Just picked up a Colnago from friend of friend for a case of beer. It looks nice from a distance of a few feet but up close there is some surface rust on the frame and the components. The components are a curious mix of Dura Ace and RX100 (like 105). The Dura Ace is I think early 80s, the RX100 is mid 80s. The Dura Ace components are: Brake levers, callipers, f and r derailleurs, cranks and BB. The RX100 is shifters and hubs. I suspect that it has been "upgraded" to 7 speed index at some point by changing the wheels and shifters. Can't yet find a serial number but loads of pics attached. Any ideas what year and model, and is it worth repainting? Rides very nicely and paint scheme is certainly "unusual". If early 80s frame was it unusal for Japanese component to be installed rather than Campy??

Bargains can be had and I think you got the bargain of the year so far.

Typical Colnago paint scheme and, yes, it is worth repainting.

The bike today: The frame was probably purchased 2nd hand and then fitted out with components.

Why 2nd hand? The headset is a Campy Super Record - top of the range and probably original. The frame was probably stripped by the original owner then sold.

Nice frame - best of luck,

Gary.

Forgot to mention it has a Campy 27.2mm seatpost with a Rolls leather saddle. Perhaps this is more evidence it was originally Campy equipped?

worth repainting....... yes but imo, a judicious cleaning and polishing would reward with a better than acceptable and far more desireable original paint scheme. to my way of thinking, a repaint should always be a last resort option.

If you look more closely, you'll see that the headset is a Tange.

I'd have to agree with caterham about the paint, unless there's an excess of rust that needs to be removed and painted over, I think elbow grease is the best finish for any bike with original paint.

Some folks are born with a horseshoe in the right place!! Nice find. Lp

It's a tange headset. The post looks like it could potentially be super record. The parts appear older than the frame, at least the brakes are I think. The RX 100 stuff is from the 90s so it has been modified to keep up with technology it would seem. It would be reasonable to assume that it was built up with a mostly dura-ace group to begin with.

what a deal, I hope that was some really good beer! I agree with all the above comments and if you want to replace the Japanese stuff (some of the DA could have been original since many Colnagos were sold as "build-to-suit) with Campy I would be interested in the black brakes and might have some Campy brakes you'd like in trade. So PM me if so.

At least some of the parts should be appreciated by the vintage crowd.
Cranks & probably RD are early Dura-Ace and brakes are Dura-Ace EX from mid 70's to early 80's and they're black - this stuff is rather sought after and expensive. If the seatpost is Camp., it also isn't cheap stuff, that one should be a Super Record.
The frame itself is apparently a real Colnago, I'd say late 80's, but none of the then top-of-the-line models - AND: it's got the wrong fork, this is NO Colnago fork (what brand dropouts?). So don't expect the frame to be too worshipped by the purists .
But you can't go wrong with trading that kind of stuff for a case of beer, I'd do that in a minute.

[Oh, and I forgot: the seatpost binder bolt looks like a Campagnolo one. So you have there a $15 part at the very least, worth a bit more than the case of beer - ridiculous, isn't it!?]

Fork drop outs are unbranded, so possibly a replacement fork (cheap one).
Hoping someone will know the model name of this frame, and the year. That will then give me an idea of what components are contemporary.

I concur,

I detest the paint scheme, but I love the frame!

"Just picked up a Colnago from friend of friend for a case of beer."

There's a country and western song in there somewhere ...

not exactly sure of the model- vintage is definately late 80's

I'll give you 2 cases of beer for it, thats 100% profit.

you are all heart

ask for Castle Lager

I need to get some better friend-of-friends

That bike is incredibly ugly! Send it to me and I'll dispose of it properly for you, no charge.