Bottecchia Frankenstein
 

First time poster, long time reader. Hi everybody.

I'd like to ask those of you who might be in the know about a bike that I'm calling the "Botox-ia." I bought it off Craigslist for $450, and the seller didn't seem to know anything about the frame except that it was probably a Bottecchia.

Having looked through all the related threads, I'm pretty sure he was right that this is a Bottecchia. The serial number on the BB reads SP 2762 61. So I guess it is Columbus SP tubing and a 61cm frame.

Also, there is a short (maybe 1/2") thing that looks like the head of a nail sticking out on the back of the headtube.

But here's where it gets weird.

After repainting the frame, (and adding the armadillo sticker) the previous owner seems to have purchased that BD Bottecchia full Campy Record deal from a year or two ago and transferred the whole setup from that frame to this one. So yeah, this bike got a pretty hefty Botox treatment.

I should mention that I have no desire to sell or trade or do anything to this bike. It fits like a glove and rides like a dream. Mostly, I'm just really curious to know something about the bike's provenance. Does anybody have any guesses?

I can upload additional pictures if that'll help, once I find that damn camera cord.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=201875http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=201876http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=201877http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=201878

interesting color choice. I am not sure I would assume the SP on the BB stands for SP tubing. too bad the PO did a lousy repaint. I am not sure what if any embellishments a Bottechia frame should have. determining exactly what a repainted frame is can be very difficult.

interesting color.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...7&d=1305393882

Not so much?
 

It seems I've come up empty. I can't say that I love the color either, except to say that the photos come out a little darker than it looks in person, but yeah, it is pretty unappealing.

Still, are there any places I might go to / get in contact with to shed some light on this frame?

Come to think of it, swamp green probably is an appropriate color for a frankenstein bike, no?

Based on the pictures it looks like an '87 - mid 90's Bottecchia frame. The serial number will help us narrow it down but I'll have to check my records. The S/N indicates a 61 cm SP frame and 61 cm would fit with SP tubing and the internally routed cables on an SP frame would make me think early to mid 90's. Originally an SP would have been a painted frame while an SPX would have been fully chrome plated with polished chrome lugs and rear triangle. My guess is that it is an SP frame that probably came originally with Chorus or Athena gruppo.

Looks faster than the armadillo theme would imply.

Looks like an anteater to me. They're slightly quicker than armadillos, but no speedsters :)

The "nail head" is probably a pump peg or a grease nipple.

BRAVO - Frankenbikes are cool...

Much thanks to all the responses, especially Kommissar. I've already starting stashing my quarters away to get it a respectable new coat of paint sometime in the future.

I believe the logo is an armadillo, at least according to Wikipedia. Anteaters apparently have fur, and I confirm that this frame (whatever model it may actually be) is entirely hairless.