dan11

Anyone know how I can identify the date and model of a bottom bracket stamp on a mid 80's Bianchi the reads "C.159"?

Thanks, Dan

John E

Is that it? I am accustomed to seeing numbers like 2F51703 (my cheapo 1962 Corsa, on the BB shell) and 1.M9914 (my 1981, on the seat cluster).

Bianchigirll 

Try contacting Bianchi USA. I still think your frame hales from '85/86 and that world champ decal added later.

juvela

wondering if this could be a lot number?

dan11

only other numbers are "58" stamped into the BB, which is the frame size, and "85"
cast into the BB next to the Bianchi name. No other numbers. Another responder said it might have been a frame only purchase due to the fact that it came with Suntour Superbe Pro components, chrome front forks and rear triangle, which doesn't show up in any catalogues I've seen.

Loga

Please help

Bianchigirll 

Hello and welcome to the forums. While many of us are very knowledgeable and pull off incredible identifications sometimes a bit more help is needed. can you tell us a bike more about the bike?

What color is it? Is it a '10 speed' or a mountain style bike with straight handlebars? What are some of the names on the parts? Dia Compe, Shimano, Huret, Simnplex etc Is there anything say a name or maybe a type of steel used?

Bianchigirll 

Hello and welcome to the forums. While many of us are very knowledgeable and pull off incredible identifications sometimes a bit more help is needed. can you tell us a bike more about the bike?

What color is it? Is it a '10 speed' or a mountain style bike with straight handlebars? What are some of the names on the parts? Dia Compe, Shimano, Huret, Simnplex etc Is there anything say a name or maybe a type of steel used?

gpcrider

Where can you find a serial number on a Bianchi I bought in 1986... Red with white seat and letters... bought it in Italy and carried over on a plane. All original.

Bianchigirll 

If it isn’t on the bottom bracket shell look around the bottom of the seat tube. Pics?

T-Mar

7-1/2 months late but it's a 1987 Japanese manufactured model. Unfortunately, model codes aren't incorporated into the S/N but given the origin it's either entry level or mid-range.

T-Mar

Given that you bought in Italy during 1986, it's unlikely to be Asian manufacture. A mid-range or high end, Italian manufactured model of this era will typically have the S/N stamped on the underside of the bottom bracket shell, However, if it sat around in the shop for a couple of years, it may be on the seat lug. If it's an entry level, Italian manufactured frame with the Calibrati 1-20 tubeset, it was likely contract manufactured by Chiorda, in which case the S/N should be on the front of the upper, head lug. Many of the Chiorda manufactured models used a bulge formed head tube, so it may not use actual lugs but faux lugs.

Please note that the S/N does not include model information and many Italian market models used different model names than the USA market. Consequently, identification may be complicated beyond determination of manufacturer, year, level and an equivalent USA market model.

gpcrider

Here are the pics... any help anyone can offer would be appreciated.

Bianchigirll 

If I am not mistaken tubi calibrati 10-2 is the Italian version of HiTen or Mangalloy tubing. The Z series derailleurs and shifters make this appear similar to the US market’84ish Strada or Classica but with downtube shifters.

stardognine

Cool cranks, and that’s got to be the coolest bike shop sticker we’ve seen in awhile. 👍😁

T-Mar

The subject bicycle was contract manufactured by Chiorda for the Italian market, The serial number is on the front top of the bulge formed head tube. It appears to have been manufactured in 1985 but could be a 1986 model if production was late in the calendar year. Calibrati 1-20 was hi-tensile steel. The derailleurs are entry level Shimano Z-series. The Universal brakes and Ofmega crankset are also entry level, This would be at or very near the bottom of the adult, lightweight line. It is comparable to the USA market Strada or a Canadian market Bici 1 but I don't the Italian market market designation for this model.

squeaky pedal

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. I had bought a used Bianchi in the 1980’s and I am trying to figure out the exact year and the model of the bike. I took the liberty to list some of the details:

