If you have some patience, I'll start this story with a recent post (in quotes), and then I'll continue with some new information that sheds light on a lightweight Cinelli SC model.
"A very good friend was the original owner of this Cinelli. I've posted some info in the past, in spurts as the story unfolded, to the list but to summarize regarding Mark Buglier's question:
This particular frame, s/n 5946, came to my friend's attention through a description in a Brugelmann (of Frankfurt, Germany) brochure/catalog of 1971. Although he would have preferred silver (he already owned a 1970 SC in silver), this particular model was only available in yellow/red. My friend also recalls a reference to a lightweight Columbus tubing reference. So, he placed the order with Brugelmann's and waited nearly a year to receive it (he picked it up in person, traveling from the USA to Germany for the 1972 Olympics).
An inquiry to Brugelmann in 2003 brought this reply from Manfred Brugelmann : "In the seventies we were the biggest Cinelli dealership outside of Italy and because of our personal good relationship to the Cinelli family they were kind enough to manufacture those frames exclusively for us in the yellow and red special colour scheme." Mr. Brugelmann did not answer the question about the "lightweight" aspects of the frame. Side note: the Brugelmann shop with the cycling equipment providor to the German national team in 1972.
In 2004, with the assistance of Steve Maasland a letter with photographs was sent to Andrea Cinelli (son of Cino). Andrea Cinelli's reply includes this: "You are correct that the frame is lighter as we drilled the lugs and the BB shell for lightening, and my father, based upon the close friendship with the owner of Columbus (Aldo Luigi Colombo), had had special lighter tubes made. In that period, the two avantgarde Italian factories (Cinelli and Columbus), in the application of avantgarde racing bicycle technology (high resistance steel alloys) had to contrast the myth and image of the English Reynolds tubing." Note: the BB is a G. Fischer (Swiss, I think) BB; it's stamped GF.
I also own the 1970 silver Cinelli and can only say that when you thump the tubes with a fingernail they have a different ringing sound. Not scientific I know but there is a difference.
As the yellow Cinelli is built up with many, many custom Ti bits (made by friend) there is no way to compare the bike weights without disassembling them.
Lastly, I came close to obtaining a copy of that particular catalog but the person, in Germany, never would send it. Still looking!"
THE NEW INFORMATION:
Photos of the above referenced bike can be seen at:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
After my post I received an interesting email from CR list member Rob
O'Callaghan of Del Mar, CA.
He owns an almost identical Cinelli; his is from 1978 and also came from the
Brugelmann store. Photos of this Cinelli can been seen at:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
Of note: neither of these bikes carry the Special Corsa decals.
Rob had even better news: he owns a 1976 catalog from the Brugelmann store. The same catalog I've been searching for for a long time.
This catalog lists two Cinelli models for sale: Model Special Corsa and the Model SC Leggerissimo. I've had the model description for the Leggerrissimo translated (by the original owner of my bike no less ); the description is: Special edition (manufacture) in extra light construction - in the accustomed Cinelli care - bottom bracket below open - detailed Cinelli lugs - Columbus tubing - Campagnolo dropouts. Color : This model is only available in yellow with red.
The catalog price, for frame and fork, is 590 DM for the SC and 665 DM for the SC Leggerrisimo.
Now that I've seen the catalog I better understand the letter from Manfred Brugelmann of 2003. He was stating that the Leggerissimo model were manufactured exclusively for them based on their (the Brugelmann brothers) personal good relationship with Cinelli.
Having said that, it appears that at least one, and perhaps, two other bikes
of this type were available in the USA. The Cinelli Registry,
http://www.cinelliregistry.com/
It would be interesting to know more about these two bikes, especially s/n 1748 which apparently is original and it's source is known.
Note: there is no s/n on the BB on Rob's bike.
Thanks a million to Rob who held the key to a missing piece of Cinelli history.
Ciao,
Angel Garcia,
Verona, Italy