Hi all, I just traded a mid 90's Basso gap frame that was a little big for me for a 1983ish Colnago Super that may be a little small for me...
Anyhow, the Colnago had been thickly painted over seemingly with a paint brush but ONLY on the front 1/2 of the frame (starting about midpoint of both seat and top tubes.) I was wary but probably under the spell of the club shaped cutouts. Then I woke up in the middle of the night thinking I had possibly made a bum deal. I found myself in the basement in only my robe with an open container of Jasco! (Never a good idea at 3am or any time really). I stripped the paint off a part of the frame expecting to find it was made of bondo. I didnt see any evidence of that but there is a lot of "pitting" at the junction of the top/head tubes. I have uploaded photos here...
http://www.flickr.com/
Can anyone tell me if this is just corrosion or does it look like a potential frame repair area? Assuming the former can it be polished out before repaint or should I just paint it as is?
Also, question on dating the frame so I can seek out proper decals...it has the sloping "aero" fork crown (1983), it has cable guides under the tt, shifter bosses, 2 water bottle mounts and a braze on for the front derailer. Were all those other features available on 1983 frames or is it perhaps later (gulp...off topic.)
The original color is the candy wine red with a fully chromed fork and a chromed drive side chainstay. Rear dropout Campy, fork end Colnago.
Thanks all
George Ramos
Portland, OR
USA