I don't know how to date this bike as I'm not sure which components are original.

I have not cleaned a thing yet, but this sure would make a sweet winter project for me.

I guess that the Campy dropouts had me thinking early 70's

I've been looking for an Italian bike in my size for quite some time and I thought that this may be a keeper, but I could be mistaken.
It looks like the parts have been replaced over the years and I am wondering if any of you guys know what it may have originally came with? And the model name? And the year? (And how about throwing in an X-Lg pizza with that order too!)

First, can you please tell me what kind of pedals these may be? The bearings are incredibly smooth!

Ideale saddle, Campy downtube shifters, Universal brakes, unknown cottered crankset, 3T stem and bars, Ofmega headset, and pedals I should think would be original.

Questionable: Shimano hubs, Araya rims, Suntour Vx rear der, and Huret front der......
This is my first time on an Italian bike in many moons, It sure does ride nice

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There was a NOS Legnano on e-Bay a while back that looked somewhat like yours, but it didn't have as nice a frame (Stamped dropouts, not forged). It had Campagnolo 980 derailleurs & universal brakes but the levers were Galli gg 80. PM me your e-mail & I can send you some pics that may give some help with original parts. Don
edit: Here's a few pics, many more available

Gosh this is a little more difficult than usual because of the parts changeouts/upgrades. I am leaning more towards late '60s or early '70s lower end frame (compared to earlier models such as Roma Olympiade). Still has Campi dropouts and forktips(?). Any serial number at top of seatpost? Any sticker on downtube that says 'Gran Premio'? Can anyone put a range of years on that RD? That might help. Let's get some more input here from Legnano lovers.

Nice bike. Dont have many answers, but the pedals look like Lyotard steel. Very comon on a bike of that vintage. Original derailleur might have been Campy Valentino, maybe Gran Sport. Steel crank looks original. Wheels were replaced. I'd replace the derailleurs and ride it. Put a nice set of wheels on it in the future.

There's a '48 Legnano on eBay right now with the real long dropouts needed for that scary rear derailleur system Bartoli used.

Thank you so much Don, PM is on the way.

Thanks Big Chainring, I like these pedals!

There's no serial # on the seat post that I can find. Nothing on the bottom bracket either. I'll clean the rear drops and check there.

And Retyred, Yes, drops are Campagnolo and the cable stays are stamped Campagnolo as well:

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It's definitely no earlier than 1968. The seat lug has the boss on the back for the Universal 68 center-pull brakes. Legnano could not use the standard method of attaching the cable hanger via the seat post's cinch bolt, due to the bolts location on their models. As to the model, I could not open all of the pictures, but appears to be a Gran Premio.

I may be able to narrow it down furtter, but have to do some research.

Thanks T-Mar,

I don't know anything about Itallian steel (Other than the fact that I want to steal the Big Bossman's bike for a 10 minute joy ride ) , but like this bike. Was I correct in thinking that these brakes are original?

And could you tell me a bit about that Gran Premio model?

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I think its mid/late 70s, lowend bikeboom. Look at the headtube, I believe its a stamped and welded one-piece with integral lugs, and the inexpensive shiftlevers and stem. Probably had Valentino originally.

OK. Back to your Legnano. I erred re location of serial no. I meant 'seat tube'. Legnanos usually have a serial no. stamped into the seat tube at the very top of the tube. Not that it means anything; I have never seen a chart of serial nos such as Raleigh or Schwinn uses to date their bikes. You might want to check over the cranks and chainrings in hopes of finding a stamped date code. One other item I noticed was the lack of the classic headbadge. A high end Legnano recently sold on eBay also lacked the headbadge and was identified as a 1972 by the original owner. So at some point in time Legnano eliminated the headbadge and went with a decal version. Not sure when that took place. Perhaps another C&V member can help out with a headtube marking timeline.

I think when they went from the "hotdog" shaped downtube decal (stenciled) to the "slanted" shown here they dropped the headbadge. Early 70s from what I've observed.

I erred too. I mixed up my Universal model 61 and model 68 brakesets! The boss on the back of the seat lug dates from 1961 onwards. However, the presence of a downtube decal still puts it no earlier than circa1968. The binder bolt position was re-located to the standard position (behind the seat lug) in the mid-1970s, so it would appear to be a boom era model.

Forged Campagnolo dropouts indicate one of the better models. It has the three piece binder bolt, so it would not appear to be the top of the line Roma. I believe that it may be a Gran Premio, which was 2nd from the top of the line. I appreciate what dbakl says aout the shift lever and stem, but typically bicycles outfitted with Valentino used stamped dropouts. I suspect the frame may have been stripped of its parts and later rebuilt. For instance, even though Legnano used Universal brakes, the installed pair are likely not original. The presence of the hanger boss suggests that it was originally equipped with model 61 center-pull brakes. The known exception was the Roma, which retained the boss, but used the Record side-pulls once they became available.

hmm, I don't think the Campagnolo dropouts indicate anything special. In the 60s there were Gran Premios and Tipo Romas, but not sure that carried through into the 70s; they made whatever they could sell.

