Germ007

I saw a bike rack outside a pawn shop yesterday and the curiosity got the best of me. I've been looking for a bike for my girlfriend who is 5', and I immediately saw this small purple frame and almost fell over when I saw a price tag of $39. When they rang me up they said, "That'll be $21." haha.

Anyway, there is a sticker that is barely legible on the top tube near the head that clearly says Limited. It has a complete Shimano 600 group set, except for the down tube shifters which say Shimano 105. The rear dropouts and the seat post bolt both say Gipiemme. This bike is in amazing shape and I believe all parts to be original except maybe the shifters which don't match the 600 series pattern of 6207 & 6208.

Can anyone help me narrow down the year?
Was the frame made in Italy and sent to Japan for assembly? Not sure what the manufacturing history was like back then.

Below is the complete list of components, which hopefully can serve others in the future as well as photos.
_____________________________________________
Serial Number: C.6 11813

FRAME:
Material: Bianchi Formula 2 Columbus
Color: Purple
Decal: Made in Italy
Bianchi Pantographed in sides of seat tube
Edoardo Bianchi with eagle on head tube
Rear Dropouts: Gipiemme
Fork: Bianchi Formula Columbus/Eagle Pantographed in top

GROUPSET:
Crankset: Shimano600 170mm (FC-6207)
Bottom Bracket: Shimano 36x24t (NOTE: This is what it says on the outside, haven't taken it apart yet)
Pedals: Shimano600 (PD-6207)
Rear Derailur: Shimano600SIS (RD-6208)
Front Derailur: Shimano600 (FD-6207)
Downtube Shifter: Shimano105 (SL-1050)
Brake levers: Shimano600 (BL-6208)
Brakes: Shimano600 (BR-6208)
Hubs: Shimano600 (HB-6207)
Headset: Shimano600

OTHER:
Seatpost: Fluted / 27.2 / Italy etched at the bottom near the max line.
Seatpost Bolt: Gipiemme
Saddle: Bianchi Sella Italia
Handlebars: ITM
Stem: SR (Suntour I think)
Rims: Ambrosio 19 Extra/Super Elite/Durex

oddjob2

Helluva score for $21.00, congratulations! Look for date codes on the Shimano 600 components. Maybe on the back of the cranks, chainrings, etc.

jon c. 

Can't help you with the year, but congratulations on a great score.

brian3069

The components are from 1986 to '88. Would a Bianchi with Columbus tubing come equipped with Shimano 600.

Germ007

The Shimano components would make it a unanimous 1985. Everything was stamped with a J and months ranging from July-December. One of the crank rings was March. Its either a 1985 or a 1986 since some of the parts were dated later in the year.

Germ007

Im definitely not an expert. The 87 catalog on velospace shows the limited with Columbus and 600 but not in this color.

https://www.velobase.com/Resource_Too...987Bianchi.pdf

FastJake

Great score. Components dated July-Dec 1985 = 1986 model.

I'm a little surprised that steerer tube is long enough to safely secure a quill stem...

Germ007

The stem is definitely not long. Have it at the max line. I was checking for markings. I took a frame measurement and its 47cm which I found odd until a saw in the 87 catalog that the smallest size was 47cm. It's actually the perfect size for her.

georges1

very nice looking bike

Bianchigirll 

I have to agree $21 is a super deal for an '86 Limited. Looks like you'll have a fabulous rider after a good overhaul.

Germ007

Thanks for the help everyone. I've already started taking her apart. I'm going to polish and clean every cm of this bike. She'll shine like new except for a few scrapes on the frame. There is no rust but definitely grease and grime.

Can I assume that this is an Italian frame since the dropouts are Gipiemme and it states that it was made in Italy?

Bianchigirll 

Yes it is, Bianchi used the Formula two frame across 5 or 6 models that from '86 through '88. I have an '88 Trofeo with that frame and it rides very well. If you havn't gotten there yet the BB is Italian thread. The color is called Metallic Violet.

Germ007

Thanks so much Bianchigirll. It's an honor having your expertise. I was actually wondering what the official color was called.

Bianchigirll 

Your Welcome, always happy to help. I hope your GF likes it.

T-Mar

+1, it's an Italian manufactured 1986 model. After the big Yen revaluation in 1985, Japanese manufacturing became much more expensive and made it viable for Bianchi to bring some of the Japanese mid-range models, such as the Brava and Limited, back to Italy for a while.

jet sanchEz

I sold this exact bike but in a 54cm size for $400 last year and I had about 10 emails in an afternoon. Cool bike, I woulda kept it if it fit me...

Germ007

Thanks T-Mar, I'm sold. It's a very interesting history. This being my first experience with a Shimano groupset, I'm surprised at how nice these components are for 28 year old parts. Especially the brakes and crank. I wouldn't trade in my Campy stuff for them but I'm actually impressed at the quality. My girlfriend could care less, because the bike is pretty. haha.

Germ007

Good to know. That would have been my next question, though this bike isn't going anywhere for a while.

cormacf

Man. The same bike (but in my size) is on CL here in LA, but it's $650, and they'll probably get that. 1986 Bianchi Limited 53cm Shimano 600 Steel Road Bike