So, a CL seller sent me some photos of a Marinoni that they are selling and the only thing that they can tell me is that it is constructed of SL tubing.

The seller sent me a picture and I wondered if anyone here can give me some more info, such as the model number or the year of production. The paint appears to be original as I can see the fade-marks from where the decals used to be, so I am guessing late 1980s, would that make this a Marinoni Special? It is just the frame up for offer and I would be putting a Shimano 600 group on it. And yeah, I'll probably paint it, likely black or dark blue with the embossed "Marinoni" on the seat-stays in white to match the white-embossing on the fork. Thanks for any input.

What! No one has found this post? I LOVE LOVE LOVE that paint job.

But, you know, it's your bike to paint as you wish . hehehe

East Hill

Hey Jet,
Having the serial number (under the BB shell) might help. My marinoni is from 1995 and the 1st digit is 5. What follow is probably the month and frame size. The best way to know is to email them the serial. In my case they replied very quicly and told to which shop it was sold, with which gruppo it came, who brazed it (probably mr. Marinoni) etc... Very helpful folks.

If the original gruppo is on and is shimano, check the numbers and consult Sheldon Brown's website for dating info.

Paint job seems 80's indeed. Love it too I really like the pantographs on the seatstay caps. And is that a clamp-on front derailleur? Sheesh...

as far as I know frame size was not in the serial numbers. Looks like a special based on the seat stay cabs and if it used a full SL tube set if almost certainly was. Guiseppe was a fan of mixing tubesets, something I admire. Yes the first digit in the serial number should indicate the year of manufacture. I think this one should have a 5 digit serial number.

Yes, the first digit in the serial number indicates the year. Based on a single set of bottle bosses, no pump peg, a clamp front derialleur and the all chrome fork, I'd guess it is closer to the mid-1980s.

Edit: Agree with Cyclotoine, no month or size in the serrial number. The remaining digits indicate the frame number for the year. At the time, Marinoni was only building about 1200 frames a year, so a five digit serial number would be correct.

The age of the 600 stuff also points to mid 80s... I think the generation of 600 was produced from ~1984-1986?

Yeah no month number sry. However mine has 53 in the end, and well its a 53 cm c-c Maybe a coicidence...

Great info guys, thanks. I am going to test-ride it sometime this week, it would only be the frame that I am getting, I would be trading my 57cm Razesa with SLX tubing for this bike. The Razesa is great but is a bit snug so I figure it is a fair trade. I am however changing a couple of things on the Razesa to see if I can get a better fit so it may be easier to keep that bike if it works out for me. I'll see if he has a serial number, thanks.