo "may be from a different race" then.... there is not the slightest reason to interfere with the existing dating: P8 E9943 - summer 1984; Z1701 - late 1984.
Either the story of the "brothers" is true in every detail and challenging or it is not true in every detail :)

I have several Merckx frames/bikes. I will certainly be reaching out for some info on a few once I have enough posts to use photos. Thanks in advance!

I look forward to it :)

CyclesMakaron This is my wife's, Z 078.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a1a45d86ff.jpg

Beautiful!
This was the bike (color and configuration) that the famous Winning - Merckx - Campagnolo team raced on in the Tour of America (April 1983).

Would the serial # indicate a 1985 built frame?

Mid 1984

thank you

First of a few
 

So here is the first of a few frames I have. I’ll start with this one. I don’t believe it to be anything special, in fact it is why I purchased it. I was able to get it cheap and I wanted a build that was a comfortable ride and an everyday kind of bike that I didn’t worry about building a certain way or being too careful with. I have no proof of this other than the sellers word, but was told it was originally Team Weinmann paint, but he didn’t want a pink and purple bike, so he unfortunately had it stripped and painted white. It is actually a beautifully done paint job, but it’s too bad it isn’t original. Bottom bracket stamps (L-R) either “A” but really looks more like an upside down “V” 4X C5705. Thanks for any info and I’ll try to post another in a day or so. Oh, and I apologize that they are dirty.... but they are well ridden!
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bf759e25e.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...58088233f.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...84ab67e67.jpeg

^4X C5705 = Corsa Extra SLX road racing geometry, spring 1991, repainting

Thanks!

The next one is an MX Leader. This was actually my first Merckx, which apparently has started an addiction. Bottom bracket L-R: P F2238. I’d also like to know what this paint scheme was called, if anyone knows. Thanks!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...49156d503.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2f8b7f627.jpeg

mid 1994, paint scheme: FNZ

Again, thanks!

Up next is this Panasonic frame. I don’t believe this to be anything special, but I picked this up cheap locally, mainly because I’ve always loved the Panasonic colors. The gentleman I purchased this from said he acquired this from his friend (Roger or Robert? I can’t recall...) from Colorado who used to “race bikes”. It did have a paper number attached to the top tube when I bought it, but I don’t see any indication of this in any way being a team bike, but that is just the backstory I was told. The Columbus decal is mostly worn off but I’m guessing it is SLX. Bottom bracket stamp L-R: 4XM Z7544. Serial number on fork with something else that I can’t decipher. Hoping to get this built this summer, but I have two others ahead of it. Once again, thank you for any information!
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...52ac23ea6.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bda9af704.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...03ef06498.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2bab3a6e9.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bbd3f03d8.jpeg

Eddy Merckx Pro SLX, spring 1986 (the best EMC model at the time), just before the Corsa Extra name was introduced

I really appreciate all the information and am glad to be able to fill in the gaps with unknown information. Hopefully this isn’t too boring or tedious, and some of these offer at least a bit of interest. Today’s Merckx is one of my favorites. It is my Motorola MX Leader. I picked up this one on a trip to Oklahoma City. I was told by someone that this is probably an early MXL because on the seat stays. I have seen in the past someone has the records of the Motorola team frames, and though I have no reason to believe this was one, it would be pretty cool if it was at least from the same batch. Bottom Bracket stamp: L D1097. Again, thank you for the information!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4ece5613e.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9307efd41.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a665618cd.jpeg

The frame dates from early 1992 and is indeed the first version of the Mx Leader - it differs from the Corsa Extra Max only in its TT and matching lugs.
It is not a team frame (pump holder).
Beautiful and rare bike :)

Awesome! Thank you.

Hello... last one (for a while). L - D (?- too much paint to tell), R - D 1624. 54 CM C to C
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7d8eae245.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2e0d53320.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...38f9691bb.jpeg
MX Leader in almost new shape, purchased on eBay from Italy. Thank you!