Looks like one I restored and sold some time ago; I'll repeat: Stamped and formed one-piece headtube and front lugs; inexpensive shiftlevers and stem; probably Valentino deraillers, Tipo hubs originally. Check out the crank and lack of model number on the Universal brakes. A cheap Italian bike boom bike with Campagnolo from a popular brand, but nothing to write home about.

Bigwoo, from comparing it to my mid-70ies "Valentino" Vicini, (https://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/v/martl/vicini/) i'd put yur red Legnano in the 60ies, mid-level stuff. From the picture it looks as if the rear brake has a longer reach than the front one? then it might be early 60ies even.

Winter project, huh? For who? https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/461291988.html

Just like that Schwinn tandem you couldn't possibly sell because it belonged to your grandparents...
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/251137-schwinn-tandem-question.html

...or that Browning you tried to sell me only two days after implying it'd be kept. https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/253151-update-browning-belgium-gitane-olympic-record.html


I can't see how misrepresenting yourself so consistently could possibly be a good thing.

Come on now cinco, you know it's Veloswap weekend here in Denver. The biggest bike weekend of the year for us. No need to stew because you didn't get the tandem or Browning. You had an opportunity and you passed, let it go. I'll keep the bike for a personal build for anything less than $299 because an Itallian ride in my size with heritage is worth that to me, but if one of the veloswapper's wants it for that price, out the door it goes. There's no shame in trying to refine and better my personal rides through flipping.....Flipping has built my personal stable..The agreement with the little lady is "1 comes in, 1 must go out, preferrably 2" The odds of somebody taking it are very, very, very slim, so I'll likely be building it and selling a Schwinn..... The last time I checked, this was a public forum, not a gossip inquisition

You are welcome to PM me or call if you'd like to discuss something

Martl, you my friend have a HECK of an eye! I never would have noticed the size difference had you not mentioned it!!

The rear is 1/2" longer than the front! What is that all about?? (Front cable is off due to rott and a completely shattered casing)

700C wheels, so is that a frame geometry thing?
What do you know about them using different sized calipers?
Either way, very, very impressive eye that you've got

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You misunderstand - I'm not stewing. But you've lied to me about more than one point (and badly) and I don't think it's right. Apparently you don't remember telling me that the Schwinn tandem belonged to your recently dearly departed sweet old grandfather (while I was down there looking at the Browning) and that you could never sell it as it had way too much sentemental value to you. I rarely mind missing a chance to buy something, but that wasn't true and that's not right.

You're lying to the good folk here by offering something for sale (regardless of expectation) and at the same time telling them you'll be keeping it and asking for help, and I don't think that's right either. Just be honest, I doubt anyone will mind. That's the last I'll say about it.

you flatter me Its just that sometimes in the 80is my dad gave me his old 1951 Girardengo with the same feature, and as i used it as a daily rider for some time. Common "long reach" racing brakes would fit in the front, but not in the rear. Finding a decent "very long" brake was impossible.
Later i learned that feature was quite common in the 50ies and 60ies, for using wider tires and fenders. The Universal brakes you have there on the bike actually came as a pair, and because of all that i'm guessing they came with the bike.
Definitely no one built racers with the longer rear brake any more in the 70ies. That bike is older

M.

Must respectfully disagree with you. Decal pattern and lack of headbadge indicate a newer model. Also doesn't threaded boss on seat tube indicate centerpull brakes which would have a longer reach?

Longer reach rear brakes were still very common during the early 1970's boom period.

Thanks cinco, if you have something positive to contribute to the topic in the future, I welcome your comments. But if you choose to demonstrate behavior nearer pouting or a tantrum, I shall ask you to move on to the next post without responding.

You may want to park that childish high horse at the gate when you sign in to the forum

Thank you martl, I am guessing that the brakes are indeed original, (mainly because there's just no sign of a wrench having nicked the paint/changed anything out) and I have never owned a bike with 2 different sized calipers.

BTW, I'll bet that Girardengo is a sweeeet ride!

Well FWIW, I thought I may have been close to a date because the old metal "State of Wyoming" license plate was stamped 1973.... but I suppose that somebody could have registered the bike at some earlier point....and/or later point for that matter

T-Mar, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to look at the "Made in Italy" decals in the future/when somebody else runs into one of these. Mine is where the top tube meets the head tube. And other era's seem to be on the seat post, and others yet on the downtube. That would make for an interesting archive, to date things based on where the decals were placed.... But then, I'm no expert at archiving things either. It's just a thought....