Identifying Pseudo Colnago
 

Hey Guys,

I just picked up a 'Colnago' and I feel like it is a repainted frame of other decent. The original paint I believe is blue (it is chipping on the dropout) but it has been repainted a pastel yellow gradient to darker yellow.

It does not have a club on the bottom bracket nor does it say Colnago on the seat stays. I've only found out this information in hindsight. I am curious if anyone might have any idea's as to what it may be? I am linking to some photos of it and detail shots.

The groupo is completely scatterd� Shimano 300ex crankset, Miche Pedals, Suntour hubs, 3TTT stem , some un labeled deraileur and Weinman brakes�

Thanks in advance for any help.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpoone...7623663616099/

That's a late gitane logo engraved in the forkcrown...and there are Bocama lugs...however, a Gitane of this vintage with Campy portacatena dropouts is not one I'm familiar with. Check the catalogs (1979 and later) at www.gitaneusa.com
EDIT: Looks very much like this 1978 Gitane Olympic (and that ain't bad, tho it's not a Colnago) and I'm amazed that Gitane would be building with Campy portacatena shorty DOs this early. Early enough to get a picture of a 1978 model in that year's catalog. This will cause me to revise my understanding of when those DOs were commonly available.
http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1978_pg2.jpg

Sorry for you loss! Still, may be a nice frame. I would clean up the paint to get rid of the weight! How does it ride?

Well, I only paid about 120 euros for it so it's not a heavy loss and it rides perfectly fine. Of course, it was a hassle to get it but it's a decent bike it seems and now i don't feel so bad if the paint gets scuffed. I will probably bead blast it when I get back to the states and then repaint with a thin layer of paint and return it to its original status except for the paint scheme.

Thank you unworthy1… I had only seen a side photo when I purchased it but, learned my lesson. It's a nice bike but not what I was in the market for. Oh well, at least it is somewhat identified now!

If you search the CR archives there is some discussion that they were available as early as 1976...

vjp

Gawd! who actually pays attention to those blowhards?;)
I might go back and re-read, but I won't tell.
And there's nothing wrong with a Gitane Olympic, IMHO. You might even be pleasantly surprised with how well it rides...even compared to a Colnago (heresy!!)

Congratulations to the OP. You now own a genuine Gitanago.

-Kurt

Pretty funny that the Gitane logo could kinda sorta pass as a club, making the Colnago claim almost believable.

Look on the bright side, you got a top of the line Gitane instead of the bottom of the line Colnago.

Also, looks like the middle brake cable guide was removed to make it more Colnago-esque.

^good point, but this model Gitane also only had 2, when new!

That bike would look very nice with the factory paint job. Shame someone felt they had to make a clone out of it. Could a Super have even been worth much more than a Gitane with those parts?

Colnago's are over priced! Or is it that French bikes are underpriced?!

What's with these fake Colnagos???
I just ran into one the other day at eBay, but at least the seller was admitting that it was a Peugeot frame painted and decaled to look like a Colnago. Must be mostly coming from the same "Colnago counterfeiter". Must have bought a boxfulls of Colnago decals at one time and found a new business to get rid of them with some profit.

Chombi