Value question: Mid 1980s Bianch Specialissima frameset pearl white 55cm
 

EDIT: Unfortunately I did not get a chance to take a picture of the frame. I would say VG condition. I know without pictures it makes valuation more challenging, but I'm looking more for ballpark here. Thank you!

Hi guys!

I was volunteering at the co-op today and noticed a Bianchi frameset handing up in the rafters. It was a Bianchi. Pearl white in color. Size was somewhere around a 55cm - perfect for me!

I didn't have much time to look, since I was on a time crunch and didn't have a lot of time to look around, but I'm pretty sure I noticed 'Specialissima' written on the left chainstay. Has the mid-1980s graphics, Columbus sticker on seattube. Frameset looked nice, I didn't notice and dings, scrapes, dirt, etc. It was just the frame and fork - no headset or BB or anything else.

They wanted $60 for the frame/fork combo. Good deal? I probably don't have the $$ to build it up vintage C-record or the like, but can complete a modern build on it fairly easily as I have some parts.

Worth it? I don't know where the Specialissima falls in the hierarchy, but I think it is up there.

Thanks for any replies and information!

Here is a picture that gives you an idea of what the frame looks like:

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1366/...c66e7492_o.jpg

Thanks for any replies and information!

Hard to go wrong for $60 if you like the frame.

You can't buy the whole bike? You certainly need to get a closer look. There area few difference in the frame, most notably the chroming of the crown, and decal colors but I believe that is a 1983 Rallye model. If it is the frame is TreTubi Columbus wif Alle stays. The catalog shows Campagnolo; Grand Sport headset, pedals, front der, crank with 'sport touring triple', Record seatpost (catalog shows fluted), Tipo hubs wif Record skewers, and Rallye RD! Mafac cantilevers, Mavic rims. Nice package.

OK. The catalog doesn't show the chromed crown but since the two bikes below it had it and the three above all have it this could have simply be to steamline production. The chromed chainstay and dropouts is in line with the catalog. The color of the decals is off but that could have been a production change or later replacement (which might explain the Specialissma decal).

I think you need to try for the whole bike, especially if it still has the Campagnolo triple, although it's a faux triple with all three rings in the same BCD, and Rallye RD.

If you can't buy it whole the frame is a great deal IMHO. Get lots of nice pics for @T-Mar serial number thread too!

While I agree that the pictured bicycle is a Banchi Rallye, the OP said the said what he was considering was a frameset hanging in the rafters of his co-op. Consequently, the picture would not appear to be that of the actual Bianchi under consideration. The only similarities may be that they are white and Bianchi. Pictures of the actual frameset under consideration are required.

OH I can't believe I got trapped in that again! I bet it is more like this but someone "restoring" it put the Specialisma decal on it

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY5WDEwM...akFlt/$_59.JPG

Everyone,

Thank you for the replies so far. I agree, it is hard to get an accurate valuation without seeing the actual bike. Good news is that I put $30 down on a Trek 412 frame at the same co-op and I quickly looked and it upon closer inspection it looks like has the PSA stamped fork crown, so I'm less interested in it. I could probably easily move that over to the Bianchi.

Regarding the frameset, it was probably a bad idea to attach that picture of the other Bianchi touring bike, as this bike, yes, is different. Critique accepted!

I did some research the other night, and found what looks like the same frameset in this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ialissima.html

The only difference is that I remember the fork was painted white, with a chrome pantographed crown. Had pantographing on the seatstay caps and in other places I think.

If this frameset was actually offered as a frameset only (according to the thread above), then there is a slight possibility that this particular frameset was never built up. That to me would increase value, as it would in essence be NOS, with no riding time. I won't talk myself into that hope unless I inspect the bike and see evidence.

Will try to get pictures ASAP - hopefully when I pick it up! If the frame is the same as what is in the '83 Bianchi thread above, it would be the same frame used in the Super Leggera, yes? I know very little about Bianchi hierarchy.

Thank you for your continued thoughts!

Get good detailed pics of the frame then we'll discuss it.

In the link provided BlueDevil is post a pic of the '83 catalog, the American market one I believe, and pictures of completely different bike. The catalog pic shows a Flat fork crown where as the actual bike pics show a semi sloping crown used on '85 bikes. Also the catalog shows Portcatenna holes on the right dropout and not are seen in the pics of the bike.

Yes pics would help. Frankly for $60 I would snap up anything with Bianchi, Specialissima and Columbus decals in an instant. Almost certainly worth more than $60 unless there is some damage or something. Here is an early/mid 80s Specialissima framed bike I owned.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1591a7959e.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d7aa5e9638.jpg

Note however that a Campione del Mondo from the same time period has a very similar frame, but less chrome and Tretubi not full SL.

Pics of the Bianchi frame in question:

http://magaimg.net/img/75t2.jpg

http://magaimg.net/img/75t4.jpg

http://magaimg.net/img/75t5.jpg

So, by the looks of it, an '83 model? It had '83' on the left side of the seat tube collar, and then an '11' and '83' on the other side. Hopefully the pantographs help with model identification.

Unfortunately, this one is most likely a no-go for me. I noticed some paint cracking in the both headtube lugs, which to me seems ominous. Then examining underneath the bottom tube right behind the bottom headtube lug, I felt just the slightest bulge - I could not really even see it in the reflection of light on the paint, but I could feel it. It was faint, but there. So this bike had been involved in a minor front end accident and had been slightly tweaked. It may affect nothing. But I'm not sure if I would want to deal with it if bigger problems arose. If they offered it for 1/2 price, I may be tempted. It is what it is.

Also, lol, yeah the frame is not NOS. Obviously been used, then stripped. numerous nicks and scrapes in the paint, some hastily touched up.

So there ya go!

Yes I think that is likely an '83 Specialissima frame. I would probably still buy it for $60 or offer $50.

Thank you 5 years later! My MIL gave us her custom built specialissima today and I've found 2 on the Internet that are white and not Celeste from 1983.