I just did two shakedown rides on a Colnago Super this weekend that I got off of eBay recently (55 and 45 miles, high 70s, breezy and exceptionally clear), and was wondering if anyone on the list might have a better idea of when it was made than I do.
The frame has no chrome, but the fork is full chrome (semi-sloping with pantographing). It has the mylar chain stay stick on. It has a serial number stamped on the the right dropout (#107) and also stamped on the fork steerer tube (#107). The spacing is 126mm (six speed) with short "COLNAGO" engraved dropouts. The seat stay caps are pantographed with "COLNAGO." Has top of the bottom bracket cable guides, two cable guides on the top tube, brazed-on shifter bosses, and cable stop on the chain stay. Also recessed brake center bolt nuts. It was sold as a frame and not a complete bike originally as it has no "COLNAGO" pantographed parts.
I have a brochure that shows a Colnago Super and I have dated the brochure to the late 1970s because the Mexico shown has the 1979 Record front derailleur with four holes (later to be three) in the cage, and a straight-band clamp (later to revert to traditional pointed-band clamp). I know that the four hole cage was not around for very long (don't know why). However the Super and the Mexico shown in the catalog have seat stay caps without the panto'd "COLNAGO", while my Super has, so I'm thinking mine is early or mid 1980s.
Anyone know how late my frame could be? Anyone know when the top of bottom bracket cable guides went away?
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, California
http://www.velo-retro.com (NEW list of reprints and T-shirts)