I have had this for awhile since I needed the fork from it, and the frame was already damaged/"repaired" upon obtaining it. The fork was the typical semi-sloped job like those from the later '70s to early '80s having the "clubs" & "COLNAGO" on the crown.
Given its condition (aside from the damaged stay) it'd require a restoration ($?) and a fork (>$150). Athough I have a new and uncut Colnago "Precisa" straight blade fork onhand it would be years past the frame's age and I am selling that fork since I prefer to ride a curved fork. I have no idea how much the stay would cost if replaced; but it seems unfeasible with my budget and the fact that there are no bike framesmiths in my area so add in shipping costs and the frame really won't have any value to justify the expenses even before a basic paint w/o decals. I have decided to have the weld inspected for integrity, and if good I can slap a cheap fork on it with a bunch of steel components andsome Gian Robert bits (keep an Italian drivetrain at least) ride it, and see it someone wants it as I got my value out of it with the fork donation. I doubt the framw has much value except those salvaging it for Colnago marked parts.
I have been told many things about it, but the features on the frame fit into a very short time span (2 yrs max) and yet do not match features of the same presumed models (i.e. Super, Mexico) that one would expect of a frame built in that era.
Many features changed around '81-'82, and then again in '84-'85. The BB drain hole changed from the odd 70's club design to a very well defined club without any other markings (c. '82-'83?; seen an '83 model, per owner with the next version BB) to the same hole design but with "BREV. COLNAGO" added (c. '84-'85) and then the same design with "BREV." removed which existed into the '90s. The new integrated chainstay bridge BB shells were at least being used by '85, but the "spool" bridge was still in use on lesser models into the late '80s (e.g. "XL" model). The "COLNAGO" stamped chainstays were in use by c. '83 through to '86 (per catalog imagery). The drop-outs changed to "COLNAGO" stamped c.'84. Super models up to the mid '80s had chainring indent and wheel indents on stays, Mexicos did not. Profil Super had long crimps versus short wheel indents. Stay plugs/caps became flatter (still fluted), to flat profile from the esrly '80s to the later '80s before having a convex profile (started with "club" instead of "Colnago" panto on caps).
This frame: "spool" stay bridge, deeply fluted stay plugs, BB 2nd version "clubs" drain w/o markings, Prugnat 62d lugs (still in use through the later '80s), no "COLNAGO" stamp on chainstays, no indents or crimps of any kind on chainstays (same as Mexico model), fork (no photo) semi-sloped with clubs/colnago crown, and "COLNAGO" stamped drop-outs. From the features it cannot be before c.'81 or past c.'85, but given other features there is conflict since it would be missing one prime feature of those years: "COLNAGO" stamped stays which undoubtedly were seen on Supers and Mexicos. Although Supers started being made without any indents in the chainstays in the later 80s, my frame does not match the features for frames made during that time (i.e. integrated bridge BBs, BB markings, lug set, etc.). The seat tube decal (original) is odd and of a style similar to those found on Saronni badged frames (c.'83-'84) with it being only a front panel bordered in gold. I have never seen rhat decal on another example so it could not have been in use for long and may definitively provide a year, though I doubt any specific model.
I tossed a poll up just to get an idea of what opinions are (you can select model and/or year if desired). Per my own opinion it is a 1983 Mexico, but what do I know!
Given its condition (aside from the damaged stay) it'd require a restoration ($?) and a fork (>$150). Athough I have a new and uncut Colnago "Precisa" straight blade fork onhand it would be years past the frame's age and I am selling that fork since I prefer to ride a curved fork. I have no idea how much the stay would cost if replaced; but it seems unfeasible with my budget and the fact that there are no bike framesmiths in my area so add in shipping costs and the frame really won't have any value to justify the expenses even before a basic paint w/o decals. I have decided to have the weld inspected for integrity, and if good I can slap a cheap fork on it with a bunch of steel components andsome Gian Robert bits (keep an Italian drivetrain at least) ride it, and see it someone wants it as I got my value out of it with the fork donation. I doubt the framw has much value except those salvaging it for Colnago marked parts.
I have been told many things about it, but the features on the frame fit into a very short time span (2 yrs max) and yet do not match features of the same presumed models (i.e. Super, Mexico) that one would expect of a frame built in that era.
Many features changed around '81-'82, and then again in '84-'85. The BB drain hole changed from the odd 70's club design to a very well defined club without any other markings (c. '82-'83?; seen an '83 model, per owner with the next version BB) to the same hole design but with "BREV. COLNAGO" added (c. '84-'85) and then the same design with "BREV." removed which existed into the '90s. The new integrated chainstay bridge BB shells were at least being used by '85, but the "spool" bridge was still in use on lesser models into the late '80s (e.g. "XL" model). The "COLNAGO" stamped chainstays were in use by c. '83 through to '86 (per catalog imagery). The drop-outs changed to "COLNAGO" stamped c.'84. Super models up to the mid '80s had chainring indent and wheel indents on stays, Mexicos did not. Profil Super had long crimps versus short wheel indents. Stay plugs/caps became flatter (still fluted), to flat profile from the esrly '80s to the later '80s before having a convex profile (started with "club" instead of "Colnago" panto on caps).
This frame: "spool" stay bridge, deeply fluted stay plugs, BB 2nd version "clubs" drain w/o markings, Prugnat 62d lugs (still in use through the later '80s), no "COLNAGO" stamp on chainstays, no indents or crimps of any kind on chainstays (same as Mexico model), fork (no photo) semi-sloped with clubs/colnago crown, and "COLNAGO" stamped drop-outs. From the features it cannot be before c.'81 or past c.'85, but given other features there is conflict since it would be missing one prime feature of those years: "COLNAGO" stamped stays which undoubtedly were seen on Supers and Mexicos. Although Supers started being made without any indents in the chainstays in the later 80s, my frame does not match the features for frames made during that time (i.e. integrated bridge BBs, BB markings, lug set, etc.). The seat tube decal (original) is odd and of a style similar to those found on Saronni badged frames (c.'83-'84) with it being only a front panel bordered in gold. I have never seen rhat decal on another example so it could not have been in use for long and may definitively provide a year, though I doubt any specific model.
I tossed a poll up just to get an idea of what opinions are (you can select model and/or year if desired). Per my own opinion it is a 1983 Mexico, but what do I know!
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