I bought one of those 60th anniversary Masi Diamond Jubilee frames, still with the Torelli tag hanging from it. I had lusted after the Barcelona and the 60th and I wanted to get both to have what I surely thought were collectibles since they were made in limited numbers. It was only after I bought the 60th model that I found it was made by Mondonico. Jim Allen told me about it and told me that the Barcelona was a true Masi 3V, made in California. So, I emailed Torelli about it. Their response said that there was no misleading as the bike was made to the design of a Masi. I asked about the geometry and they, ugh, well, no, the geometry was a Mondonico. Then, I emailed the Milano3V distributor, who took aim at both the California Masi and the Mondonico made Masi distributed by Torelli. His claim was that if you wanted a true Masi3V with the highest standard lugs and tubes, then a Milano3V was the only way to get one. He claimed that the Mondonico made model used lugs from Taiwan and was truly inferior except for a nice paint job. Now, I've ridden early 80s 3V models and the Mondonico made model. To tell the truth, I couldn't tell a difference and in fact, that paint job on the platinum 60th model always got to me when riding in bright sunlight--I described it as crushed diamonds in platinum paint. So, I agree somewhat with Maynard that when you are duped you are disappointed. I think had I have known from the start then I would have loved that 60th Masi. But, it was never the same after I found the "truth". I sold it to a friend who will bring it to Cirque in May. Lou Deeter, Orlando FL
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