I apologize in advance for the lack of information I'm about to provide and the complete vagueness of the following post, but i'd appreciate your help in determining a value for this bike.

Tomorrow I'm going to go take a look at a Masi. The owner doesn't really ride and doesn't know much about what he has, masis, or bikes in general. This is what i've managed to extract from him....

It's an 1982 or 1983 frame, supposedly an italian, not california made masi.
It hasn't been ridden in the last 5 years and is just gathering dust. He's at least the 2nd owner.
it could be a 56cm
apparently it doesn't have the original fork, the replacement may or may not be aluminum.
it is outfitted with 5-speed shimano components (this doesn't make sense to me at all)
The only thing i'm sure of is that it isn't my size, ant that it'll end up being passed along to my sister, or a friend or someone else much much shorter than me.

Given this lack of information anyone want to venture a ballpark guess at what it's worth? I know the lack of an original fork will make the value drop a lot.
thanks!

You didn't give us much to go on - if will depend on the condition of the frame and it's size, small sizes and bigger frames are worth less. One of the things I have found out about Masi's just because he says it isn't a Californian doesn't meant it's so and just because it has a alum fork doesn't mean it isn't orginal.
A couple of things to look for - what it the tube set sticker, what does the bottom bracket look like and what number are on it, is there a model name. You might educate yourself by looking at several of the sites online that show the various lines and show a chronolgy of when the frames were built. I own 2 Masi 3V'S frames in pretty good shape and I paid $300 and $450 for the other - I was recently offered $600 for one. I probably sell one and wissfully wish I could find a Chris Chance in my size.

You guys make it sound like a Carlsbad Masi is a bad thing - pristine ones bring as much (sometimes more) than the equivalent Italian ones. The most valuable ones arise from the Pre-California era, of course. I think an early 80's Masi will have some worth, although condition will set the price more than anything. A replacement fork is really gonna drive the price down. Finding an original one is tough to, like, impossible. You could probably find someone who would build a replacement, but the cost is gonna be significant.

Shimano parts will drive the price down as well, although an early dura ace or 600 arabesque group also has worth in its own right.

All of that said, the demand for this manufacturer is high enough that people will queue up to buy a beater. If you can afford some time to wait with the seller, post a picture and there are people here who can give you a good figure for a redo on it. That'll give you a good idea what the starting price should be. Otherwise, I think $100 is a really good deal for any masi, $200-250 is probably what most people would expect to pay for Masi bones.

Is it a Gran Criterium? A Nuovo Strada? A 3V Volumetrica? A Prestige? Knowing the model will be an important first step. Check the Bottom Bracket to see if it has an "M" cut-out. See what the serial number is on the bottom bracket and write it down. Then post the serial number back here at this forum. There are many experts on Masi's out there in cyber land I have discovered. I agree that California Masi's are sweet! The detailing and perfection of the lugs, paint, decals and everything is right up there with other high dollar American custom frames from the era. I spoke personally with Brian Baylis one of Masi's former builders and he explained that the earlier Italian made Masi's fetch more money because they have a higher "Mojo" factor. When I puchased my Gran Criterium frame brand new back in '78 I bypassed the older Masi that hung next to it because the build quality was sloppier and it lacked the braze-ons that I wanted. Now I come to find out that the old one with the flat fork crown, no braze-ons, the lesser paint is worth a small fortune because of "Mojo" ?! Anyway I can say that I have one of the few Masi California Gran Criteriums that had the "Gran Criterium flags removed from the downtube and it merely says "Masi". Brian Baylis told me that these were made by Ted Kirkbride and that he purposely modified the decals like that on the black frames because the black in the decals didn't look good against the gloss black paint. Take a closer look at the bike, report back on the serial # and maybe post some pictures.

Need some info. If Italian and '82 it will be a Prestige. If it is, I have a original fork, depending on the true size. Remember Masi measures to the top of the seatlug, highest possible point. Lack of a fork will bring down value as enerally shouts crash history, be sure to feel the tubing adjacent to the head lugs for "ripple" evidence of a mishap.

When I worked for a shop that sold Masi's in the 70's, Italian frames had more cache then too, but the Carlsbad bikes were more consistant. Now I have a few of both.

thanks for the help so far. I know i haven't given you much to go on.
I have read most of the CR pages and the masi lore and history stuff, and the serial number charts and i tried to extract as much as I could from the seller over the phone, but frankly he knew absolutely nothing.
to him it's another "10-speed". and since the bike was over at his office he couldn't even answer any of my questions.
plus, i didn't want to sound too excited and let him on to what he potentially has there in his basement.

so, given the following scenario: '82 prestige (no rust, dents, decent paint) with non-original fork and mismatched shimano group would $250 be unreasonable?

hell no.

excellent.....
now i wish i was shorter

edit: wait, "hell no" as in not un-reasonable? or hell no, walk away?

The price sounds unreasonable to the seller from what you described, given no crash damage.

hell no it's not an unreasonable price to pay.
(hmm double negatives.)
I'd pay that much for an 82 Masi prestige.

marty

hence my interest

it's all just speculation at this point. I'll report back tonight with my findings.
and some pictures.
of the bike.
in my basement.....

thanks guys.

uh, make haste, Mr. baxtefer. There are Masi snatchers abounding, even in BC...

BC, well probably is a Prestige... Only Prestiges at that time in the states were grey market.

Will have to wait for the images.

ugh, I still haven't seen it.

so, i finally got to see it. It was a bit disappointing.
Turns out it is a Nuova Strada. the frame was in decent shape, with the normal scratches and scrapes from use. it looks like the frame is fully chromed under the paint.
unfortunately the total mismash of parts made it a masi lover's worst nightmare.

Frame: 52cm Nuova Strada. Columbus SLX-SP. White/Blue fade.
Cinelli BB shell, campagnolo dropouts.
SN 6196. I'm sure about the 196, the first digit may have been an 8. Hard to read, it wasn't colored in like the rest of the numbers. So i guess this is a 1986/1988 ish frame, eh?
Fork: generic aluminum (ugh)
Headset: Tange Levin
Brakes: Dia Compe w/ DC aero levers.
shifters: unmarked shimano stuff from the mid 90's
cranks/derailleurs: Campy Nuovo Record (i think - i don't know my campy that well, but the rear derailleur was for sure NR) 6-speed.
wheels: miche competizione on wolber hard anodized clincher rims.
stem/bars: cinelli

sorry, no pictures. i forgot my camera.
I haven't decided if it's worth it to me, seeing as it's a good 8cm too small.

What was cool about Masi for such a long time is that they only made one level of frame. When the brand managers came in..., we won't go there.

I responded to this fella off Craigs' List in Vancouver. Ad said he was 5'8" and had no clue about the frame size. I got his number but never rang him up. A 52 cm frame would be just too small and I only take a 56 cm!