I have a cinelli frame from 83 that I would like have repainted since the paint isn`t that good anymore. Chrome still is perfect and there is no rust or other issues.
My question is if anyone has experience with it or knows if Cinelli offers to repaint old frames from them.
What would a nice repaint cost?
Thank you,
Matt

Hi there, I'd have to see pics to back up my opinion but I think you are going to seriously degrade the value of your bike by repainting it. Should you ever choose to sell it, it will fetch much more with the original paint ESPECIALLY if there is no rust or other issues. I would never re-paint my Cinelli. in any case maybe your definition of not that good is different than mine, so pics would help. Oh yeah, to answer your question a basic one colour repaint at a good painter will cost about $300 in my neck of the woods, plus replacement decals and application, say $100, so $400 total.

I think it depends on the Cinelli. With no decals, and poor paint, it's worth less to me. If I can get period-correct decals, and get it painted the same color and apply decals, doesn't bother me a bit, but some collectors like patina and don't want alterations of any kind.

If I'm going to ride it, I'm not worried about value, so a repaint would be on my list, in red, and new decals.

I was going to sell it. I bought it only because of the Campa 50th Anniversery Gruppo that was build on it.
Now I thought it might better sell if it is repainted and has original decals.
If I get a good price for it without decals, that would be ok for me too. I might just try it.


The frame is wine red and has no decals. It was a custom order told me the original owner.
Overall the paint is still good, but on the top tube there are a lot of paintchips from storage.
I imagined that Cinelli might do repaint so it is still somewhat original. If I do a repaint, I really want a very good
quality.

Correction: frame is from 84, what Model: I have no idea. I will post pictures as soon as my Photobooket is running again

The general rule of thumb is that you won't get your money out of a repaint. It's true the vast majority of the time. Let the next owner repaint it - that way they can choose the color.

May I ask the size of this frameset?

Thank you.

Not at all gomango. It`s a 58cm

I concur. I have been on both sides of this issue, in the sense that I am preserving what's left of the original paint on Capo #2, but I paid CyclArt a bit more than the bike is probably worth to repaint Capo #1, which now looks stunning and certainly gets noticed. (Since Capo #1 had already been repainted once, I was spared the whole "original finish" dilemma.) I am pleased with both decisions.

1984 was kind of a bubble year, as the factory was sold to the Columbus family around that time. It may be one to leave alone.

Cinelli changed hands in 1978, so 6 years before this frame was built. Cinelli will repaint your frame if you contact them (they have done it for a friend of mine in Italy), but they won't do it in house, so you might as well get it repainted yourself. I do not know in Luxembourg, but you can definitely find competent painters at very good prices in Italy (less than 150 euros). Decals should also be available.

I have contacted Cinelli now by email. Hope I get an answer soon.
If it isn`t too expensive I will probably let them repaint it. This way they can put the correct decals at the same time.
I just hope the frame doesn`t look too good afterwards cause if so I know I will have problems to let it go

From what I have found on the Internet you are right that Cinelli sold it to the Columbus family in 84.
Citoyen du monde, where did you get the information that Cinelli changed hadns in 78?

When I was researching my Equipe I remember running across the information that Cinelli sold out to the Colombo family/Columbus Tubing in late seventies - 1978, as I recall.

Check Sheldon Brown's comments near middle of page.....

https://italiancyclingjournal.blogspo...9/cinelli.html

Google is your friend.

j

FYI, regarding vintage bicycle research, "on the internet" is not very specific as a source for information. There's tons of incorrect and misleading information "on the internet." So it's only fair, if you're going to challenge someone else's information, to be specific about where you obtained your own.

Sounded more like a question.

Agree though, on the internet will not beat the "personal expertise" source.

I'm happy to replace "challenge" with "question" and let my point stand. If you're going to question information on the basis of your own research, be specific about your own sources.

The more pertinent questions would be:

'Did the person/persons building Super Corsa's continue to build them after the ownership change? Was the transition to Columbo ownership gradual? How long did it take? Is there more than anecdotal evidence to suggest otherwise?'

