ramones71 

So there's this...
https://knoxville.craigslist.org/bik...018811740.html

I normally would not click on an ad like this but:
1. It's a Colnago, and I have never had one.
2. It's close to my size
3. It is less than 3 hours from my house.

I have always considered Colnagos to be too rich for my blood so I don't know a whole lot about them. Likewise for high-end Campagnolo. The one thing I do know is that I know more about this bike than the person selling it! It appears that everything on it is correct (aside from the quick-release seatpost lever), but it is super rough and that fork looks pretty trashed. I don't know if I can bring that chrome back to a presentable condition.

I guess my questions are:
Do any of you Colnago/Campy experts see any glaring problems? What are your opinions on year? I'm thinking 1985ish.
Now the value: I feel that he's at least 3x the value of this bike in it's present condition. I am going to have to commit to a series of emails /texts to try to negotiate this seller back into reality. Any suggestions for a target price and bargaining tactics would be appreciated. I am not sure that I am fully committed to messing with this but I feel that if I ever wanted a Colnago Super, this might be an opportunity.

CliffordK

Vintage Italian racing bike - $1800 (Maynardville)

City Hall Storage near Hwy 33

bicycle frame material: alloy
bicycle type: road
brake type: caliper
condition: good
electric assist: none
frame size: large
handlebar type: drop
make / manufacturer: Colnago
model name / number: Colnago Super
suspension: none (rigid)
wheel size: 27 in

vintage Colnago road racing bike, all original, Campagnolo gear, new 1984-1985, in storage since 1990, still in riding condition, needs tires. (handle bars turned for storage)
Call to see at City Hall storage Maynardville.

CliffordK

Oof!!!

Probably an early to mid 70's Colnago Super. I don't see the clovers, but based on the dropout and a few features, it appears to be genuine.

It has 2nd generation Super Record derailleurs, and an early gen grooved Strada (Nuovo/Super Record) cranset.

A few nice panto bits and pieces.

The frame is TALL... 62cm-ish? Hopefully you are pretty tall to consider it.

I think you're in the 70's rather than the 80's based on the grooved crankset and the seat stay ends/caps, and no Colnago stamping on the chainstays, and flat fork crown.

Assuming the original components, the rear derailleur and the crank arms should have date codes.

That bike probably has sewup tires, for better or worse. It also has anodized rims, with the spotty wear pattern that is common as they age.

I think the bike could clean up nicely, and could well be worth close to $800, give or take a bit.

Get over $1000, and you're getting into the early Masters, Mexicos, Spiral Conics, etc.

Spaghetti Legs 

My sense is ‘80 to 82 time frame. If you google Colnago Super time line, someone put together a nice list of the changing features over the years.

Pantograph chain ring, high-low rear hub, Super Record parts are very nice features but yes, very much overpriced. I agree that $800 is a good price without any problems found, like stuck post, rust, etc

ramones71 

Thanks for the input everyone! Maybe I will let it sit a while longer before I try to start getting the price down

trailangel

If it's in city lockup it's probably unclaimed/stolen/recovered. Offer $180.00

CliffordK

One other note. It has aluminum jockey wheels.

Almost all of that era of Nuovo Record/Super Record jockey wheels have gone bad, so that isn't surprising, although I might question if the bike has actually been in storage since 1990.

zukahn1 

I would agree considering location type of sale CL as is from storage locker and condition the price is way high. This bike is no wear "gear" new as the seller states. Filthy somewhat worn parts bad tires and consumables. I would agree on $700-800 being top dollar and the would be giving a clueless bad seller a big break. As others have said wait some before you even consider an offer the bike is going nowhere at this price and will likely come way down in price before it sells.

