I always refer to these bikes as the missing links. Bianchi distribution was dodgy here in the USA ranging from 1968 till maybe 1978 or so. A time line would be interesting here as distribution switched from outlet to outlet. Anyone know when Bianchi USA actually opened its doors? All Pro bikes I have seen in this time period all seem to be ''gray market'' bikes that found their way over here via direct import. Based on the decaling(black) and the seat tube marking (73-74) we might guess this to be a 1975 bike sourced in Europe, thus the MANN badging. Was MANN a shop or Team I could not say. I have a small collection of photos showing bikes from this time period and probably should organize them into a time line.
Anyone who worked for a distributor or shop that handled Bianchi in the 1970s could you pipe up here? Even if its anecdotal it would help. I know Ben Lawee distributed Bianchi until 1968 or so and then at least here in the West there was a small time distributor(1970-1972) who could not deliver much of a selection then in the late 70s Bianchi USA appeared .
Also about this particular bike, note the Campagnolo dropouts, all Reparto Corsa production used them, bikes produced at other facilities used lesser types and its an easy indicator of origin.
BOB FREITAS
MILL VALLEY, CA USA