See: 120313251799
This same bike may be seen in its true original condition on the Speedbicycle.com website, listed as as "Masi Prestige Fiera".
It is no longer original in any sense of the word, having been, at the least, extensively repainted and now sporting modified parts. Even a brief look at the bike in its true original condition ( on Speedbicycles.com) gives lie to the many changes made in the bike as now offered on eBay-what a closer look at the cycle in person would might disclose can only be imagined.
A series of these bikes were made by the Masis over a period of years with both slotted chain stays, and even rarer, slotted forks. Some were exhibited, thus the name "Fiera (Fair)", whereas others were called "Cronometro", a poor choice of rubric since other Masi' models also carried this name. The numbers of such bikes were greater than the four claimed. I have seen two others in Milan-one restored by Alberto and its photos shown here on CR only a few years ago.
The slotting itself has no functional purpose whatsoever, but, notwithstanding, is a mechanical tour de force designed to demonstate the Masis' considerable frame building talents. The original mechanical models for the slotted chainstays and forks are still in the Masis' Vigorelli shop. Perhaps Alberto could be induced to build more of these bikes.
The seller is too well known to the vintage cycling world to need any characterization. Of him the less said the better.
After consideration of the bike in its current iteration, any potential buyer had also pay careful attention to the pattern of eBay bidding, since one is not likely to be bidding merely against other collectors.
In short, any potential buyer should also carefully consider whether the provenance of this bike, and the many modifications made add or detract from its value.
George
George Hollenberg MD
CT, USA