Drillium Dude 

While I agree the asking price is double the value, I don't agree it's been abused. We've all seen far worse clean up magnificently, and this is no different. My only concern would be how bad the rust pitting on the fork is. No terribly bad scrapes, no dents I can see - in fact, the only "abuse" seems to be the scrape along the non-drive side of the down tube decal. Looks very early 80s as there is no engraving either on the seat stay caps or the chain stays. Bullseye pulleys are a plus because yeah, the old plastic originals do crack, but I bet these were put on bitd - the bearing seals are red, just as on the earliest of these specialty items.

There's money to be had selling those Mathauser brake pads; clean them up and get back $100 or more on Ebay. Ask me how I know

I will go a little higher and say that if this were all cleaned up to reveal its true condition I might top out at $1000. Not common in this shape, panto and special items, a desirable frame - whatever some people say, these are well-built frames that ride impeccably. Heck, event the vintage cloth tape looks good with no unraveling bits or threadbare sections (of course, the brake hoods will need replacing).

I hope the seller comes to his senses and makes an appropriate price-adjustment so that some lucky person can add this to their stable.

DD

zukahn1 

I would agree it isn't abused just neglected looks like it was road by a well caring owner for several years back in the day and put away, Where it sat neglected for ten plus years sad fate for such a nice bike,

Drillium Dude 

My eyes suck, and my computer's resolution isn't much better, so I'll take your word for it on the seat stay caps. '81 easily possible. I'm gonna guess the cutout in the BB shell is the older type with the pointed- vice flat-bottomed stem.

Current high-water mark for Mathauser brake pads is $250 for a personalized set on Ebay a few months ago: Colors! and this set just sold recently for $140.

DD

jet sanchEz

Judging from the ad, this is being sold by the storage facility which means they are invested in getting it gone.

This could work to your advantage as, obviously, the bike is not road-worthy right now.

I think you should call the seller and take it for a test ride. When they tell you that it cannot be ridden, that gives you a bargaining chip right there.

If they don't budge on the price, you haven't lost anything except a few minutes on the phone call.



With all the upgrades to the bike, this was certainly someone's prized possession, I think it is definitely worth looking at.

rccardr 

Agree that it is significantly overpriced. The storage facility in question (I suspect the owner just stores it there, not that it's being sold by the storage company) is not climate controlled. Which means that for the last 30 years, or however long it's been kept in that location, it's been subjected to whatever temperature fluctuations exist in that part of the world. Certainly freezing in winter and very hot in summer, especially in an enclosed storage unit. In the sun. So consider all consumables will require replacement, all bearings will reauire a compete cleaning and service. What doesn't need to be replaced will have to be thoroughly cleaned and polished. Might be easy, might not, but my money is on not easy and requiring lots of time, effort, and materials to bring it up to top quality. So, there's all that.

Let's talk actual current market value. I'm not a Colnago expert, but I did just sell my 83 Superissima for $1350 plus shipping, and it was PERFECT, original paint, Super Record, new hoods, new cables and housing, new saddle, spare saddle, new tires...well, new everything. So subtract all of what you'll have to spend on consumables, materials, and YOUR TIME from that figure, and you have a ballpark on value. Not sure how big/deep/wide that particular ballpark is, but it ain't anywhere near what the seller is asking.

CliffordK

Ahh, thanks. That might help date it. How many years did Colnago use concave caps with lettering vs convex caps with lettering (or a clover)?

And the flat crown.



I suppose time to look it up.
Velo-Retro: Colnago Super Timeline

I think the rear derailleur is 2nd gen, V1 (with the extra bolt for the parallelogram spring).
VeloBase.com - Component: Campagnolo 4001, Super Record (2nd gen, ver.1)

Listed as 1978 to 1984 which is consistent with the frame ID.

So, this puts the frame at probably either late 1980 or early 1981.

Wileyone 

I am a firm believer that all Colnago's are overpriced.

CliffordK

I think many other brands are underpriced. Torpado?
Perhaps some Japanese bikes of that era?

uncleivan 

The braze ons for the front derailleur started in 82, so before that.

