Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
Reload this Page >

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

Notices
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals. Use this subforum for all requests as to "How much is this vintage bike worth?"Do NOT try to sell it in here, use the Marketplaces.

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

Old 01-25-19, 09:41 PM
  #1  
AdventureManCO 
The Huffmeister
Thread Starter
 
AdventureManCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Le Grande HQ
Posts: 2,693

Bikes: '79 Trek 938, '86 Jim Merz Allez SE, '90 Miyata 1000, '68 PX-10, '80 PXN-10, '73 Super Course, '87 Guerciotti, '83 Trek 600, '80 Huffy Le Grande

Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1194 Post(s)
Liked 3,409 Times in 1,357 Posts
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!
AdventureManCO is offline  
Old 01-25-19, 09:46 PM
  #2  
AdventureManCO 
The Huffmeister
Thread Starter
 
AdventureManCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Le Grande HQ
Posts: 2,693

Bikes: '79 Trek 938, '86 Jim Merz Allez SE, '90 Miyata 1000, '68 PX-10, '80 PXN-10, '73 Super Course, '87 Guerciotti, '83 Trek 600, '80 Huffy Le Grande

Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1194 Post(s)
Liked 3,409 Times in 1,357 Posts
Here is a picture that gives you an idea of what the frame looks like:



Thanks for any replies and information!

Last edited by AdventureManCO; 01-25-19 at 11:06 PM.
AdventureManCO is offline  
Old 01-25-19, 10:49 PM
  #3  
Nessism
Senior Member
 
Nessism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 3,059

Bikes: Homebuilt steel

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2180 Post(s)
Liked 419 Times in 332 Posts
Hard to go wrong for $60 if you like the frame.
Nessism is offline  
Old 01-26-19, 03:53 AM
  #4  
Bianchigirll 
Bianchi Goddess
 
Bianchigirll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,716

Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.

Mentioned: 191 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2910 Post(s)
Liked 2,829 Times in 1,456 Posts
Go get a closer look at the tubing decal. What do they want for the whole bike? RATZ.......... now I have to get up and go look at the catalogs
__________________
One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"

Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Bianchigirll is offline  
Old 01-26-19, 04:28 AM
  #5  
Bianchigirll 
Bianchi Goddess
 
Bianchigirll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,716

Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.

Mentioned: 191 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2910 Post(s)
Liked 2,829 Times in 1,456 Posts
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!
__________________
One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"

Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Bianchigirll is offline  
Old 01-26-19, 07:06 AM
  #6  
T-Mar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 652 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times in 1,874 Posts
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.
T-Mar is offline  
Old 01-26-19, 09:11 AM
  #7  
Bianchigirll 
Bianchi Goddess
 
Bianchigirll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,716

Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.

Mentioned: 191 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2910 Post(s)
Liked 2,829 Times in 1,456 Posts
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

__________________
One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"

Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Bianchigirll is offline  
Old 01-26-19, 10:46 AM
  #8  
AdventureManCO 
The Huffmeister
Thread Starter
 
AdventureManCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Le Grande HQ
Posts: 2,693

Bikes: '79 Trek 938, '86 Jim Merz Allez SE, '90 Miyata 1000, '68 PX-10, '80 PXN-10, '73 Super Course, '87 Guerciotti, '83 Trek 600, '80 Huffy Le Grande

Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1194 Post(s)
Liked 3,409 Times in 1,357 Posts
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!
AdventureManCO is offline  
Old 01-26-19, 02:15 PM
  #9  
Bianchigirll 
Bianchi Goddess
 
Bianchigirll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,716

Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.

Mentioned: 191 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2910 Post(s)
Liked 2,829 Times in 1,456 Posts
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.
__________________
One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"

Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Bianchigirll is offline  
Old 01-26-19, 08:54 PM
  #10  
BlueDevil63 
my name is Jim
 
BlueDevil63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Eagle, CO
Posts: 1,483

Bikes: too many or not enough

Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 173 Post(s)
Liked 314 Times in 93 Posts
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.




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.
__________________
Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso





BlueDevil63 is offline  
Old 01-29-19, 10:18 PM
  #11  
AdventureManCO 
The Huffmeister
Thread Starter
 
AdventureManCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Le Grande HQ
Posts: 2,693

Bikes: '79 Trek 938, '86 Jim Merz Allez SE, '90 Miyata 1000, '68 PX-10, '80 PXN-10, '73 Super Course, '87 Guerciotti, '83 Trek 600, '80 Huffy Le Grande

Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1194 Post(s)
Liked 3,409 Times in 1,357 Posts
Pics of the Bianchi frame in question:







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!
AdventureManCO is offline  
Old 01-30-19, 11:01 AM
  #12  
BlueDevil63 
my name is Jim
 
BlueDevil63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Eagle, CO
Posts: 1,483

Bikes: too many or not enough

Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 173 Post(s)
Liked 314 Times in 93 Posts
Yes I think that is likely an '83 Specialissima frame. I would probably still buy it for $60 or offer $50.
__________________
Flickr Albums
ebay: cicloclassico
70 Pogliaghi ItalCorse, 72 De Rosa, 72 Masi Gran Criterium, 75 Masi Gran Criterium, 77 Melton, 79 Bianchi Super Leggera, 79 Gios Super Record, 81 Picchio Special, 82 Guerciotti Super Record, 82 Colnago Profil CX, 83 Colnago Superissimo, 84 Fuso





BlueDevil63 is offline  
Old 02-25-24, 01:36 AM
  #13  
frenchfry53
Newbie
 
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
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!

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.
frenchfry53 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
punkbeatjohn
Classic & Vintage
2
06-26-18 09:37 AM
Porschefan
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
6
10-30-14 03:45 PM
hoyc
Classic & Vintage
8
03-20-11 08:54 AM
Rupert
Classic & Vintage
10
06-09-10 07:06 PM
theschwinnman
Classic & Vintage
5
04-26-10 07:52 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.