just bought an old pinarello frameset and I am facing the weirdest thing I have ever seen on a bike.

the frame seems to have been plastic wrapped, almost 100%. there is a seam along each tube and stay with a plastic coating on the tube. almost like that cover that comes on some modern appliances or a car when in shipping to protect the finish.

But I have never seen it or heard of it on a bike.

Now, I know that Pinarello was notorious for not clear coating their frames, but this has me baffled.

when I peel some of it off (the frame is probably ready for restoration anyway.) the gorgeous black base paint is still in great shape.
But, the columbus decal is coming off with the plastic coating

anyone heard of framesets having been shipped with a protective coating?
was it intended to be permanent or was the shop supposed to have peeled it off before they built it up and delivered it?

I doubt that it was factory-applied. More likely somebody's (misguided) attempt at long-lasting protection. If the wrap takes off the Columbus decal Greg Softley has that (early) style replacement available. I'd get it off and clean/wax the whole thing. Haven't seen one with that style GPT (Giovanni Pinarello, Treviso) on the stay caps before, any idea what year yours is?

Nice!

The wrap was not from the factory. Are you sure that the bike is black and not a really dark navy blue? Battaglin rode a navy blue Pinarello at the '74 Worlds in Montreal.

Weird. Try judicious use of a heat gun to soften the plastic. May help remove it.

I'd get it off. All the plastic will do is trap water against the finish. That never turns out well. As rootboy pointed out, a heat gun will soften any adhesive on the plastic. A blow dryer may provide enough heat.