I think I have pulled a Benotto 5000 out of the skip!

So a neighbour and friend recently passed away and his son was clearing out his house. He knows I collect rusty gold for upcycling and garden art and asked if I would like his dad's old bikes that were, at that point, in the skip.

Sure I said - I know nothing about bikes but they looked cool and I could tell they were not the usual stuff.

I did some research on the 3 frames - the most complete is Benotto with full Campagnolo accessories. That would be pretty good to start with but when trying to find out the model I noticed that the gear cables run into and through the frame - more research and it leads me to believe it is a Benotto 5000!

I would really like to confirm - find out it's value and get it to someone who can do the right thing by it. I am 6'5" so it will look like a clown bike for me.

Other top end accessories were with the other frrames - one is labelled Barnwell the other seems blank.

Here's a heap of Photobucket pics.

https://app.photobucket.com/u/D_String/ ... ce702cbd31

Any help and info would be amazing.

Given those very distinctive rear drop-outs and top mounted aero shifters, I would say yes but better folk will be along to confirm

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I have found a number stamped in by the cutout B - 56 868

So - 56cm - 1986 August?

Any experts to tell me where to look.

All 3 frames are light blue - I wonder if this was a club racing colour?

The Italian, Japanese and German mix on the other drop handlebars is an interesting mix.

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Blimey.... what a brilliant find, a rare aero Benotto...I'm very jealous.

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I thought I'd give it a clean and put it back together

Damn, it sure looks purdy now.

All that Super Record stuff too....

If it is far too small for you and you are looking for someone who will do the right thing by the bike then the sales section here is the way to go.

Complete bikes almost always sell for less than the sum of the components especially when the bike has have "had a life". For the complete bike I would uneducated guess somewhere between 350-500. Others will hopefully be along who can give a more considered valuation

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Hi, can you see if any of the three main frame tubes have an oval section and is the back of the bottom of the seat tube has a recess for rear tyre clearance ? It's difficult to see in the photos. Looks like the owners favourite colour was Baby Blue.

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Thanks DSH.

From what I have seen complete bikes seem to be sold in excellent original or fully restored condition and everything else in parts - for greater $/£.

International e-bay (read the US) would seem to be the market for this, wherever it goes it has be sent from here - Australia.

It would be good to get a local buyer who wants to either ride it or restore it - but the chances are slim I fear.

You may well be right with the pricing although parting out to the US would probably see £350+ for the frame and the same for the Campy sets.

The more I look at it the more I want to put a chain and new rubber on it, take it for a spin and then just own it for a while (like the Alfa I own - I guess the Italian style does it for me).

Oh now there is an idea for a photo shoot - car and bike! I'll do it by the end of the week.

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Vcballbat - yes, yes and yes.

The crimp in the seat tube for the tyre clearance is way cool - I didn't notice it until I starting researching. Oval tubes and internal cabling.