Re: [CR] recently ended 1971 colnago on ebay

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

In-Reply-To: <E16DD3BD550644028E63CC6703566C57@DELL>
References:
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:57:27 -0400
From: "George Hollenberg" <ghollmd@gmail.com>
To: Charles Andrews <chasds@mindspring.com>
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] recently ended 1971 colnago on ebay


Hi Charles: Yours is an interesting analysis. However, the photos published of this bike were so poor that a solid determination as to its real age would be hard to make. Whether the poor photos were published by accident or design, I know not. All the commentary published with the sale put me off even more. But, let's put the matter in context. If one desires to do a quality (quality is the operative idea here) restoration, the frame would have to to be stripped, the braze-ons removed, any other damage repaired, the fork chromed, the correct decals obtained (varnish type), and a very good painter would be needed to do the repaint. The appropriate parts would have to be obtained ( a complete set of original pantographed parts would be very expensive and tough to find), and if engraving of other period, but non-engraved parts is desired, that would have to be done by a qualified engraver. The expense of doing this correctly would be over $3000, perhaps much, much more. In the end, you have a pricey replica (or whatever name one likes)-with an overall investment of more than $4000-nearly the price of a similar unrestored bike. As you know, the current sentiment among some American collectors doesn't favor this sort of restoration-in fact they hold such restored bikes in contempt. In short, I agree that there are great classic bikes out there, but I can't tell whether this was one of them. Regards, George

On Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 1:51 PM, Charles Andrews <chasds@mindspring.com>wrote:
> with regard to:
>
> Anybody follow the recent auction for the (much re-worked/re-painted) 1971
> Colnago on eBay?
> eBay item # 300343941251.
> If the winner happens to be on The List, please contact me off-list!
>
> Matthew Bowne
> Brooklyn, New York
>
> ********
>
> that bike was a steal, atmo. correct paint, graphics, and a little chrome
> will run under a grand, all up, many parts are alredy there, or easily
> obtainable. The frame was old enough that no panto'd parts are really
> required to make it period correct, although a period fluted stem and
> seatpost would not be out of the question. You could have had a beautiful,
> playing-card colnago in Molteni Orange for under 2K, all up. had that bike
> been a 55 or 56 c-t, it'd be mine now! Luckily for my budget, it wasn't.
>
> Never let it be said there aren't great classic bike deals out there..there
> are.
>
> Charles Andrews
> Los Angeles
>
>
> "everyone has elites; the important thing is
> to change them from time to time."
>
> --Joseph Schumpeter, via Simon Johnson
> _______________________________________________
>

-- George

George Hollenberg MD
CT, USA