'54 Bianchi Campione del Mondo pictures
 

Here are some pictures of a '54 campione del Mondo I picked up a little while ago. It is an older restoration, supposedly done in the 60s in Italy. All the components are supposedly original and appear to be at least period correct and match pictures and specs I have been able to find for the '54 Campione. Not sure about the blue bar tape but I will live with it for awhile. Has the integrated headset, a Magistroni crank, Campy Gran Sport derailleurs, 3 piece Campy hubs with Nisi rims, a steel Campy seat post, Sheffield pedals, Ambrosio stem and bars, Universal Extra brakes. Has a nice Madonna del Ghisallo medal on the seat post.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...0/DSC02180.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X...0/DSC02182.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...0/DSC02183.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...0/DSC02188.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-p...0/DSC02190.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2...0/DSC02191.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W...0/DSC02192.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...0/DSC02195.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-k...0/DSC02197.jpg

Breath taking! another gem I see.

Beautiful..Bellisimo!!!!

Man, that's a beaut!

Why are the skewers on the drive side?

mmmmm

Oioioiii !! that is one sexy bike

Wow, nice catch!

Pb

Now that's a Bianchi. :thumb:

Curiously - what size is the steel Campag post?

I'm curious why the aluminum variants were developed with a taper and this one doesn't - unless it's a rather small size.

-Kurt

oh my! that is beautiful

Good catch Colonel. That's the way I received it and I haven't ever removed the wheels (not yet anyway).

Seat post size is 25. I have no idea what kind of tubing this is made of or whether the seat post is sleeved. I haven't done any work on this bike at all yet other than a very superficial cleanup.

Naughty bits are tingling!

That's a lovely bike for sure!

Another fantastic bike.

Lovely bike!

Either the bike is newer than 1954 or the seatpost is not original. This insomuch as Campagnolo was still not producing seatposts. Likewise the OEM pedals in 1954 were still the alloy "Bianchi" "B" pedals. The OEM cranks were also still the Bianchi branded ones with the three "B"s integrated in the steel chainrings. (Some of the pros did however race using set-ups like yours, or even had the very rare alloy Bianchi chainrings with the three "B" integrated). The saddle is also sporting a newer Brooks logo, likely from the time in which the restoration was being made. The red Universal washers on the brakes are also subsequent to 1954.

I think that all of these features point to your bike perhaps being newer than 1954 and that the componentry might almost all be original. It would be interesting to check the cones and the lock nuts of the hubs, as well as verify the BB axle (they were generally date coded).

Back in the early 50's, in contrast to today, it was quite common to fit the rear skewer on the derailleur side and the front on the non-derailleur side. As the 50's moved on, having both fitted on the non-derailleur side became the norm. I don't believe that I have ever seen a bike back in the day with both skewers on the derailleur side.

PS: I have a catalog from 1953 and am trying to get one from 1954 from a friend in Italy. If he scans it for me, I'll try and post it.

Thanks for all the info! I am sure you are correct. I should have said maybe a 1954. It was sold to me as a 1954 but I took that with a grain of salt. I have seen other pictures of supposed 1954 Campione del Mondos with the same crank but those were simply unattributed internet photos. I will check the locknuts and spindle as soon as this one pops to the top of my project list. I will also look for any other identifying info. I can almost make out the serial number on the seat lug but it is mostly filled with paint.

Beautiful bike.
Once in a while a bike like this pops up on C&V, it is why I continue to hang around.
Thanks for showing it.

That's a great data point! I recently picked up a basket case '53/'54 frame set, and it requires a 25.0 seat post. I am just going to use a NR era 25.0 that a friend gave me and build her up with slightly incorrect parts so that I can get her on the road sometime in the next century.

Very, very cool. Thanks for posting!

Zowie. A true classic. 'You, sir, have immaculate taste.

Please post both! I'd love to see them. Are the decals correct? Greg Softley said that he was going to make some '54ish ones, but I need to check in with him again.

Interesting. I wasn't aware of that distinction. Thanks!

It's a looker, for sure! Do you, perchance, happen to know the provenance of the bicycle?

Refined elegance!

Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing ;-)

Cheers,
Chris