Originally Posted by AlexZBikes

Hi cycling peeps.

unfortunately I cannot attach pictures or a link

I recently purchased a Bianchi Minimax due to arrive this week from eBay/Italy. This project is a nostalgic endeavor. It’s meaningful as this is the era when I began racing road bikes.

Mostly I’m curious of its year and origin. I’d like the components to represent the frame date as accurately as possible. It’s pretty rough but it might just need an overhaul, frame detailing, headset and saddle.

I’ve spent hours looking up the serial number, model year, catalogs from Bianchi and Campagnolo... and although I’ve found some info there’s lots of conflicting information. I’m thinking this was a “minimax ‘91” frame purchase that took previous model year Campy “c record ‘88” I believe.

Here’s some info that might help: Sticker on chainstay “Costruita nel reparto corsa”. Bb shell is stamped Bianchi on nondrive side. Bianchi paint signature on rear toptube drive side.

SPECS—
frame: Bianchi Minimax serial A.1700 on the bb
size: 54 stamped on the bb
fork: Columbus EL
seat post: Campy Record 27.2
headset: Shimano 600(replacing w/ C-Record)
crank: Campy Record 170 39x53
brake/levers: Campy Delta
shifters: Campy Record friction
rear derailleur: record version? 7speed
front derailleur: record
wheels: Mavic hubs, SUP rims
freewheel: Regina 7 speed
saddle: unknown(replacing with model year race)
chain: unknown
pedals: campy toe clip


Thank you in advance for any support,

AlexZBike

Originally Posted by lukedunk

Hello all, contemplating my first vintage, or maybe neo-vintage project. Would love some help with ID of this particular frame, and suggestions on component spec.

Questions:
1. Can you ID exact model and year?
2. Anyone know with certainty the seatpost size? Definitely smaller than 27.2mm, but I measure anywhere between 26.5 and 26.8.
3. Exact headset and crown race size? The crown race currently on the fork is wrong size. Seems to be 1" steer tube but with a step out at bottom?
4. What are your thoughts on finish? I thought about repainting vs. stripping to a bare finish.

What I know:
- Made in Japan and Piaggio stickers suggest maybe Ishiwata tubing?
- S/N on bottom bracket = MH08461
- Rear spacing is 120mm, dropouts are stamped Shimano-*something*
- Fork spacing is 100mm, dropouts are stamped Tange-*something*
- Only model sticker I can read is "Super..." on both sides of top tube
- BB is BSA threaded (the bottom bracket partially installed was just to verify the threading and not original)
- I don't have any original components, acquired it as a frame/fork only

Pics attached, thanks for any help!
Edit: Can't post pics yet, album is here:
photos.app.goo.gl/gF6Baf7JLPRM7sGH7

Originally Posted by becave7

Hello. I picked up a Japanese Bianchi Super with serial number MY07581 and would like to know the make an year. Is this a 1975 or possibly an 85. Has Shimano Arabesque shift levers and derailleurs. VeloBase.com says the Shimano Arabesque group was make from 1978-1984 so I'm leaning towards 85. Very light bike but not my size so it's going to get cleaned, serviced and then gifted to a tall friend.

Originally Posted by SomeDuskyOne

I need help identifying my bike, but the "administrator won't let me post pics for a while." My Bianchi does not say Bianchi on the seat tube, it has increasing size hash marks on it in the middle. All Shimano 600 equipment, 2 x 6 gears, maroon and gold paint, made in Japan, shifters on downtube, brake levers say Dia Comp, It does have the Piaggo sticker on the seat tube as well as one that says CrMo. S/N is MA01117

Originally Posted by John E

If you can figure out Bianchi serial numbers, Vincent, you are a far better man than I!

If anyone else is interested, we can start our own a Bianchi serial number database. I'll start with my two entries. To participate, just copy the body of the message and paste in your own entry. Let's try to keep it organized by year, then by model.

date
purchased model S/N

Dec. 1962 Corsa 2F51703

ca. 1981 Campione d'Italia 1M9914

Originally Posted by Vintavelo

Originally Posted by Vintavelo

Originally Posted by T-Mar

Definitely not a high end model. A high end 1963 model would have used an integral headset. A high end 1973 model would have used forged rear dropouts with an integral derailleur hanger. To me, it looks like a 1973 model, a Rekord 71 or possibly a Strada frameset. I've seen the Strada in royal blue and red, while the Rekord 71 is typically cleste. What's the seat post diameter? I assume those lugs are just polished steel? That's a huge chainring - 54? Crankset, and rear derailleur would be too high end for either model.

Originally Posted by Dr Bianchi

Wow really nice red bianchi,

Originally Posted by Vintavelo

Yes polished the lugs & everything I could.
Yes 54. Also Regina Oro. Looks like crankset, BB, shifters, brakes, stem & bars were original?
Post diameter? Idk? Have seen those plate dropouts on 62 Rekord? Wondered if somebody didn’t put those on? Thought about switching them to a good Campy D/O. Guess I’ll look ahead for sumpin else to build - All Campy; Cinelli? I like the Celeste green w/red, just says Italiano! Bellisimo!

Originally Posted by T-Mar

Yes, I've seen those rear dropouts on circa 1962 Bianchi too. But if you look at the head lugs from that era, you'll see they are a different pattern, with spear points and bell shaped openings for the cups of an an integral headset (see attached picture). Those dropouts were still being used circa 1972-1973 and the Agrati, lugs, conventional headset and serial number placement on your frame all point towards a 1970s model.

We know the rear derailleur is not a match based it's patent date and the serial number. Consequently, there's a good chance that some other components were also updated. I don't think that the crankset is OEM. The bars. stems, brakes and front derailleur could be original. Speaking of the front derailleur, based on the position of the cage mounting screw, it's a Valentino, as as opposed to a Gran Sport. The Valentino wasn't available in 1962-1963 but was in 1972-1973. A picture of the body, showing where the push rod exits, will also us to conclusively determine the model..

Changing the dropouts is is a lot of effort and money, if you're not a skilled brazer. Frankly, it's not worth it, if is the level that I believe it to be. My first step would be to measure the diameter of the seat post, which would indicate the grade of tubeset used in the frame.

Originally Posted by Bianchi84

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what date-range Bianchi used seat lug only for serial numbers? And was it even limited to dates or did it differ by models? What would an "A" on one side and number "0241" on the other tell me besides date? Anything? Bianchi serial numbers seem a little odd.

Originally Posted by T-Mar

A serial number that is split between both sides of the seat lug, indicates an Italian manufactured frame from the Piaggio era (i.e. early 1980s). The drive side typically has a two character, alpha-numeric stamp, which is the date code. You've got the alpha character, but are missing the critical numeral, so all I can say is that it's Italian manufacture from the beginning of a year in the early 1980s. The numbers on other side of the lug is the sequential frame number for the (unknown) date period.

Originally Posted by jendog

New to this, have older bianchi, no idea the year but SN: WA80601865A. Classic green, 56" frame Campione. Haven't seen any posts with this long of a number or later alphabet. Any ideas about yr?