Cinelli's website states 1978: https://www.cinelli.it/EN/chi_siamo.html
Andrea Cinelli, the son of Cino has confirmed the 1978 date to me.
There are countless articles from the late 70's that confirm the 1978 date.
The corporate registry of Milan confirms the 1978 date.
The change of logo to the winged "C" took place in 1978, much to the chagrin of Cino who did not like it.

The same builders did continue building frames, however the production numbers did increase quite considerably

Here are a few pictures of the frame. As you see the overall condition is good. But the scratches on the Toptube really hurt.
I am currently negotiating with the seller on ebay since he took all the pictures from as low as possible to hide the scratches on
the toptube. I got over 20 pictures, and no one showed the scratches on the TT. My first ripoff on bikes....

There is no way that this frame left Cinelli with that paint. It has been repainted.

I don't know if you are right to say that you got ripped off. In fact I think that it is petty and incorrect to "negotiate" with a seller after the fact: either you accept what you got and shut up or return the item and take your lumps on the return shipping fees.

A quick look at the frame would have shown it to me to be a repaint, no matter the quality of the photos. If the photos were so horribly bad as to prevent you from recognizing anything, then shame on you for not doing your due diligence. Plus in the case of a 50th anniversary bike, the value is invariably in the components. The paint damage has no impact on the ultimate value of the bike as a collector's object, nor on the use of the bike as a tool to ride. When you play with big boys, you need to be a big boy yourself. You more than likely won the bike because others had done thorough due diligence or shied away because of the poor pictures.

BTW, the seatlug bolt is not correct.

This not the end of the world.

Here is to hoping there was not "over" payment.

You have your components. Properly market and sell at your discretion.

Either to use, or to sell, you have your value in those.

Then on to the frame.

You will still have options:

1) Sell as is without any further effort other than an ad and accompanying fees. Not such a bad option keeping in mind the additional costs that may be involved.

2) Have fun with the frame. Have it lovingly refinished and do it some credit. There are at least two painters in this area that would do a "nice" job. Surely you must have access to many more than that at competitive rates.

Under very few circumstances will I talk to a seller about the price after a deal has been negotiated and accepted by both parties.

Agreed that it is poor form.

As for the original owner, he/she may have been honest when they stated it was a custom "paint" order. It just wasn't from the manufacturer, it was from the painter/refinisher.

That would be my interpretation.

I asked for more pictures and the Seller send me over 20 pictures of the bike. Not one of these showed the scratches on the top tube shown in picture n°3.
If then I get the bike and discover these scratches, of course I negotiate. Or I get money back, or I send the frame back. It is obvious that the seller was hiding
somthing if he sends so many pictures but none of it shows the worst and most obvious part of the bike! Don`t you think Citoyen du Monde.

As for the Paint, I am no expert but I asked him if it is the original Paint from Cinelli. He said yes. Sorry if I am not an expert like you are and see this on the pictures.
I would also be ok with this fact, but the part with the scratches not mentioned or documented really makes me flip out.

I think that you are right to be angry with the seller. The seller has the item and can inspect it and inform the buyer as to condition. In general, a buyer does not have the ability to inspect an item and determine its condition. The buyer has to rely on the seller to accurately describe the condition of the item. Note that in general, a seller has a legal obligation to disclose defects that the seller is aware of. If the seller didn't disclose the paint defects on the top tube, he's a dishonest SOB. If the seller deliberately took pictures so as not to disclose the scratches in the paint on the top tube, he's probably guilty of fraud. In this case, the seller should pay for shipping both ways if the buyer's description of events is accurate.

+1 It is a repaint already.

+1 Seller used obviously deceiving pictures.

File a claim with paypal, be prepared to have to return the entire bike. So if the components you got with the bike are worth the total price paid, just consider this one to be a less terrific deal than you thought. But if you are upside down value wise, I would work through paypal, and be ready to return it.