So let me just start out by saying I would never ask forum for help with something unless I were truly stumped. In truth, I've probably visited more than 100 threads on this site over the past year or so, and have always found what I was looking for - until this time. I have spent countless hours trying to I.D. this bike frame. I've looked at all the Bianchi catalogs on Bulgier.net and YellowJersey. It's a real mystery - and each time I think I'm getting warm... I see a photo, read a spec, something... that stops me dead in my tracks.

Here's what I think I have; Because of the common gold tone sticker on the base of the seat tube, I feel the bike is a 1981 Bianchi. I've seen that addressed in previous posts; so I won't go there. There is a serial number on the bottom of the BB shell that reads "5.O 289." The same numerical sequence is stamped on the top of the seat tube; "289" on one side "5.O" on the other.

The rear drop outs are stamped Campy, as are the fork ends. There is also campy stamps on the head set, but not around the circumference like I've seen in photos, but just on the very top nut (not sure what that piece is called). There are letter "B"s on the top of the triangle/top of seat tube - one on either side. Also letter "B"s on the top of the fork crown - one on either side.

There are no decals/stickers on the frame outside of the gold tone sticker mentioned above, and the early 80's Bianchi logo's in red. Oh yeah, frame color is celeste. The stem is pantographed in blue, and the bars are 3ttt competizione - campy hoods and brake levers.

One last thing... The letter B's on the frame and on the fork are unlike anything I've seen. They're not pantographed, and they're not stamped (I don't think). They're actually raised from the surface.

Anyhow, I'm going to try to post some pics. If I could, I would literally mow the lawn, wash the car, paint the fence, etc. of the person(s) that help me put this issue to bed - which is where I'm headed - it's 3 a.m. here. See how this is effecting me? Please help. Anyone!

b-girl should nail this for ya - i'm sure she'll be by shortly
nice bike though

Circa 1985 mid-range, Italian manufactured model, possibly a foreign market equivalent to a Veloce. Replacement decals and possibly fork.

Any more and better pics? I see cable guides over the BB so that make me think early '80s. The fork could be a replacement esp if it does not have Bianchi on the top of the crown. Are the brakes drilled for recess nuts?

Part of the trouble with IDing older Bianchis is the same frame was used over several models, the catalogs seem to me to show the alternate color so it is hard to know wether the Celeste model had blue or red decals, and who knows what parts are still original after 20+ years.

How about a pic of the gold decal?

Thanks MM, that paint on this baby ROUGH though... Just picked up a pint yesterday of the closest I could come to the original color. This should be a fun project. Looks like about five or six hours of sanding. I love stripping paint!

Based on frame details I would tend to think this is a '79-'81 or so "Campione" level frameset. Regardless of the serial number I do not think any of the details are right for an '85. The raised letter "B" in the stay and fork, flat-crown, window in seat-lug, over BB guides all point to a late 70's-early 80's build to me. And Campagnolo drop-outs were usually not used on the mid level frames after the early 80's.

I think somewhere along the line somebody stripped the paint from the fork and the lower portion of the stays.

O.P. are there triangle shaped lug windows on the head-lugs?

T-Mar, I'm certainly not discounting your opinion, as I've seen your expert analysis and advice on countless Bianchi-related threads. I'm curious why you think it's a 1985. Is it because of the "5" in the serial number?

I do have to respectfully disagree about the fork, though. The "B" on the top of the seat stays matches the ones on the fork crowns.

I'm sure you've seen stranger things, but why would anyone take a mid-level, mid 80's bike and repaint it and apply decals from a few years earlier? And if you're right, they would have had to have done that when the bike was fairly new, as the paint on this old gal is easily 20 years old...

Thanks Bianchigirll,

I've attached the photos per your request.

TMar,

Here are the two pics of the matching "B"s on the seat stays and fork crowns.

'75 by my experience.

Otis, Thank you so much for your reply. Is it possible the frame could have been produced in '79 as an '81 model. The only remaining sticker is the gold one, which I've attached a photo of. It read's "Manufactured by F.I.V. E. BIANCHI, Italy, January 1981, Type E.1., Serial number located on bottom bracket shell." There are traces of where two other stickers/decals were removed at some point - they're located just above the gold sticker.

And yes, there are the triangle-shaped lug windows on the head lugs, and also on the TT/DT lugs.

Thanks vjp, I have a feeling the frame could be older than the stated "1981" on the frame's only sticker. It's always easy to just slap a sticker on something and "make it so"... Please let me know at your convenience why you think it could be earlier than '81.

Otis, Someone definitely crudely removed the paint from the chain/seat stays; also from the fork. There are bits of celeste they left behind...

So if the sticker proclaims it to be an '81 what makes you think it is something other? I believe the '81 manufacture date is as close as you will ever get unless you know exactly what components came on it, you may never know the model.

Bianchigirll,

I'm not saying it's not an '81. Sorry if you got that impression. It's just that I've looked at every '81 catalog I can find (there are three on Bulgier.net) as well as a search of this site and google images, and I can't find any '81 frame that has the Banchi "B"s on the seat stays/forks that look like what I have. Every time I think it's a particular model I find something that doesn't quite fit. For example, I thought it could be an '81 Rekord, but supposedly they didn't come with campy drop outs or fork ends. I'm really looking for the frame model more than anything else...

And Otis is definitely right about the paint removal...

I also feel it may be important to include some frame dimensions, as per the catalogs I've found online state that certain models came in a defined series of frame sizes...

59cm seat tube, 57cm top tube, 61cm down tube, 100cm wheelbase, 27.2mm seat post diameter.

Well, there are a a few clues that made me say 1985. First is the serial number itself. 2nd is the dual locations on the lug and bottom bracket, indicating it's probably from the transition period, which was the mid-1980s. 3rd is the rear dropout style. We know the short Campagnolo dropouts were introduced for the 1978 model year, so it's definitely not 1975 per one suggestion. These dropouts were introduced in conjunction with the Portacatena chain holder and it's always been my understanding (perhaps mistakenly) that all these early ones were produced with the Portacatena holes (i.e. I've never seen a Campagnolo catalog with different part numbers for Portacatena and non-Portacatena dropouts). I couldn't see any evidence of these holes, which would have eliminated a very late 1970s or early 1980s model.

Regardless, what is the seat post size and does it have the the five spiral ridges on the inside bottom of the fork's steerer tube?

Tmar, Thanks so much for your invaluable information. I have, however, seen dual serial number locations on bikes from 1981 - there's always the chance the owners were mistaken about the exact year of their bike though. With regard to the Portacatena dropouts, I've posted a pic for your review. I think I may have them, they're just filled with grime... The seat post size is 27.2. As for the fork rings, I'm taking the bike apart right now, and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Now that the bike is out in the sunlight, and not under the florescent light in my bike garage, I noticed a lighter, more green-toned paint under the top coat. Not sure if Bianchi laid a different color base coat under the top coat, but this could mean it was repainted at some point, and therefore rebadged with the '81 sticker and Red/Gold bianchi decals. I also noticed gold paint under the celeste top coat on the raised Bianchi "B"s located on the seat stays......

Thxs, I definitely couldn't pick them out in the previous picture, even blown up! Maybe it's just my old eyes?

Dude, I thought the build decal had the lettering worn off, and that's why you were asking. If it says 1981 it's 1981.

T-Mar, you know your stuff, but that is no way an '85. The "B" with a circle on the fork crown and stays was used on the top end frames in the mid-late 70's and on the upper-mid frames in the late 70's-very early 80's. It's a Campione level (top not Reparto) frameset from that period built and shipped in '81 in my opinion.