Bike Forums - 1981 Colnago Superissimo or Master?

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1981 Colnago Superissimo or Master?

I’m fully restoring my 1981 Colnago Superissimo or Master. Experts have told me it’s possibly a Master, but still perplexing.
I have a set of Campagnolo Nuovo Record 100mm/126mm low flange hubs and Red Label Fiamme rims. Planning to use Vittoria Corsa Graphene tubular tires.

You' will need to post pictures of the bike. Or frame

Quote:

Originally Posted by GiovanniLiCalsi (Post 21780872)

We need pics, good ones and plenty of them, you need posts.

5 x 2 days for 10, you have 3 but if they are old you may need 10 new ones.

Welcome aboard, back, whatever, you're in the right place. ;)

Off the top of my head, I did not think the Master was a thing until mid 80's. Any flutes or indentations in the tubes?

If you are sure it is from '81, then I afraid neither of them. Superissimo was released in 82, while Master in '83.
Superissimo is a Super with (mostly) chromed head lugs, but versions exist with painted lugs as well built from SL and later SLX tubeset, while as Spaghetti Legs asked if the tubes are fluted and maybe even have a tube decal saying Gilco Deisgn should be a Master.

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncleivan (Post 21780899)

You' will need to post pictures of the bike. Or frame

I attempted to post images, but was made aware that I need 10 comment posts, before posting any photos. Strange, since I’ve been a member since 2012.

Masters have the Gilco tubes

The same happened to me. I didnt know how to post pictures when i joined, so i read the threads, drooled on my keyboard looking at bikes, and kept to myself. Dont give up. By tomorrow we can be at 10 posts...

Quote:

Originally Posted by GiovanniLiCalsi (Post 21781166)

I attempted to post images, but was made aware that I need 10 comment posts, before posting any photos. Strange, since I’ve been a member since 2012.

Could you upload the pics to your Gallery? Then we could link it for you (but in the long run, keep up the good work, only 5 to go..... and if you answer "hey thanks I did it", then only 4...)
I felt tempted to post you pics pointing out the differences, but want to see your bike....:)

Anyway, believe me, once you passed 10, you won't notice how fast it goes up to more.... I registered in 2017, and reached 10 in 2019.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJX426 (Post 21781541)

Superissimo:
https://live.staticflickr.com/7327/1...08ddd971_b.jpg 1983 Colnago Superissimo on Flickr

:thumb:Superniceissimo as well... congrats..

Superissimo but fork may be older.

1981 Colnago Superissimo or Master?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mackers (Post 21785960)

Superissimo but fork may be older.

The frame is from1981.
The fork is from1981.
I don’t understand?

Colnago Dating

Here's the best I could do with trying to figure out what year a Super is...

Colnago Super Frame Dating
(12.18.2011)

1968 -- "Super" decal on chain stay
1968 -- Fork crown (sand cast) with two holes in the points at each side
1968 -- Fork tangs wide, no cutouts
1968 -- Club cutouts in all three lugs
1968 -- Bottom bracket shell with drilled holes (eight in circle plus one in center)
----
1970 -- Fork crown (investment cast) semi-sloping, flat front and back with two holes in
the points at each side
1970 -- "Playing card" club decal graphics (inspired by 1970 Milano-San Remo victory)
----
1971 -- Fork crown with clubs in top and two holes in each side
1971 -- Fork tangs narrow, no cutouts (or rarely no tangs)
1971 -- Club cutouts in all three lugs but club in lower head lug is now larger
1971 -- Hole in lower point of seat lug (last year)
1971 -- Bottom bracket shell with club cutout
----
1972 -- Black Club/COLNAGO decal on head tube/seat tube (two seat tube Worlds bands) and
COLNAGO on down tube
1972 -- Fork tangs with two holes (or very rarely three holes tangs or no tangs)
1972 -- Cable guide braze-ons top of bottom bracket shell
1972 -- Water bottle braze-ons on downtube
----
1973 -- Wreath seat tube decal with Worlds band at top and bottom
1973 -- Fork crown with clubs on top but no holes in each side
1973 -- Fork tangs with club cutouts (or rarely two hole tangs or no tangs)
1973 -- Club cutout in lower head lug only
1973 -- Introduction of the Super Pantografata
----
1974 -- Shifter braze-ons on down tube (option before this)
----
1975 -- Mexico model introduced
1975 -- Diagonal Worlds band added behind black Club/COLNAGO head tube decal
1975 -- Diagonal Worlds band with yellow Club/COLNAGO head tube decal used for one year
1975 -- Vertical COLNAGO seat tube decal with single diagonal Worlds band at top
----
1976 -- Fork crown with COLNAGO added to clubs on top
1976 -- Short Campagnolo or COLNAGO dropouts
----
1977 -- Fork crown with shallow triangles cut into back (no recessed brake bolt)
1977 -- Top tube cable guide braze-ons (an option before this)
----
1978 -- Fork crown for recessed brake bolt with shallow triangles cut into back
1978 -- Brake bridge for recessed brake bolt
----
1980 -- Fluted seat stay caps engraved COLNAGO and straight seat stays (no longer biconical shape)
1980 -- Brake bridge with cast square boss for recessed brake bolt
----
1981 -- Chain stay bridge is small spool shape (no longer tube shape)
----
1982 -- Chain stays stamped COLNAGO on sides
1982 -- Cable routing on underside of bottom bracket
----
1983 -- Aerodynamic fork crown

