I have a bike with rather interesting history for sale. At 49 cm C/C x 51 cm C/C top tube, this would make for an interesting bike for one of the more diminuitive CR-listmembers or perhaps their spouses. You can check out pictures here: http://album.foto.virgilio.it/
As you can see the bike is labeled as a Masi Gran Criterium but was actually built by Marnati. I have spoken to Daniele Marnati in Milan who has confirmed that, according to the log book then maintained by his father, frame #7970 was the 70th frame built up in 1979 and was definitely made for one of the pro teams they were then supplying (he wasn't sure whether this was built for the 1979 or 1980 season, nor could he be totally sure of the rider.) His guess, based upon the small frame size was that it was likely built for the 1980 Gelati Gis team, for Wladimiro Panizza. Among others, Daniele and his dad made pro team frames labeled as both Benotto and Bottecchia and numerous amateur team bikes under their own name. Daniele has worked as a framebuilder since 1970 and was also a team mechanic for two years with the Brooklyn gum Gios team in 1976 and 1977. His father worked up until 1964 as a Legnano team mechanic and framebuilder, including working with Bartali, he then went to work for 3 years with Salvarani before setting up his own frame and bicycle repair shop in 1967, where he worked until he retired (I believe he has now passed away).
This particular bike has a rather mixed set of components, made up of what were apparently parts squirreled away by Panizza or some friendly mechanic over a long period of time. For the most part, they are Campagnolo parts; the exceptions being the pedals, the headset and the brake levers. The wheels are built up with pro team issue Colnago branded Ambrosio rims, that could come from the time when Panizza rode alongside Saronni on the Del Tongo Colnago team. The pedals are completely unknown to me, so if anybody can supply some info about them, I would be very happy. The front derailleur has the 4-hole cage that I understand to date from 1978 or 1979. The Bottom bracket is the first generation Campagnolo super record titanium model with female axle (as opposed to the later male axle version). One of the brake calipers has the flat Q/R lever whereas the other has the post-CSPC bulbous one.
The mechanic who sold me the bike assures me that the bike was the last bike that Panizza used before his unfortunate early death at 56 years of age in June 2002. He also says that he was the one who personally sent the frame to Alberto Masi for a respray and addition of a second set of water bottle bosses and the front derailleur braze-on. Apparently, Alberto was the one who decided to apply the Masi GC decals.
I would like to receive $800 plus eventual shipping for the bike as it stands. I would be willing to deliver the bike at the upcoming Trexlertown swap meet or within an hour's drive from Philadelphia. If you want additional photos or have any questions please send me an email or give me a call.
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Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