My vote would go to any of the fully pantographed bikes from the late 70s with Nuovo or Super Record parts. Most of these were Italian. I believe the best lugged steel frames are still being made, in the U.S., by the likes of Brian Baylis, Richard Sachs, John Murphy (Columbine), Tom Kellogg, and Peter Weigle. You can hang whatever parts you want on them, but the fineness of materials, the expertness of their experience, and the precision of the painting is as high as it has ever been; no offense intended to the builders who have passed before. Lou Deeter, Huntsville AL