'73 Spence Wolf Cinelli With Original Documents
 

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I don't really need another Cinelli, especially another '73 SC, but I couldn't pass on this almost entirely intact '73 SC that came through Spence Wolf's shop. The seller's father-in-law bought it from Cupertino Bike Shop in '73 and then gave it to him the following year.

It's a nearly completely original example but, what really sold me was the folder of original price lists and correspondence between Spence and the original purchaser. I just couldn't pass it up, especially as it was a reasonable price.

It lacks some of the frequent Spence options such as Alpine RD, TA crank set, Weinmann/Mafac brake set, etc. But, it does feature the chrome stay/fork options, his frequent request to not include downtube decals, and an interesting GB Randonneur bar option, as confirmed by the build sheet.

I figured that it would be good to memorialize some of the Spence options, including the prices, for future reference. It's interesting that the upper World Championship stripe decals are upside down than what is most common. This is sometimes seen as a sign of a repaint, but the seller said that he was certain that the bike had never been painted, which seems to be accurate.

Bike is pictured as found. Please feel free to make me an offer to buy these genuine vintage reflectors!

Cheers!
Bob

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This is some Show And Tell week by both you, and Dave B with superlative Italian rides. Thanks for sharing and congrats!

(Too cool having those docs and I'd keep those ridiculously looking reflectors on it.)

Huh, first time I've seen those sideways reflectors. Sending a PM for both, one for me and the girlfriend. Nice spot there right behind the seatube.

Gorgeous bike...70s was a lovely era. Feels like it was the last gasp before modernity really hit cycling, both in function and form.

Nice. I don't know if I'd stand for jacking the price like he did. :)

Bob , that is super nice . Having the paperwork is almost as nice as the bike itself. It makes the bike more enjoyable having documented history. To me , history is important and I have verbal history on a few of my bikes. When I bought my Raleigh from the original owner , who was from Cupertino , I asked if he had the receipt or any paperwork for the bike . He looked at me as if I was crazy ….”paperwork for a bicycle?” He did tell me the history of buying the bike and then never riding it . He actually bought it for his wife! He ended up going back to the shop and buying his International , so he just put the Competition GS away because she hated the bike. All I have is the shop sticker that is still on the bike.

Wow, the bike looks great and the paperwork is very interesting.

CPI inflation calculator: $687 in 1973 is $4925 now.

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recall seeing all of the little Spence Wolf details such as his touring rear derailleur with the Simplex arm and the MAFAC brake boosters at his shop on Randy Lane in the early 'lxx's

worked on a customer's 1959 Spence Wolf Cinelli

it was fitted with the Cinelli-Magistroni chainset

this is such a fabulous find - thank you so much for sharing it with the forum! :thumb:


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Special bike, thanks for sharing it and glad it found a home. The reflectors of course were mandated by California law.

These bikes came from Italy in wooden crates. they were packed in straw.

two interesting items on the bike to point out - note the top tube bumper, this was a Spence trademark, to keep the bars from denting the top tube. Also note the absolutely perfect service loops on the brake cables. not a millimeter too much.

here's the Randy lane house a few years ago. The shop was in the garage. it was right across the street from Apple Computer HQ in the 90s.

I remember seeing a Teledyne in that window !

that's Vance Sprock holding the sign. He owned Cupertino Bike Shop, and closed it last year

/markp

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Fantastic post and bike! PM sent. Thank you for posting this bike and documentation.

Guy

That explains a lot, because otherwise :troll:

Hmm, maybe someone should engineer some C&V-appropriate reflectors, with polished aluminum surrounds and mounting bands and stainless-steel Allen-key bolts. ;)

The bike is neat; the paperwork maybe even more so.

Bob,
I'm glad this bike and its great documentation ended up in such good hands!
Brent

That's very cool. So when did Spence Wolf retire/sell the shop? From what I could find, the latest owner closed the store in 2022, noted as 33 years after he started--so 1989. But was Spence Wolf running the shop through the 1980s?

I think the champion stickers were placed without continuity

here is my 1971 size 53 and 58

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Notice the same pump?! The 53
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The 58.

That pump Does suggest that the chosen Italian builders got the latest from the ancillary suppliers quite a bit prior to the broader customer base.

Masi benefitted this way from time to time, say from 3ttt.

the shop I worked from did not see frame fit pumps until late 1972, and it was here and there, not standard, but a surprise.
when Masi started production in Carlsbad they had from the start painted to match frame fit pumps for a number of the colors. The paint was not glossy but matched well and had MASI logotype gold foil stampings.

later other Italian brands in 1973 arrived with branded foil stamped Silca pumps. Below the Silca Impero decoration.

...FWIW, tied and soldered spokes were also commonly found on bikes like this coming from Spence Wolf.

bibliobob: Holy poop! Holy poop! Holy poop! What a find! At 61cm ctc, it ought to fit you very well. I look forward to seeing it at a Third Saturday ride. Or at Eroica. Or at both.

If there is a concours at Eroica CA, or even if there is just a place to display bikes, you definitely ought to show this one with the provenance (laminated copies thereof - I wouldn't let the originals out of the house). It's very much worthy of sharing.

This bike has the thin white tape(?) demarcation between the chrome and the paint that I would like to use on my own bike. Do you know what it is? Is it some type of tape?

Wow, great find! Amazing to have all that paper for the bike!

Can't exactly fill in the blanks, though there was an interesting era after Spence Wolfe. Could be incorrect here, and hoping Charlie Kelly will see this thread and pipe in. This timeline would be after the OP subject bike and possibly in '76.

I think John Finley-Scott purchased the shop from Spence Wolfe. Or perhaps he was a vested partner, Rob Jensen I dont know. The Santa Clara location?? Then Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher were getting support from Finley-Scott for their newly formed company named 'Mountain Bike'. There's bits of info on thee interwebs. It is 2024, afterall ; - That support came with supplying them components/ TA cranks etc., seed financing, usage of a word processor.

Then Vance acquired the shop from Jensen and Finley-Scott?

Welcome all to correct me and fill in the blanks.

Ps. According to records of Spence Wolfe, a quantity of 66, model SC were sold in 1973.

Outstanding Report!
 

Great bike and fascinating historical documents! Looking forward to seeing it in person, soon.

​​​​​​Thanks very much for those details and the photos, Mark Markp ! Good to know. I met Vance on the recent Peter Rich HOF induction ride and had a nice chat with him. Appreciate your input!

Thanks, Guy. Appreciate all that you do for the vintage bike community!

Yes! I was a little disappointed that this bike didn't have them.
Correction! The rear wheel is indeed tied and soldered.