Recent notes about color matching the Molteni Colnago colors brought to mind that perhaps it's time to sell mine. It's story is a bit unusual.
I am the second owner of a Colnago frame & fork in Molteni colors and it remains as I obtained it 8 years ago when it still had the Italian brown crinkle paper wrapping. The frame and fork were purchased in January, 1976, at the Radsport Schertl bike shop in Nurnberg, Germany. I have the original purchase receipt from January 9, 1976. The original owner then transported it to the USA via Lufthansa. I have those documents (from January 12, 1976), and the Customs forms (from January 13, 1976). The owner then installed a Campagnolo headset and Omas Ti BB and the build never proceeded beyond that. Wheels were very, very lightly clamped on at one point. The bike was then stored away for 26 years by the original owner.
Truth is I am more of a rider than a collector and after 8 years of enjoying its beauty from time to time, as I have also mostly stored it away, it's time for someone else to decide its fate. The lugwork is beautiful and the paint is incredible. It is spectacular, really. It can be art, it can be a tool, or both. Keep in mind that the bike has now been essentially stored away for 34 years.
Size: I measured as carefully as I could. Seat tube ctc: 56.5 Seat tube to top: 57.5 (sales receipt sales it is a 58 cm bike) Top tube ctc: 56.5
It has one of those mysterious 2 digit numbers stamped on the dropout: 16
re: engravings and such: club on lower headtube lug clubs on fork crown clubs on fork tangs club cutout on BB top of BB braze-ons bottle cage only on downtube decaling consistent with 1973 (see below), or 1974
Also included: Schertl cycling cap that was acquired at the original time of purchase Schertl shop bags (plastic) July 1973 issue of L'Equipe showing Baronchelli riding an exactly same decaled Colnago (but in silver) at the 1973 Tour de l'Avenir Original Schertl receipt, Lufthansa and Customs documents
The bike is virtually perfect (one very small paint scratch on a chainstay).
Price: $4,750
Pickup preferred. If shipping, I can take it to a shop and the buyer can deal directly with the shop with all the packing and shipping details
If you are seriously interested please email me and I can send photos.
Angel Garcia Long Valley NJ
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http://www.italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com
http://www.cinellionly.blogspot.com