Colnago Super/Mexico - Saronni red - 56 - where to go from here?
 

Hi All,

A few days ago I did buy a Saronni red Colnago Super size 56. I personally think it is one of the most beautiful bikes around.

- I take it is a Super - can anybody confirm? Any idea of age?

A few photos:

Condition: http://www.flickr.com/photos/overby/6853626045/
Colnago sticker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/overby/6853625755/
Gear: http://www.flickr.com/photos/overby/6853624975
Frame: http://www.flickr.com/photos/overby/6853634519

The bike has been used for max 10 rides - but has been stored in a shed and this has ruined the crome and paint. I don't think it can be restored.

Parts: All parts are virtually unused - even tires and brake pads are completely unused.
Frame: Due to the storage chrome and paint are in really bad condition - and I assume they can't be fixed?

I'm not sure how to go from here:

- Will the bike loose it's value if re-painted/re-cromed?
- I assume around 500-700$ for crome and paint - is it worth it?
- Anybody got an idea of the value in it current condition?

Appreciate all you great advice!

Have a great day
BO

Because of the condition it will not loose value if repainted and rechromed.

Mid 80's I think.

The is it worth it question is one only you can answer. If you're asking if you'll get your money back on the paint job reselling it...no, you won't. That doesn't mean it isn't worth it to you to have it pretty and shiny. The paint job will be around 400, depending on who does it and what you want done. They can go up quite a bit. You probably won't go chrome at that price...chrome is seriously expensive. I've heard of people finding motorcycle and auto guys who will do it cheaply, but I've also heard they usually don't do it very well and cheap chrome typically is a get what you pay for. When I priced out chroming a bike I was hearing around $300 - $500 and up. I did find one person who was asking a far lower price, but that scared me off...if he's that far off market, something isn't right. As it sits, the bike really isn't worth that much, so you certainly aren't ruining anything by restoring it. It's not high end Campagnolo, can't tell condition well from photos.

To be blunt...I think you could buy a Colnago with better parts, in original condition, for the price of restoring it...but not all bicycle decisions are made with the brain. If you love it, have at it. In current condition, with the parts group I see...I'll go $250-$300 max. Maybe 400-450ish parted out.

Before you invest in a full restoration, you may want to look into an Oxalic Acid bath. There are lots of Oxalic Acid threads here on the forums (Google search "site:bikeforums.net oxalic acid"). It won't fix any paint chips and you may still have some pitting to the chrome, but it will get rid of all the rust inside and out. You may be surprised once you see some of the results other forum members have had with an OA bath. It may get your bike to the point where you don't feel the need to have a new coat of paint.

You're in Denmark, so the cost and value is not going to be the same as here.
The condition is quite poor, and the Campagnolo group is not a high end one. Not that desirable.
These factors would make me evaluate it at around $200-250 USD max.
More detailed pics are required.

As for restoring it. Rechroming the fork should run $200 in the USA, region-dependent. Chroming is a environmentally hazardous operation, and federal laws have made the cost of chroming quite expensive here. It would have cost about $50 30 years ago.
If you do go and rechrome, get it 'hard-chromed'.

+1 on the oxalic acid bath. There appears to be a lot of bubbles under the paint. Once the rust is neutralized, repaint the frame. (Send it back to Colnago?)
Powdercoating is an option. Pick a metallic candy red that's close to Saronni Red.

+1

Welcome to the forums.

I think your frameset would be a delightful project.

A Saronni red Super or Mexico is on my top 10 all time list, but they don't fall out of trees obviously.

You'll just have to decide your budget and go from there.

I acquired an incredible Super in a trade this early winter, and let's just say they don't come cheap.

As for a repaint, one of the nicest Colnago restores I've seen was done here in Minneapolis by Chris Kvale.

Certainly not cheap but I believe you get what you pay for.

His paint and prep work is amazing.

I'm personally not convinced that's "Saronni red," which to my eye tends more to the Burgundy then the crimson end of the spectrum. In either case, the color is not especially rare. With the braze-on front derailleur, it's not a particularly rare bike as a Super: the Nuovo Mexico and Master had superceded it, or were about to. So I personally would not be inclined to sink much $$$ into it.

I had a Saronni red Master, the current version.

I've seen two others with a fair amount of color variation since then at the shop.

Rather perplexing, but an original Saronni red Super builds into a handsome rider.

At least to my eyes.

If you are buying to collect, I agree with Picchio.

If you are buying for a keeper project, it's your money.

You'll have to decide what you can afford.

Will clean up the bike parts and take it for a spin. Maybe try to rinse the paint a bit to have her look decent - but not at first crome and re-paint.

If it ride is as well as expected ... then I guess the $$$ can be put in along the way. Out of love :)

Thank you for all the great advice.