S/N 4697 (on BB) (also on BB I see 87, can this be the year )
Color : celestre green
Handle bars: drop down: ITM made in Italy
Handle bar stem ( ITM, black)
Brake set: (Modolo) Mach 1
Shifters : Shimano 600
Front and back deraillers: Shimano 105
Sprocket : 6 speed (Shimano 600 MF 6208
Crank: Stronglight (52-43 teeth)
Tubing: Formula 2 (production columbus, bike has made in italy and bianchi stickers)
Rims: Ambrosio 19 extra elite Durex (700 x 23C)

T-Mar

Welcome to the forums. The fact that you located in Switzerland complicates matters as Bianchi models often varied in both model name and component mix from one market to another. In the USA, Formula II tubesets were employed from 1986-1988, on the mid-range, Italian manufactured frames. The Stronglight and Modolo Mach 1 mix is also typical of the mid-range models. However, I strongly suspect that the Shimano derailleurs, shift levers and freewheel are an upgrade by the previous owner, especially given the mix of 105 and 600 parts. It was quite common in the late 1980s to upgrade derailleur systems to Shimano, to get indexed shifting.

As for the year, the 87 stamping would not be correct. It should be alpha-numeric. It could be a B.7 or, if read upside down, possibly an L.8. This would make it anywhere from a 1987 to 1989 model. We should be able to narrow that down, based on the decal styles. 1987 and 1988 models typically had a 1986-1987 Campione del Mondo on the down tube, just above the shift levers. This decal was rectangular for the 1987 model year but round for the 1988 model year. The main tube decals, also varied during this period. In 1987, the Bianchi logo was typically paired with a symbol that looked like a couple of hockey sticks, while the 1988 and 1989 logo looked was paired with triangles.

As for the model, I don't recall any USA model that used the Formula II, Stronglight and Modolo Mach 1 configuration but in 1988 there was a Campione d'Italia in the Canadian market with this configuration. Whether or not it was called this in Switzerland, is another matter. A lot of late 1980s, European market, mid-range models appear to use Rekord 8xx designations.

Photographs of the bicycle may help. Ignore the warning about requiring posts, The photos will upload to a gallery album under your user name, where members can view them.

squeaky pedal

Hi T-Mar,

I really appreciate the effort and the clarity of your explanation. I should have been more precise with my details, here are some clarifications:
Please note, regarding photo's I can seem to upload them, tried a few times no success, if you message me in private I will gladly email them to you.

- I was living in Canada when I purchased the bike.

-In regards to the stamping ( L8 or B8) on the BB, I believe its L . 8 (1 photo to be emailed)

-In regards to the decals – I think it’s the hockey stick like (2 photos to be emailed). It the same as that shown in rjhammett post on 12-12-18, but the stick or fin like symbol near the B in Bianchi is in green, also there is green line going through the Bianchi name.

T-Mar thanks again for all the information

T-Mar

Thank-you for the photos and mentioning that the subject bicycle was purchased in Canada. The Bianchi logolstyle is 1988-1989 while the serial number is very late 1988. This, in conjnction with the lack of a Campione Del Mondo decal, would normally, indicate a 1989 model, but the Formula II decal is the fly in the ointment, as it suggests a 1988 model. One possibility is that Bianchi may have been using up excessive stock of the Formula II decals before they switched to the Columbus Cromor decals. As previously mentioned, the component mix, with exception of the Shimano derailleur system, is representative of a Canadian market, Campione d'Italia. So, while I can't make a definitve statement on the model year, it does appear to be a 1988-1989, Canadian market, Campione d'Italia from late in the model year transition period.

lokem

Hey! I'll try my luck here as well.
I need your help identifying this Bianchi model (?) and it's production date. The seriel number on the head tube is 755209. Could it be a Strada mixte from 1986/1987? The components are identical with this one:
Bianchi Campione del Mondo (on buycycle)
Shimano Light Action rear derailleur
Ofmega headset and crankset