I recently picked up a pretty little Colnago Super on ebay. It was what you might call an accidental purchase (don't ask.. ;>)
As it turns out, it's really a fine little bike. But I have one almost exactly like it already, a bike I've had for years and am sentimentally attached to. So, I have no use for this one. Which is too bad, because it would have been fun to restore it, or just keep it as is.
55cm c-t seat-tube; 54cm c-c top-tube.
This is an italian bike, sold and used in Italy. In the early 80s the owner had it repainted and re-badged by Colnago. It is, however, definitely a 1975 or 1976 Super, based on the various details, like the short seat-stay flutes, the shape of the flower cut-out in the dt lug, and the shape of the flower in the crown. It could also, plausibly, be a Mexico frame. In any event, it looks exactly like other Supers I've seen from the mid-70s. Nearly everything on it is original, including the relatively rare short-reach Campagnolo flat-qr brakes (note that the neat little rubber goodies that hold the barrel adjusters in place--at least, I think that's what they're for--are still there; I hardly ever see those).
The top-tube cable guides were probably added during the repaint, as were the under-bb cable guides. One could just leave them, or remove them in a restoration.
Restoring old Colnagos is relatively cheap as such things go. This one needs no chrome at all--all the chrome on it is very clean, so cost would be in the repaint, the re-decal, and the detail highlights. CyclArt could make you an as-new bike that looked exactly as original did in 1975 for under $500 I'm guessing, (I like molteni orange myself)...check with Jim for the exact cost.
Here's the rest of the parts complement:
3TTT bars and stem. Campagnolo NR cranks with what look like very clean GS rings. The GS rings look almost exactly like NR rings. Campagnolo bb bearing Campagnolo brakes Campagnolo aero-style brake levers Campagnolo Record seatpost (this is a longer post--in like-new condition--for those who like to put their saddle high...not a shorty) Unicanitor saddle Campagnolo small-flange hubs with straight qr, as original. Old-style Campagnolo shift levers Nisi 700c polished aluminum clincher rims model HR22--this bike has a really beautiful wheelset. It would have come with tubulars originally, but this wheelset is every bit as nice as the originals would have been. Sturdier, for sure. NO PEDALS
The frame looks straight and true and the bike's ready to ride, except that you supply your own pedals.
The retinato paint-scheme seemed a little much at first, but as I continued to look at it, it kinda grew on me. It's very pretty, and it's a very good paint-job, far as I can tell. The decals are the stick-on vinyl variety (can't have everything), but, all-in-all, it looks very sharp.
Paint is quite clean, with one small chip under the dt, a few little scratches and chips out of the seat-stays, and that's about it. No rust I could see, and the chrome on the rear drop-out faces and the chainstay is clean as can be, like new.
$695 shipped in the CONUS. E-mail me privately to arrange for purchase and shipping.
See pics below.
The bike is available to the CR list first. If no-one wants it after three days, it's on to ebay.
If the URL links below are broken, just copy and paste the URL into your browser...I checked the URLs before sending this post, and the pictures should all be there.
http://www.mindspring.com/
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Charles Andrews
SoCal