Every Wednesday when I go in to the Bike exchange to drop off what ever I have been working on I seem to come away with another bike in need of restoration This week I dropped off a 1979 Centurion Elite I repainted in a stunning black metallic . siting in the back was this somewhat thrashed Bianchi. My best guess is it's a 1982 Champione Del Mundo. it is all Campi, including the hubs, derailleurs, shifters, brakes and brake levers. It has 3ttt bars and a unmarked stem with Campi head set. The paint as shown is good/ bad, with the rear triangle and top tube badly scratched and marked but the seat , down, and head tubes pretty good with intact decals. The big bad is the fork which is bent.

We have a fork straightening tool at the shop so hopefully I can get it right. I have gotten serious flack in the past for repainting bikes (it is only original once) . My thought, since it is black , is to repaint the rear triangle and maybe the top tube and clean/ clear coat everything else.

Questions:
Is this a high end Bianchi?
Should I try to improve the appearance by a partial repaint or just clean and wax and let all the flaws show. ?
The bike has a bianchi branded fluted seat post. My bike shop friend says it is a rare item and wants it for one of his projects. He wants me to trade it for a Campi seat post. Should I do it. He gives the bike exchange lots of very nice trade in bikes for us to fix up and sell.

What Columbus sticker is that, you sure only the fork is bent, dropouts?

Not high end but mid-range. The Camapgnolo Nuovo Record deralleurs, in conjuction with Campagnolo Gran Sport crankset and brakes, Piaggio decals, the Bianchi logo style and what appears to be a Columbus Tretubi decal, suggest a circa 1982 Bianchi Campione Del Mondo.

To answer the OP question, yes. Let it go, too many variables to make it worthwhile imo. Bank the favour from your friend

Finished dismantling the bike Friday. I looked closely at the frame and there does not appear to be any bending at the top or down tube. One fork Blade looks like it is bent backwards. The fork bound in the steer tube at the 3 o clock and 9 o clock positions. After puling the fork the steer tube looks to be out of plumb by about 1/2 inch . No noticeable bend in it. If you lay a straight edge across the fork crown which is a machined flat surface the top of the steer tube is 1/2 inch further from it than the bottom next to the crown . I truly don't understand how that is possible. My bike shop friend said he knows someone with a 10 ton press that can try to pound it into shape**********

If that doesn't work I have another fork from an old Bob Jackson frame I ruined trying to drill the stuck seat post out . It has a slightly more modern sloped crown fork with Campi drop outs. Not original but a nice piece. Don't know how it will affect the value of the bike.

I tried to remove the 6 sp Regina freewheel yesterday. Turns out it is frozen solid and Someone earlier broke the slots in it so the extractor won't work. I removed all the cogs and put a pipe wrench on the freewheel carcass but couldn't budge it. I flooded it with liquid wrench and next time I go to the shop I will see if using a 4 ft pipe extension on the wrench will do the trick . I have another rear wheel but would rather have a matched set. ( Campi hubs and Mavic rims.)

Today I sanded down the rear triangle, masking off the rest of the bike, and primed it with primer/ filler. Tomorrow I will sand it back and see how well the primer filled in the chips. Then a couple coats of Rustoleum Automotive Black Enamel. I have already rubbed out the other tubes and when the rear is done will touch up a couple scratches and clear coat everything in Rustoleum automotive clear. It should look pretty good.

It is notoriously hard to straighten a bent steering column. Typically, they bend just above the crown race. Any bend results in misalignment of the top and bottom headset races causing abnomal wear and making proper adjustment difficult. The best solution is to have a framebuilder replace the steering column or install a replacement fork.

There should be a serial number, in two parts, on both sides of the seat lug. This will allow us to determine the year of your Campione del Mondo, though I believe it to be circa 1982.

[MENTION=425004]merziac[/MENTION], why do you do this???

Mine was a bit worse off when I found it, only a frame with a newer fork due to a crash. Great riding bike after the rebuild, which turned out to be a bit of a resto-mod, with the correct brakes and drive train. I think it’s worth putting some effort into it.
Anyway, T-Mar, and sorry to hijack the thread a bit, but I’ve been trying to figure out what year mine is. The numbers on the left side of the seat lug are 9624, and the right side has 1. L , the period is actually a dot centered between the 1 and the L on the right side. Thanks in advance!
Tim

To make sure you"re paying attention and keep you on your toes.

Why do you ask???

You quote the op verbatim, right below it, with every attached pic to keep us at attention? Seriously, why do we need a duplicate of the op? I appreciate your posts, but this is so unnecessary. What if everybody did that?

Your frame was manufactured in Italy during 1981 but late enough in the calendar year that it should be a 1982 model. Too bad about the fork.

Thanks T-Mar!
So I take it the 1 is for 81, and the L is for Dec. Yeah, tried to source an original fork for it, but gave up, original owner spent quite a bit for the new fork from Bianchi, so just matched the Celestes with the repaint.
Original frame, and replacement fork was given to me by a local mech, on the condition that I build it up and ride it.
Overall quite pleased with it, only notice the fork when I look down. Had an Asian paramount prior, so while not my ideal, I got used to the look. That bike was a great ride also
Thanks again, Tim



1992 Series 5 Paramount

Looking through the Bianchi at the 1959 Capo, the Schwinn, and an old MTB frame. The Capo Siegers are behind me.

For what it's worth, my 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, serial number indicating a late 1981 build. Top picture was shot through the Bianchi, giving you another look at the "charcoal" color, which I rarely see on Bianchis, so I am glad to see yours.

Mine probably has the same TreTubi frame, albeit made for someone a bit shorter than yours. Original crankset = Ofmega CX; original brakeset = Modolo Speedy; Campag. pedals, NR derailleurs; Ofmega hubs; original rims silver, probably Nisi

While the "1" designates 1981, the "L" is not December. We see lots of Bianchi that turn up with an "M" and enough with an "N" to suggest that they're legitimate and not some factory error. Unlike several other manufacturers, Bianch doesn't skip the letter "I" either. While the exact meaning on the"L" is unknown, it does appear to be from late enough in the calendar year to represent the upcoming model year.

Thanks again T-Mar.
Tim

I guess we're still sorting out the Bianchi serial numbering scheme, which may well have inconsistencies, as with so many other manufacturers. I have seen fortnightly schemes, which consume all 26 letters. I wonder if Bianchi used some sort of 4-week (double fortnightly) scheme, with 13 four-week "months" per year. That would get you to my "M," but not to "N." Like yours, mine fits the 1982 description and catalog better than the 1981, except for the "charcoal" color.

lol.....there are threads where this is done. quote 8 large file pics just to reply "nice!!""

Probaly as a result of all those triple Cinzano pranzi.