Picked up a Merckx yesterday. only cost 300.00 even though it needs some touch up and parts upgrade. Was wondering, on this model, it does not have the corsa, corsa extra, etc decal on the frame. Is this an earlier model? Also, it does have some super record parts-head set and brake calipers which could mean early eighties. I need help with the year and the model. sorry, no tube decal either so i dont know if its columbus or reynolds. Any help appreciated

sorry. forgot the pics. here they are. now maybe someone can shed some light on the model and year> thanks much

Score!!

From what I can see, maybe 86/87?

vjp

What years were those bands with the pink and yellow Giro and Tour national outlines in use?

Not super-early - it's got the sloping fork crown. Older ones have the flat crown. But definitely a Corsa or Corsa Extra. You lucky duck!

SP
Bend, OR

Wow great buy. Could be 86, 87 but I would bet a Corsa not a Corsa Extra with SL tubing?
Lettering and top mounted cable guides look early but the fork looks later.


If you look at the 1990 catalog, the Corsa has the top mounted cable guides but the fork crown is flat. The other bikes have the sloping fork crown.

whatever it is, you really scored. I'd pay that much for the frame alone.

Below is an older photo of my ca 1992 Merckx Corsa, which is marked very similar to yours and has the sloping crown fork. However, it did not come with that fork, but had a flat crown fork. I chose to use the sloping crown fork because I liked the looks better. A photo of the original fork is below also.

ok. sorry. so let me see...bb has a 7 on one side 1667 on one side and a 3 on another side. so 1667 serial number not sure about the lone 3 and the ljone 7 i know it measures a 54 cto c so i dont think its a 53 maybe an 1983 model?

good start for decoding Merckx serial numbers , not perfect but pretty good.

^ To my eyes, the OP's bike looks a lot like the one identified as an 86/87 Corsa Extra in the link above (5XY-1869-A).

The lettering is different on the downtube.

If the 3 is on the left side of the BB (looking at it from the rear with the bike upside down) and is accompanied by a letter or two, it's a 53 c-c. Eddy didn't mess around with c-t. Try measuring again.

there is no letter at all on the bb so im not sure. im thinking maybe its a 1983 model

I don't believe that there were two sets of bottle bosses on a 1983 frame. Does it have a chainstay bridge? Does it have the cast brake bridge as the one posted above or is it the bridge that goes straight across?

ok sorry!!!! heres a pic of bb. i screwed up and didnt look close it does have a letter z and a letter A on the bb hopefully these pics will help as well. by the way, the gent i bought it from is a great guy that owns a coffee shop that has a vintage bike atmosphere as he was a racer back in the day. ive known him a while and he knows that im one of the few locals that collect and ride vintage steel. this was a female customer of his bike and she seemed happy to sell.

professional?

https://www.cadre.org/Merckx/5A-979-Z/

How about this one. The lettering, fork crown and brake bridge are the same.

that looks like mine-except alot nicer. i think mine may be a professional model. thanks much!!

Better late than never: Eddy Merckx (commonly known, but unofficially "Professional") last version (no chain bridge), Columbus SL, production beginning of 1985. 3 = 53 cm seat tube (cc), A - code for employee EMcycles, Z - series produced from late summer 1984 to autumn 1986, 1667 - beginning of 1985. Stickers with maps of France and Italy and stripes of the World Champion and the inscription MEXICO and numbers were placed from the beginning of production to ~ Z3500 (summer 1985); then, MEXICO with numbers was abandoned (from spring 1984 Eddy Merckx was no longer a record holder in an hour's ride on the track - in the end someone noticed it . Beautiful frame btw - Jacek