I would agree with Nels' comments. It looks like a mid-late 70's Specialissima frame. I have an identical frame I'm pretty sure is a '77 as it still has the "Barcelona" model designation number decal on the head-tube.
The seat-collar on my bike is stamped with a "1.7". As Nel's, I'm not positive if these stampings are accurate dating indicaters but I have seen enough of them now that appear to be accurate that I'm starting to think they are.
Maybe Bob F. can confirm, but I think the '73-'75 frames had a different seat-stay top with "Bianchi" in raised letters instead of the "B" in the circle. Then it seems like lots of details were changed for 1980 (maybe '79). So I think '76-'78 would be a safe assumption for yours.
Anyway, it's a great frame. They are light, my 55cm is sub 5.5 lbs. for the frame and fork. And they ride as nice as any of the 70's Italian bikes I've had. Build it up with Super Record and enjoy it.
Jon Williams Grants Pass OR USA
From: Emilio Bozzie <emiliobozzi@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [CR] 1974/76 Bianchi with rare engravings To: <arnovolkers@hotmail.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Message-ID: <BLU135-W4AB7B722D9018403B525AA0610@phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
Arno-
The "engravings" on the frame look fairly standard for that year vintage based upon what I have seen, so not really rare. Actually I believe they are part of the lug casting. The threaded water bottle mounting braze-ons are also consistent with mid-70s Bianchi. Bob Freitas can confirm or diverge on this since he knows a lot about early-mid 70 Bianchi.
The lack of a lot a chrome is consistent with that mid 70s vintage as well. While I have no way of knowing, I heard a speculation that due to the early-mid 70 world wide energy crisis, chroming was seen as luxury by Bianchi and hence no sexy chromed lugs as seen in the 60s, until they were brought back in 1980. Whatever the real rational, the fact remains that chromed Bianchi from the mid-70s are usually one off buggers.
I have no way of knowing whether this is a 75 or 76, but it defiantly is a higher end bike, most likely a Superleggera. The seat lug is stamped 9.6 which some folks feel translates into Sept 1976. I have no independent confirmation that this is an accurate interpretation. Also I have no detailed understanding of major differences between how a 75 SR grouppo looks better as compared to a 76 grouppo, so if you indicate that they have been switched out, I would be hard pressed to chime in with an accurate agreement/disagreement.
Since you indicate that original parts may have been changed out, that may suggest why the non original "Hatta" headset, Brooks saddle and Cinelli bars are present. Stock for that vintage would have been 3TTT saddle/stem/bars. With that said, I have also seen pro bikes from that era with Cinelli saddles/bars/stem which may have been "stock" on team bikes. Lastly, you may want to keep in mind that Bianchi often made slight differences in their bikes depending on destination market (ie, unusual differences between German, Italian, Spanish, British, Japanese and even Canadian when compared to bikes found in the States).
Best Regards-
Nels Cone
Seattle WA
> From: arnovolkers@hotmail.com
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 12:11:48 +0000
> Subject: [CR] 1974/76 Bianchi with rare engravings
>
>
> Dear people,
>
> i found this Bianchi in Gent (Belgium) it was equipped
> with superrecord from 76, now it's equipped with 75
> superrecord because it was looking better.
>
> The question is?
>
> Has anybody seen these engravings? well actually it are
> no egravings but it's welded on the fork and bridge.
>
> If you recognize it, tell me what the type and year is please
>
> thanks everybody
>
> Arno Volkers
> Van 't Hoffstraat 9a
> Breda - The Netherlands