Hi, need Puch Mistral help!!!
 

Hi all, I am hoping that someone can tell me more about this frame.

It's got a Columbus sticker, so I think it's a Bianchi build (early 90s). Dropouts are Gipiemme.

Can't find a serial number.

I am interested to know:

1. approx build year and likely tubing?
2. what group would this bke have been sold with?
3. don't have the fork for it, so if someone knows of the whereabouts of a fork (or what type of fork it would have had) that info would be much appreciated as well.

Thanks,

I think the Mistral was the top of the line Puch in its day. Most likely Columbus SLX tubing if it has a Columbus sticker on it, but then again the decal doesn't say SLX, so it may be a lesser Columbus material. Also, most top of the line bikes had Campy drops, not Gipiemme. Hmmm...

OK, makes sense ...
 

Yes, it's definately a better quality build of frame, but as you say - no SLX sticker and the Gip dropouts would suggest something lower down.

I'm thinking probably Aelle, which is not bad thing.

Thanks for your help.

check the tubes from the BB shell to be sure it's not SLX... it has two sets of bottle braze ons so that puts it in the late 80s to early 90s.

1. It is not a Bianchi but a origin Puch build.
2. Sticker says Columbus SL not SLX. Puch usually marked their bikes accordingly.
3. I would say it is a mid to late 80ies bike.
4. Ther were different Mistral models such as a SLE model coming with different setups.
5. The better versions came with Campy Super record cheaper ones also with Shimano 600. Real low line models also had Sachs Huret gruppos and lesser weinmann brakes. For this particular frame I would go for campy.
6. I will check a original catalogue I have and will get backt to this. Meanwhile look at a catalogue here:
http://http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/...81(in_German)/
This will show that your bike is after 81. The spec sheets will give you a pretty exact picture how they were kitted.

Fixed link: Click on "Bike Catalogs", then "PuchMistral-81" ...
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/

Thanks
 

Guys, thanks very much. I really thought it was younger!

If anyone has a scan of the catalogue that this frame was featured in, I would be ecstatic if they could pass it on.

OK, now to:

1) find a fork that matches it
2) decide whether to put:
A) late 80s Mavic group,
B) mid 80s SR group, or
c) early 90s Athena group on it

I am thinking I'll go with C) and ride it, and save B) for something italian, and C) for either a Bottechia or something French!

Any comments or suggestions?