An older Italian friend of mine has recently had a very bad accident on his bike. He has broken a few vertebrae and is confined to his bed for at least the next month and will thereafter need to wear a back brace for a while. This means that he will not be able to complete the restoration of a 1960 Bianchi bike any time soon. He has therefore asked me whether I could help him sell this project bike for him. The bike would be packed up by the fellow's son.
The frame has been completely stripped and completely rechromed. The lugs and fork crown have already been properly polished. The frame would still need paint and decals. For the components, he has virtually all the correct parts already ready for a proper cleaning and assembly. The derailleurs are the original Gran Sport ones that came on the bike. The shift levers are period correct for 1960 and include the integrated pump umbrella clip. They could do with a rechroming. The cranks are the original steel cottered Bianchi-branded ones. The wheels are built up on the original Bianchi-branded 3-piece Campagnolo hubs. These are the hubs with the bulbous flanges. The skewers are not original, but luckily this bike would call for the closed "C" levers which are quite readily found. The brakes are the original Universal Mod.51 levers and callipers. The bars and stem are Ambrosio Champion.
You can see photos of the bike and the present state of the frame and
components here:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
He would like to get what he has spent on the project so far back, so is asking 650 euros plus shipping. For those that have ever had frames rechromed, you will know that this price is quite reasonable. I can relay any questions and answers to/from my friend.
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