Should I get my Bianchi repainted?
 

Several years ago I purchased this 1983 Bianchi from a seller in Switzerland. I'm not sure of the exact model except it has a "specialissima" decal on the left chain stay. It has a few discolored spots, a few rust specks, and a few spots were there is bare metal. The bike came with a Campagnolo 50th Anniversary gruppo which has seen some use.

I was thinking about getting it repainted with the existing decals put back on, including the Columbus frame and fork decals. I'm thinking of keeping it as good as possible and stopping any deterioration. I want to extend it's life.

What do you think?

http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0226-L.jpg
http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0235-L.jpg
http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0232-L.jpg
http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0236-L.jpg
http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0238-L.jpg
http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0237-L.jpg

Hard to say without seeing a pic or two (or three...)



[edit: apparantly I cannot see pics while using my browser at work.. grrr]

Looks like an '83 Super Leggera.

I wouldn't ever repaint an original bike in that condition. You can clean, lube, adjust and ride it!!

Looks good as is. All you need is some touch-up paint , maybe sand the rust off, and prime the bare spots. You've got years before it needs a repaint.

There's no way I would consider re-painting that bike as shown. Not even close. Just wax it and ride it.

I would say absolutely not but that is only my opinion. The amount of $$$ you will spend for a quality repaint and the amount that the value of the bike will depreciate by removing the original paint does not make sense. Keep it as is, clean it and polish it well and consider the minor blemishes to be a nice "patina". All that being said, it's your bike so do as you please. If it were mine I'd enjoy it in its current condition.

Today must be "repaint a perfectly fine bike" day.

Are you crazy?

Paint is better than most , perhaps any , of my bikes.

Nothing wrong with the paint on your bike - I'd suggest you clean it and wax it, then ride it. Even with a repaint small nicks and scratches are almost inevitable - and it's only original once. Maybe get a small brush and a tin of matching paint (probably have to get that made up at a paint shop) and touch in the blemishes - or just coat them with clear nail polish to keep the water off any bare metal. Just my opinion, it's your bike - and it's a beauty!

The paint on that bike is fantastic. Go down to your local autobody place and get Turtlewax ColorBack or Magic Scratch & Sniff (whatever it's called) and get some lustre back.

Drew the frame, repaint and install a SA AW. I can't think of a more appropriate treatment for that bike.

Yes, a nice Miami Vice purple and pink pastel fade job will do......
Are you nuts?? People will kill for a C&V bike in that condition! :eek:
Admit it, I think this thread of yours is just an excuse to post pics of your beautiful bike and make us drool!:rolleyes:....50th anniversary group and all.....:rolleyes:

Chombi

Here some not so good pictures showing examples trouble spots.

http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0582-L.jpg

http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0588-L.jpg

http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0583-L.jpg

http://kjun.smugmug.com/Bicycles/Bia.../IMG0585-L.jpg

I'm telling you, if he follows my advice, he can sell that 50th anniversary campy group and buy a new house or something like that. :P

I'm not fishing for compliments and I'm sure I posted photos of this bike elsewhere.

What is going through my head is the voice of a potential, future buyer, pointing out these spots using them to try to get it for a substantially lower price. Hence the question.

Recently I got my Richard Sachs back from a repaint and it looked better than new. So why not the Bianchi? Just at thought.

Well If you ever want to sell it I'm looking for one. I would not buy one if I knew it was repainted and I would expect to pay less for a respray over any condition original, just my perspective/preference from a person looking at buying one.

All it needs is a nice wax, really.

IMO, an original finish is always much better to collector's eyes than most repaints. Some call it age appropriate "patina". But I do understand your concern that might be asking what point is a repaint an appropriate thing to do on a C&V bike. I think most in this forum will think that your bike is quite far from that point. Of course, it your final decision on whether to do it though.
Remember, most "serious" collectors will question a repaint's accuracy more than worry about an original finish with a few nicks and scrathes, here and there, so you might not gain anything at all by repainting the bike at this time.

Chombi

To follow up my last comment...Have you ever watched the Antiques Roadshow? You know when these great looking pieces of furniture come in and the appraiser gets all excited, only to note that it has been refinished and instead of being worth $10K it's now only worth $750? Well...in my mind the same goes for vintage bikes, especially the higher end ones like you've got here. Respray = Less collectible = Lower value in most cases.

OP you would **** a brick if you saw my colnago up close, your bike is in excellent shape IMO

Repaint? How about just shooting yourself in the foot (you pick the foot)? Very special bike + money spent on repaint = much less special bike, that will never again be original...

Sometime I will talk to you about all the antique furniture I refinished 20 to 30 years ago. Spent serious $$ lowering the value of each piece by from 50% to 90%....... Yeah, that was stupid, and I now have my own sign....

look totally acceptable from my point of view !!!
ENJOY !

I'd grab a little Celeste touch up from BianchiUSA. That bike is original and gorgeous-no need to lose the original!

+1 to what everyone else said. A future buyer, looking at a respray, will assume you had it done because the bike was in much worse shape than it is. I think most would prefer the bike in original paint, even if it's their intention to refinish it.