10-06-2025, 11:23 AM
I have been moving over the past couple years and need to cull the herd, complete unfinished projects, and generally assess where I am at present regarding my hobby, business, recreation, etc.
Having first rode a Colnago over 40 years ago (started out riding entry-mid level Peugeot road bikes) I have always been a bit enthralled (before riding other bikes of similar design) with the marque early on; though upon obtaining my first Colnago (used) I had really never thought about any Italian bike (had probably only heard of Bianchi as a kid) nor considered Campagnolo anything special since I did just fine blowing away riders on bikes costing more than 10x the cost of my first road bike (Peugeot $200).
Decades later, and I still have that Colnago (Peugeots: 1 unwillingly "abandoned", the other sold) which was way over-sized (58cm; me 51-52cm) with all its battle scars and still fit with mostly original parts used after 10000s of miles. Through the decades I picked up more appropriate sized bikes (first Super went into semi-retirement supplanted by a Tommasini and Super #2). I acquired more over the decades in a search for odd/different styles, components, etc; as well as just buying a couple on impulse (only good buys), or as a light investment (not enough to retire on though!).
At this time I will attempt to document my frames/bikes as a reference source before I part with some in the coming year or two. This is not meant to be anything other than a basic reference, as the actual year a frame was built, year a frame was painted/"liveried", the model year, and/or year of purchase are all in question unless you are the original owner of a frame you factory ordered. If factory ordered it presents other problems for future owners who may not be aware of custom build features if any; though a factory direct order often does not mean any custom build over a stock frame, and often is just an owner's choice of paint color in many cases. Custom frame work could include one or more of the following changes from stock "off the peg" frames: paint, decals, chrome, braze-ons, size/geometry, etc.
Also, realize that Colnago (as well as many other companies; by no means limited to Colnago!) used various inhouse builders, as well as multiple contract frame building shops and factories (e.g. Volta, Rauler, Vetta, et al.) resulting in frames that were not always consistent in frame features, frame building techniques, and/or in the quality of workmanship.
Because of those variables and the inaccuracies of Colnago catalogs (if you can even determine the actual catalog year in some cases; and many catalogs are still not available online) I merely base my dating to +/- 1 year from estimated manufacture and/or model year. I will attempt to pick out features that provide a fairly definitive date; but as always just an attempt at an educated guess on my part. This will also apply to dating based on original parts where introduction/cessation of same where the bike itself might not be accurately documented in catalogs, brochures, advertisements, etc. Date codes on parts are a good starting point to identify any bike's age if they are KNOWN to be original (factory installed and owner installed), but even then original parts can be a year or more out of date from the model year from the factory or owner installed components. I have many examples of that discrepancy occurring on bikes of many marques. I have one bike that was a new frame purchased by the original owner with new-old-stock ("NOS") parts that were at least 5 years older than the bike's model year; but in most cases parts are the same year or one year earlier than the actual model year. Often a frame is built in the previous year and not in tge actual model year that it represents so due diligence should taken in trying to be really accurate (nearly impossible on bikes built in the '70s and earlier regardless of what an owner thinks to be accurate).
I will try to do my best by posting frames/bikes one at a time in a chronological order (old to new) before addressing the next in line. Photos of bikes/frames may be old seller's/owner's photos or my own (new and old). Final photos will be up to date, well lit, and in focus showing the bike and details as it stands ready to sell, ride, stash away, or hang from the rafters.
I would appreciate any input regarding the accuracy and/or verification of my statements, and recommendations regarding appropriate parts selection when applicable and available (parts will be photo'd before installation on frame. I have enough parts in most cases to select options that might not be "factory correct", but should still be period correct (part was available at or before the frame's model year and preferrably not more than 2 years prior to model year). Pedals, rims, and saddles might be whatever I ride on so I am not concerning myself in that department unless selling a bike, at which time I can incorporate the proper parts if available that a buyer desires.
Dating parts (w/o date codes) is still difficult due unknown or inaccurate dates of introduction and cessation. It requires a lot of research and even then it is sometimes just a semi-educated guess based on examples found and experience of myself and others since a factory built-up bike can differ from another of the same year and model due to parts shortages, spec changes, parts upgrades, etc. occurring in any given model year regardless of catalog specs. Most catalogs say or imply that changes could be made at anytime; thus the catalog images and specs are merely a representation of a "snapshot in time" at the time that the catalog was printed and even that is highly speculative considering Colnago used stock imagery in multiple catalogs of differing years. Confusing, yes!
Note that custom pantographing of parts and frames was primarly happening in the '70s and later, but often parts were embellished well after their date of manufacture so it is hard to use that feature as a dating criteria.
General line-up (+/-1 year, except "*" denotes actual known model year (not necessarily year frame was manufactured) (Mexico included since they are same geometry as Supers; except they have "Record" tubing and have no chain stay indentations):
Super: '70, '78, '80, '81, '89, '93
Unknown model: '83 (either a Super or Mexico)
Mexico (Nuovo): '86*
I would also accept submissions of other's Colnago bikes/frames that are appropriate (essentially Supers, Mexicos, and their variants from ~'95 or before; please, no Master, Oval Cx, Spiral Conic, aluminium, Ti, or carbon fiber frames, etc.) to this conversation. Please contact me via direct message here before submitting content since I want to keep it fairly chronological per model year to make comparisons a bit easier between similar models (i.e. late '60s to early '70s, mid to late '70s, early '80s, mid '80s, late '80s, early to mid '90s) I am particularly interested in anything '71 and earlier, '77-'79, '81-'84 since some specific festures changes occurred and I am trying better date frames of those periods.
If you do so please provide any known information regarding: date and location of purchase, if purchased new or used, repainted, replacement decals, added/deleted frame features (braze-ons, chrome, etc.), if bike is stock or custom (if purchased new), and any history of it.
Photos should be IN FOCUS AND WELL LIT if possible and should include a full drive side view, braze-ons, drop-outs (front and rear drive side), seat stay caps, brake bridge, chain stay bridge, bottom bracket underside, lug cut-outs, fork crown, fork steerer interior (e.g. helical ridges), pantographs, markings, stamps, head badge, etc. Links to photos accessible without needed an account to your site are fine; otherwise post photos directly in your submission. Dimensions are not required except rear fork spacing (please indicate if modified or not when known), etc. If purchased new, whether direct from the factory or from a shop/dealer, I would like to know what it cost if remembered, as I am curious to know what they sold for back in the day (my friend's 2nd Colnago [I bought his 1st which was aslo my 1st Colnago] was purchased directly from the factory: $500 for an '86 Arabesque frame set only).
Since I am leaving the online "social experience" for another year or more, I am passing the responsibilty to post my progress to another who has volunteered to submit my eforts to this thread and provide to me any questions related to same. I have very poor online service at my 2 locations and it is extremely time consuming to post on this site (especially having to load images one at a time); and I have more important things to (like build and ride bikes) so after a couple posts here I will defer submissions to my friend inbrhe interim.
Let's get started!
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