I bought this bike this summer at a used toy consignment store. I thought it might be rusty and need a full re-finishing. Wrong everything was superficial and it cleaned up nicely with just a lot of elbow grease, car wash soap and water. Most of the 'rust' was the dust of ages thickly embedded in solidified oiliness. I paid $800 and am very happy with the price. I think it is worth a lot more, but it rides so nice and I like it so much that I will be happy even if I paid twice what is worth...

Reading the information and dis-information on line, and looking at what is readable in the damaged decal on the seat tube, I am led to believe that the year is probably about 1978 and the model name should contain some combination of the words 'Mexico' and 'Record Oro'. It seemed to be all completely original. I made a few changes but carefully preserved all the parts I changed to permit reinstallation if ever desired. I ride this bike and I am almost 75 years old so something was necessary for me to ride it on the many hills near my home. So I changed the seat, the pedals (to match my clip-in shoes), a 14-32 freewheel cluster and a new Campagnolo Record triple crank (and b.b. axle) that has identical style to the original double. I really needed the extra gearing on the bottom.

Also visible in the background of my messy garage is my 'old bike', a 1972 Torpado that I have ridden since I bought it new.

You lucky dog. That, my friend, is a Colnago Mexico. Basically, the best Ernesto could make in the mid to late-1970s, and paying $800 for one in full working order is an absurd bargain.

Colnago Mexico

I reckon you've got a 1982 Super or Mexico and it does look to be very original. It looks like a Campagnolo Nuovo Record group set with a Super Record seat post and brakes. The frame tubing is probably Columbus SL.

It's hard to tell the difference between a Super and a Mexico. I think a mexico frame may weigh a little less but I couldn't tell you off hand just what weight to look for.

I think you got a bargain. Keep it all together and in it's original condition - just a clean up as you have done is perfect.

The Record Ora, Mexico, 1972 decal commemorates Eddy Merckx setting the new hour record in Mexico in 1972 riding a Colnago built bicycle.

Thank you for the help. The link to the 'steelroadies' web site was great... that picture looks exactly like my bike, the same color too. I am ignorant of the distinguishing features of 'Record', 'Nuovo Record' and 'Super Record'. So when I said I got a Campagnolo 'Record' triple crank I really did not know what I was saying. But the forging, style, and finish / embossing of the Campagnolo name is exactly the same on both cranks. In fact they appear to be exactly the same part except for the triple being drilled and tapped on the inner side of the spider for the five mounting bosses that attach the third chain ring, and the milled channel is shortened to allow full thickness at the bosses. (pictures attached)

I have always realized that it would be 'sacrilegious' to change things on the bike... so whatever I felt I had to change I have been careful to make the changes reversible.

I believe that it is a "Super", the lightweight tubing that was used for the "Mexico" didn't have chain stay crimps. If you strip the bike right down and weigh just the frame you would get a better idea.

I'd say she is a Super also. The only thing throwing me off is the full chromed fork, but it might have been a later option. A believe a Mexico would have crimped tubes.


In any case, she is a beauty and a steal at $800. I ride a 78 Super in the same color, and it is easily the best bike I have ever ridden. Smooth, quick, and agile, she is a real racer in every respect. And God Bless you for still riding a proper road bike at 75 years old! Who cares if you need a triple up front? The fact that your still riding is what matters.

Just a further footnote:

It took me about 30 years for me to get a Colnago Super of that vintage so I'm a little jealous of you right now . hahaha.

And….2 things……One…..that garage is not messy (you should see mine)…..Two…..You're doing pretty well for someone of 75 years tackling clip-in pedals, hills, bike upgrades, etc. I take my hat off to you.

Super or Mexico, it's doesn't mater. That is one super nice bike and a steel for $800!

The text on the seat tube stripes are just to remind all that Eddy rode a Colnago when he set the hour record in Mexico City in 1972.
Not the model.
Good price but not a killer deal.
Those cranks are indeed Record, but often get called novo record and with the cut away chainrings Super Record, but Campagnolo did not make a super record crank with a triple... Even though you could fit super record rings on the outer two positions.

What a deal. That bike is ELECTRIC!

Just to clarify, your post and the one by vjp just above yours seem to have a different opinion on chainstay crimps or no chainstay crimps. My bike does have chainstay crimps. But I am still not sure what conclusion that leads to. At this point it is just curiosity. Mexico or Super? not vital, but I am curious.

When the Mexico was introduced one feature was no chain stay crimps for tire clearance.
Much later the Mexico, aka Nuovo Mexico got "Gilco" crimped top and down tubes.
Allegedly the avoidance of crimping was to keep stress risers away from the thin chain stay material...
Maybe the crimped main tubes were done before heat treating... Select your urban legend.

This vintage Colnago is entertaining to identify. There are a couple of features that have me curious.

One of the first features I look is the cable routing around the BB. If it is routed under the bb, then it is likely not earlier than very late 70's and likely early 80's.

The next feature are the stay caps. Fluted indicates earlier than '83.

The clover on the brake bridge sometimes exists, but I have not understood if it is consistent with a model.

Crimped tubing is unique to a model in this time frame. It is very light compared to a Master Light of the mid to late '80's.

The fork looks much older than the '80's. A sloping crown fork with the C around the Clover is typical for this time period.

If you are interested, here is a photo album with what I have identified as an '83 Superissimo, I believe is a version of the super with chrome on the stays, fork and head tube.

Thank you for the reply and for the link to those pictures of a very beautiful Colnago bike. My pictures were not that detailed; but I think you could tell that the fork crown is 'squared' and has the 'clover' and the name 'Colnago' on it. Also the shifter wires do go under the bottom bracket. But the 'Superissimo' has quite different decals, including the model name decal on the top tube that mine does not have. One place, that I did not place-mark, on the web asserted that the head tube decal on my bike was used in the 1977 - 1978 time period. I do not have any corroborating information, so that may well not be authoritative. I think the 'voting' here has favored the bike being a late 70's 'Super'; the other possibility being a 'Mexico' of the same era. I am glad that you have taken an interest and welcome anything additional you can offer. Thank you.