Re: [CR]Bianchi Specialissma

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: <Bikerdaver@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 14:49:02 EDT
Subject: Re: [CR]Bianchi Specialissma
To: aphillips9@mindspring.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


Ann- First of all, if I may say so, No one (including myself), on this CR list is someone I would call an Italian bike "expert", but I will leave that discussion for some time later, Off-list. If it has an integrated headset, its pre-1973, that jives with the no date crank-arms as well. That also jives with the absence of a 1973 World Campioniship decal that Bianchi often used on their bikes in the 70s. I imagine the model name could be anything from "Specialissima, Vigorelli, or Campione Del Mondo". The green color that you refer to makes me think that it is more of mid 1960s as I believe that was the last time that color was used by Bianchi, however; I am not 100% sure on that. The fact that its darn near impossible to interpret the serial number means you got the real McCoy. The confusion regarding the proper interpretation of Bianchi serial numbers has reduced more than one intrepid Bianchi owner to a mumbling moron ready for the nut-house. Looking forward to the pics that you get. cheers- Dave Anderson Cut Bank MT

In a message 5/27/2004 10:55:30 AM PST, aphillips9@mindspring.com writes: The bike gods dropped one of these into my lap today at work. I'll post some pictures of it over the weekend, but here are some interesting things I noticed about it. I've had it in my possession about an hour.

It appears to be in very original paint and looks like the Specialissma on Dale's CR Bianchi page with the notable exception of being a metallic sparkly green. While it has some chips and patina, the decals look pretty good. It's got a nifty integrated headset.

Since someone pretty clearly swapped out the brakes and levers for more modern Diacompes and replaced the Campagnolo rear derailleur for a Sun Tour Cyclone, I'm not sure what else got replaced. It has a no date Campagnolo Strada crankset, in 170, Campagnolo pedals, Campagnolo front derailleur, a TTT bar and stem of an age I've not seen before, two bolt Campagnolo post, Campagnolo hubs with the straight lever quick release and Fiamme sew up rims.

The serial number is on the top of the seatlug, facing front. I'm not posting it here because I'm not sure if they can be interpreted in any way. Its pretty nifty but I suspect finding the correctly patina'd correct bits to replace the incorrect ones is going to cost some $$$. So, all you Italian bike experts out there, what do I have?

Ann Phillips, Decatur GA