NOTE:
Year dates are approximate; changes might have occurred the end of one year or the beginning of the next for example. Paint schemes, panels, decals and chrome varied according to how importers spec'd their frames, so this all varied considerably and there are anomalies. Dates and details based on the Classic Rendezvous archives, the Wool Jersey Gallery, and Colnago and Bikcology catalogs.

Serial numbering only started for Colnago on USA-bound bikes when the CPSC started requiring tracking, etc. West Coast Cycles was importing Colnago at the time and the serial numbers started for their product. There is still no way to determine manufacturing date by the numbers, except that they are 1979 or later...

I'd call it an '82 as well - and most likely a Super. Superissimos had fully-sloping fork crowns and painted fork legs as shown in SJX426's photo - and had decal differences as well.

Stampings on the chainstays and gear tunnels underneath the BB shell are pointers to '82.

Definitely NOT a Master - there isn't a solitary shaped tube on your frame.

DD

A Super wouldn't have the chromed lugs, not to mention the highly unusual fully chromed rear triangle.

Unless the frame has been refinished in which case all bets are off :)

For sure the fork is a Super fork. Yes, frame may have been refinished, but if the numbers match frame/fork, the frame is a Super. A Mexico from the same era had the sloping fork crown and the first creased/shaped tubing. This has neither. It's not a Superissimo and definitely not a Master. What does that leave?

I personally lean towards a repaint because from what I can see of the paint chipping it appears the entire frame's been chromed. Not typical of that era Colnago; my own '83 Mexico has chrome head lugs and rear triangle but the plating doesn't even cover the entire stays (paint chips prove this). Same with the main tubes, again revealed by small paint chips.

DD

My 83 is not fully chromed either, just the head tube with lugs and the chain stays with DO's. NOT the seat stays. Fork is fully chromed.
[MENTION=309935]GiovanniLiCalsi[/MENTION] - Nice find and I really like that most of the rear triangle is chrome! AO bath would be appropriate. Worked really well for mine.

Clean it up and ride it. Repaint? Tough call.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJX426 (Post 21786669)

I have one of the best frame restorers, that can make the best restoration. I don’t restore my antique bicycles, but my later bicycles are fine with restorations. I’m not a bicycle flipper. My bicycles are keepers.

Well doesn’t look to fit neatly into any single category of model but not the first time we’ve seen this from Italian builders in the 70’s and 80’s. If it were mine, I think I’d call it a Superissimo because of the chrome lugs. If it had crimped top tube, you could maybe consider Nuovo Mexico. Maybe call it a Nuovo Super? Any any rate, very cool bike and will clean up nicely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs (Post 21787066)

Every bicycle expert, that has seen it, is perplexed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GiovanniLiCalsi (Post 21787295)

Every bicycle expert, that has seen it, is perplexed.

Meant to put this in my other reply. Similar to what you posted earlier, but just in case you haven't seen it.

Velo-Retro: Colnago Super Timeline

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs (Post 21787378)

Meant to put this in my other reply. Similar to what you posted earlier, but just in case you haven't seen it.

Velo-Retro: Colnago Super Timeline

No indentions or flutes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GiovanniLiCalsi (Post 21787505)

no indentions or flutes.
your Velo link is broken.

velo-retro.com does not support secure connections (https). Change the https in the link to http and it will work fine.