1963 Bianchi Specialissima????
 

Greetings. First time poster here.

I found a listing on Facebook Marketplace for a 60's era Bianchi Specialissima. The pics left me highly dubious (especially of the asking price of $3,750.00. Google image search led me to an eBay link with the attached pics. Will load a few others in a response.

It is the same bike. That apparently sold for $1,000???

Reasons I am doubtful: 1) black head tube (cannot find a sample of Bianchi painting head tube different color from the rest of the frame). 2) Cannot find a sample of Bianchi painting any bike yellow in the 60's. 3) No paint on fork (could have been removed, buy why?). 4) Decal on head tube (or painted logo) rather than a plate. 5) Black rubber or plastic on shifters (clearly not original, although the seller represents that they are). 6) Bianchi name on the down tube does not seem located in exactly the right place. 7) No sign of model printed right behind Bianchi name on down tube as was standard during the era.

That being said, I have no problem accepting that this is a mid-60's Bianchi, but probably one that has been repainted and needs an immense amount of work.

Thoughts as to what it is we are looking at?

Thanks.

More photos.

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Owned a black Specialissima from this time. This is the first yellow example I have seen. From what can be seen in photos everthing checks out. A Specialissima from this time would have been fitted with the Campagnolo-Bianchi integral headset. There is not enough resolution in photos to tell if this is present or if it is merely a Bianchi integral headset.

The 3TTT Gran Prix allen key stem may be slightly late for 1963. The Gran Prix is usually considered to have launched 1964-65. For 1963 I would have expected an Ambrosio Champion but I may be off by a year or two. No doubt the experts will weigh in...

EDIT: checked at CR and an article there gives 1963 as the launch date for the Gran Prix model.

A 1963 bicycle may be fitted with a Record bottom bracket of 3/16" ball.

Can see nothing to suggest an incorrect identification. Two-colour paint scheme is indeed unusual.

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I concur that the era appears appropriate for the frame features. As noted, the colour scheme is atypical. Regarding the fork, it does appear to be OEM. It was common to entirely chrome the forks and any paint was probably stripped by a previous owner.

I notice that there are no dropout eyelets. This is very curious for the era, given that even high end bicycles were generally equipped with eyelets, so fenders could be mounted for training in wet weather. Campagnolo did not offer a version without eyelets at the time and there is no sign of them having been removed by the owner. This suggests that it was done by the factory and the only reason to justify that would be a team bicycle. That might also explain a decal, as opposed to a badge. The yellow might be a sponsor colour. Just thinking out loud...

I don't see much more than about $300 in that bike. Maybe restored, but not in THAT shape!

There's close to $500 in the unrestored components alone, and the frame on top of that.

Yes indeedy do!

The Top 63's and Campag-Bianchi headset would alone approach that value.

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Which is why you shouldn't be offering "advice".

That bike sold here in Atlanta for $150 on OfferUp about 5 weeks ago.

The flipper who bought it then sold it for $750 on eBay 48 hours later.

I can give proof/screen captures from my phone if needed. I tried to get my hands on it via OfferUp but the seller blew me off. Tried to explain what he had, wouldn't listen. Sent him a link to the eBay sold listing after... didn't bother to respond. Someone got a deal.

Great story.

I wish it were only a story. Or a dream. It was real. @ciclimeacci this is 'the one that got away' recently. But hey, the Behringer fell in my lap a short few days later...

@bikemig Here's the OfferUp ad from 24-48 hours prior to auction - eBay auction cap is below that.

http://i.imgur.com/R3OnReQh.jpg

Here's the eBay auction: 1963 Bianchi Specialissima

Same bike... Note both sold out of GA, about 20 miles apart. 100% positive the two sellers are different people.

http://i.imgur.com/7fNFOlxh.png

Some guys get all the luck.

I don't think it is, I have a '64 and that bike is a lot different. Mine has a metal badge the decals are different. Bianchi yes Specialissima probably not IMO.

Full frame shot.

I owned a Specialissima and a team bike In the 60's.
Never saw rubber on the shifters and I think the "Team Bike" had a plaque on the head tube (memory is a little fuzzy though. The team bike had tied and soldered spokes.

And now the Bike is for sale again in Decatur GA, a few miles away - it's sold three times in less than 4 months now, from $150 OBO to $700 to now $1550 OBO, and all sales happened within a 20 mile radius

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/bik/6270879068.html

https://images.craigslist.org/00606_...C_1200x900.jpg

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Lettuce know when you think it gets up to "what the market will bear"... :roflmao2:

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..interesting
 

...interesting, he didn't bother to even take a close-up picture of " the rarest brakeset there is.."
I would at least like to be able to say I've seen 'em.
Those should really be worth something, 'eh?!
-M>

The Offer Up and Ebay pictures appear to show the same garage door.

If anyone is interested, the yellow/black Specialissima listed above is being sold a 3rd or 4th time now on eBay, down to $699 at the moment.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/332851039876
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...87bd51d270.png

It has not sold yet so the starting bid is 699, someone might get it for that plus shipping....so there might be hope since there is still time on the clock it could go up.
If it sells for the 699 the seller will have lost money after paying fees....set timers and prepare to snipe. :beer:
Best, Ben

This one is slated to be stuffed in my mailbox early next week! It was an impulse and I'm so curious about it. Top quality parts that point to early sixties. But why no model name decal? And whats with it having brazed on brake cable stops? And decal instead of headbadge? Seller says its a team bike but I can't really see any reason to say its not a Specialissima. Curious to see the serial and the bottom bracket. Funnily enough I found this thread right after I bought it when I was trying to figure out the difference between a Specialissima and a Team bike.

Uh-ooooh, another BF guy in my neck of the woods......

Dean...... in Port Angeles

Nice bike