Colnago I.D.

[bikenut2010]

Anyone come across (low end?) Colnagos without the clover cutouts in the front lugs or BB shell?
I believe they made a Super Sprint and Sport models like this; I've looked at Bulgier cats. but cant see enough detail?

Cheers

PS I have this Colnago which is prob 70s with chrome lugs and fork crown; Not sure if it's a Super or Master, the Supers didn't normally come with chromed lugs, but the Masters had chrome stays.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51987088@N ... 535463498/

 

[Leatherseat]

bikenut 2010,
Lovely to see Colnago pics.

Colnago seem to make so many different models across the years, some for short time periods (eg C93, C94) others over ,longer periods (Master, Super) with changes made over the years.

Struggling to help with specifics for your first query relating to a lack of clover leaf cutouts, hopefully others here will recall.

As for your second query - Super or Master? I thought all Masters had some shaped (Gilco) tubing. Your's looks like round tubing (or it could my poor eye-sight), which would rule out a Master. Here is a link to a discussion on antoher forum regarding Colnagos where it is suggested most forks were chromed to allow them to be non-model specific, but could be available (part) painted.
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=10387

I hope that is of a little help and look forward to seeing the story unfold further....

David

 

[Toff]

Your bike is a Super. I would date it as 1977 or a 1978. It's got brazed on shifter bosses but no front derailleur hanger.

It has been repainted, and the repaint is sypathetic to Colnago styles at the time of repaint (mid 90s). The paint job is not a budget effort, so it is not beyond the range of possibilities that it may have had a dip in chrome at that time too.

Having said that, Show bike Supers often had chrome from the factory in the late 70s. Customers could also add it as an extra, so it could be original, although Italian chrome is not famous for being long lasting.

 

[Toff]

On the subject of Colnagos without logos...

Check out these two supposed Colnago Sport models which coincidentally have just turned up on the Bay of Plenty.

A German Sport:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Colnago-Vintage- ... 0531112923

A Hungarian Sport:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Vintage-Colnago- ... 0747011625

They both have logos prominent in the lugs and seatstay topeyes, but they are very different non "Colnago" logos.

One might suspect, based on these differences, that at least one and probably both are fakes.

This raises an intruiging question though... Why would anyone bother to fake such a low end Colnago?

It's apparent that Colnago outsourced its production of the Sport to other framebuilders back in the day, and you can see the "PRODUCT BY VELOSPORT" text on the Hungarian version. It would be interesting to see if the German frame had a similar inscription showing another manufacturer.

Anyway, I have never seen markings of any sort in the lugs of a Colnago Sport before, but then again, I've never seen a Colnago which I knew came from behind the Iron Curtain before either. There is a good chance that both of these bikes could be genuine "Iron Curtain" Colnagos.

More research is needed. I'm going to contact both sellers and see what I can find out. Stay tuned...