mcpastor

I recently bought a 1988-89 Team Stuttgart Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra built up with mostly 1977 Campagnolo Super Record parts. I just loved the look. I've been wanting a bike that reminded me of my younger cycling days, though I never could have afforded this bike back then!

According to cadre(dot)org, my serial number L6X7056B means it's a 1988-89. That is verified in the catalog at velo-pages. However, there are some differences in my frame and the frames that appear in the catalog:

Mine has:
One chrome chain stay vs. two
One set of bottle braze-ons vs. two
No pump peg
No chain hanger

Other than that, the paint is original with the appropriate Eddy Merckx logos cast into the lugs, bottom bracket, fork crown, etc. SXL tubing according to the original sticker. I knew about the discrepancies before I purchased the bike, and I was just fine with it.

I'm wondering if these were customer-chosen options (perhaps to save money). Or, perhaps Merckx changed their standard options. Or, maybe this was team issue or built to the preferences of a pro racer (one can dream).

I'd include a picture, but since this is my first post, the forum won't allow that or including links.

Barrettscv 

I have a 1987 or 1988 Corsa Extra. A local bike shop has a later Corsa Extra that is a genuine Team Motorola Corsa Extra team bike and it has numerous special details.

It's possible that the example you have is a team bike and they dispensed with a few nonessential items that you listed.

rccardr 

mcpastor

rccardr 

Should have said 'likely not a team bike', as one can of course never be certain.
You didn't mention a number hanger, so assumed it doesn't have one.
For some reason, there are a number of Stuttgarts out there in different sizes with the build options you mention.
Looking forward to seeing pics.

mcpastor

T-Mar

Another possibility is that they were market dependent variations. In general, Americans are more enamoured with bling and features than Europeans. Many brands display differences between markets and that may explain the differences in chrome, pump peg and chain hanger. For instance, I've seen team issue Eddy Merckx bicycles from this period with zero chrome. However, the single set of bottle bosses is bit more perplexing. Regardless, here's a picture assist....

mcpastor

Paul J

Off topic, but to get your post count up, go to the introductions forum and welcome a few new folks and you've got you count. I've got an 1982 and mid 90's Merckx.

calamarichris

I've been looking for a Stuttgart Merckx for at least 5 years now. Closest I've seen was a 62cm track bike, which is about 1 cm too big for me. And I later learned you want track bikes to be about 1-2cm smaller than your usual road size. Alas.

Pictures, man! Pictures!

mcpastor

I was thinking of a steel bike for nostalgia's sake, and when I saw the Stuttgart, I couldn't let it go. I guess I was fortunate to find one on eBay. It came from a seller called "steel_lust."

Here are some pics:

Barrettscv 

Very nice! Enjoy and don't spend too much time on provenance.

calamarichris

+1 Bellissima!
I really envy you chocolate factory employees; all the best bikes show up on Ebay and Craigslist in your sizes.

CyclesMakaron

Hi! a full description of the standard and possible changes / additions within the framework built by EM is on the last page of the 1992 catalog (I think it has been in force for several years). The biggest riddle is ... FD on the clamp The bike is rather from 1990.

mcpastor

Thanks for your post!

You are correct, the clamp-on FD is a bit of a riddle. Prior to the sale, the person I bought the bike from disclosed the fact that the hanger had been removed and paint touched up prior to his owning it. I'm wondering if the hanger had gotten damaged in some way.

The year doesn't matter that much to me, but according to its serial number, my Merckx does appear to be a 1989, not a 1990: Eddy Merckx Serial Numbers.

There's also a picture of the available Team Stuttgart frame colors and options in the '89 catalog here: Eddy Merckx catalog (1989)

CyclesMakaron

Hi! rather use it: Decoding of Eddy Merckx frames. Team Stuttgart existed in the 1989-1990 seasons; the frame in such "camo" was produced from the end of 1988 to 1991.

mcpastor

Jacek, thanks for your informative thread, "Decoding of Eddy Merckx frames."

So, if I'm understanding your post correctly, the breakdown of my serial number L6X7056B would be:

L = frame prep employee
6 = 56cm
X = SLX
7056 = bike number
B = series number

So, contrary to Eddy Merckx Serial Numbers "B" does not actually mean '88-89. The B series of bikes could span more than one year, and there is no indication of the actual year the bike was made.

Is this correct, and do you or someone you know when each of these series' started and concluded?

CyclesMakaron

Hi! breakdown = 100% correct; Series B is 9999 frames - the production lasted for more than a year. All of these frames could have been produced in 89-90, but not from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 1990 - EMC kept the order of frame numbering, but not correlated with any specific dates. The letter B does not simply mean a specific year of production. "Are you or someone you know when each of these series began and ended?" No, I do not know, I can determine with approximation when it should happen - I work on it and maybe one day I will succeed The only people who know more are Mr Eddy Merckx and Mr Johan Vranckx. Apparently the production registers with markings have been destroyed (2008?); rumored Mr Vranckx kept his own register of the frames he worked on - there is no confirmation. The only (priceless) source of information (roughly precise) is the confirmation of the purchase of bicycles / frames containing the date of purchase, frame number and place of purchase: one such receipt destroyed "Z = 1985 theory" ...

mcpastor

Wow, thanks for the info! Maybe someday we will know for sure.