Mad Honk 

It is a storage unit bike. Offer them $100 and walk away if they balk. They will jump on $ at any price. Smiles, MH

SJX426 

The experts agree, pre 1983 for sure. Mine is an '83 based on the RD Pat. and has flat ST caps and under BB routing of RD cable. I like the fluted caps.

Yeah, Colnago's are overpriced. I roll with it and on it. They are consistently overpriced, which is a good thing in my book.

@Drillium Dude isn't this like yours?

gomango

This bike has a load of charm and probably an interesting story.

I've owned a bunch of Supers and raced these locally many years ago.

As for the price, one could have fetched pretty decent coin for these not so long ago.

At this point, I hope someone with the means picks this up and loves it up.

See if they'll do $800 and put a few $$$ in for consumables.

Kabuki12

I would love to own s Colnago or De Rosa but there are a whole bunch of really nice bikes out there that are more realistically priced. Locally here in Ventura last year , a guy pulled me over while I was riding my Mondia and asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy his De Rosa 1983 I think , it was too small AND he wanted $1000 for it . I thought that at that price all the bikes I could own . IMHO. Joe

3alarmer 

....I have never heard of a case where that worked with a CL seller. You would be the first.

zukahn1 

II doubt you can negotiate this seller into a realistic price by email. Likely the best you can do is contact the seller in person and make reasonable offer of $600-700 to see if there even interested in really negotiating coming down on price and maybe be willing to go as high as $900 if you really like the bike and everything checks out good after looking at the bike in person.

repechage

Colnagos often are schizophrenic when it comes to exact details-

The fluted seat stay caps push earlier, later crown (chrome could be toast, price dropper- an open question to me, and $200 to fix about) two top tube cable guides, usually only on the smaller frames. '79-80 is where I would place it.

There may be date codes that suggest better or throw a curve.

The Hi-lo rear hub is a 1978 item most often from Euro-Asia Imports, back then if you ordered 500 sets you could get custom. A +$100 item.

Pantographed chainring +$80 Pantographed stem +$60 ( length/fit dependent)

Mathauser brake block / holder - to some $$, to others, "danger Will Robinson" as the pads are bonded to the holders. They do wear out. To me, a remove and sell.

Rims show significant brake wear. Time to look for rims and be ready to exhange, plenty of life left, but the appearance will pop out when the bike is cleaned up.

Needs an overhaul.

Derailleur pulleys are probably Bullseye, I bought my first set in 1975,


In sum, tall bike, $700, then the +/- $850-950 - not what the seller wants, but they have done nothing to raise the value, there is plenty to question, the fork chrome, indexing headset? always potential surprise bearing surface condition, rim flat spots? True? reasonably equat tension spokes? stretched chain, worn cogs and rings? a pending chain and freewheel replacement would not surprise me based on condition. So, price valuation could fall.

More than others would pay, but if one did not care about pantografata, the Hi-lo hub, there is money to recoup. The pads will sell but correct replacement holders and pads will negate that.


My being right at that middle size range, 55-56 cm center to top as they used to measure, there are always others willing to pay almost as much or more.

3alarmer 

.
...when I see a bicycle for sale at a price that is so unrealistically inflated, I immediately assume that I'm dealing with the Storage Wars phenomenon. I don't even start. There are a lot of other bicycles, even some Colnago's, that are both more reasonably available and in as good or better shape than something that's been sitting in a storage locker since 1990. (This has already been mentioned.) Good luck, because the first thing the seller is going to say in response is that he checked on the internet, and this is what they are going for.

Don't get confused byt the fact that it's on CL, so closer to you and available for inspection. It's not that close, the only realistic way to bargain is in person, and once you've made the trip, there's an unfortunate phenomenon where since you already have that long drive invested, you want to go home with something. That's a really big frame. I'm 6'2" and I couldn't ride that one. A Colnago that is sized "almost but not quite" is something to be avoided.