SJX426 

Since purchase, I have been puzzled with the finish of this bike. Clearly there is some over spray from who knows what, house paint, IDK. I have used Scratch X without any change. It is easy to scratch off with a finger nail.

OTOH, it looks like a translucent pearl finish. What is puzzling is the decal condition. Those that have fallen off, left a ghost. Those that haven't don't appear to have any of the translucent pearl over them.

If the top coat in question was removed, what would be left is a bright colored finish. I actually like the subdued finish but it is in poor shape.

What are your thoughts/comments or what do you know of the original finish when new?


Here are some examples

You can see the over spray or splatter in this view along with the missing decal
[IMG]P1020157 , on Flickr[/IMG]

This one shows the ghost of the decals lost. They were black. Also, the tubing decal looks uncovered.
[IMG]P1020155, on Flickr[/IMG]

This bike has been posted many times, so here is another pic of the whole bike....

[IMG]P1020207, on Flickr[/IMG]

A local bike acquaintance thought it looked cool just the way it is. He use to paint cars during his college years and is quite experienced as he has built 4 frames for himself and painted each. That is one data point. What is yours?

Bikerider007

The Record I recently picked up has a nice clear coat. I think it is just that showing age from being outside. I would also compare the paint fade of three colors to other Pins, getting those fades into each other would seem tough.

xiaoman1 

Hi,
The colors seem right it just seems odd to me that there is blue underneath the top coat. There is also a lot of orange peel in the paint that does not appear to be clear topcoat.
If Pina used a blue primer that may explain the difference....does the head badge have any metallic paint on the edges? I would look there too although if a repaint it could have been removed and replaced. Pina's paint did flake/peel mine is all chrome underneath not primer. If it was a repaint it looks right/good...JM2C's

Regards, Ben

Drillium Dude 

Interesting question. My Somec has a similar paint job. I sanded back the chipped areas in the paint on mine (in preparation for spot-restoration), and what I ended up with was a dull blue after the top coat came off. The top coat seems to be a clear with flakes of some sort suspended in it, giving the final coat a pearl finish.

However, what differs on mine is that the decals - which were mostly missing when I got it - were placed on top of the clear. In the places where they were missing, there was an obvious "edge" but the color wasn't affected as strongly as is yours in the first picture.

I think your paint/decals are surely original. I just have no idea about your first photo - it appears it would've been placed, then cleared, but that would've looked weird as the clear would've had the pearl treatment in it. Unless that's what Pinarello wanted.

Or, maybe the PO decided that decal looked crappy with the clear pearl over it, removed it and then realized "oops - that looks worse!" and didn't do any of the other decals. Thank the lord

DD

SJX426 

@xiaoman1 - Not a repaint and is painted the Spumoni from the early '90's offerings for this model. I believe all Montello's were chrome underneath all the paint and white was the first base coat. Head badge does not have any paint on the edges.

There appears to be some discoloration too, note the DT near the BB.
[IMG]P1020153, on Flickr[/IMG]

xiaoman1 

Hi, just like mine in the photo...your paint looks great for a Pina...Decals still presentable, I would leave it alone but that me, it is only original once and would still be a great ride. One of the other posts mentioned a blue/white primer underneath the top coat so perhaps that is what you see underneath the metallic paint... I mentioned mine has no primer and is all chrome with only top coat thus the flaking of the paint.
JM2C's, Ben

USAZorro

What's the motivation for determining originality here? I have a bit of a philosophy on originality. Perhaps the perspective will help, perhaps not.

1. If originality preserves value or history - stay original.
2. If originality preserves something you wish to preserve - stay original.
3. If you have no desire to invest time, $, energy in taking something from originality you don't care for to something you really like - stay original.
4. If you have something original that you would like a lot better if it were updated, and you have the desire and ability to update - update it.

As I look at the bike pictures, my own personal assessment is that neither #1 nor #2 applies. Then, I would have to choose between #3 and #4 .

If jgedwa is around and wishes to assist us in a philosophical discussion, he's the resident master.

T-Mar

I vote OEM paint for all the previous stated reasons plus it appears to have all the original pin striping, which is often missing on repaints. The pin striping is also very neat, outside of the tight areas such as behind the BB shell. Had this been a professional repaint with pin striping, the previous owner would probably also have opted for clearcoat over the decals.

FYI, the Spumoni paint scheme goes back to at least 1987 but the OP's bicycle would appear to be late 1988 to 1990 as the palmares decal references the 1988 TdF victory and not the 1990 WC victory.

SJX426 

@T-Mar Thanks for your comments. I believe the Spumoni does not go that far back. There is an Italian Ice scheme that predates the Spunmoni. That is what I found in the Bulger cats. I am open for correction. The difference is that the Italian Ice did not have the "White" between the three colors.

I waxed the bike when soon after purchase. Today I looked at the HT and noticed the paint is turning chalky. May have sat outside way too long.

I have no intention of repainting it. I was just interested to know if I could remove the top layer if it was not origina. Guess I will live with the on-going patina process!

Thanks all for your input.

T-Mar

If you check the Montello page of the 1989 catalog, you will see the Spumoni scheme both listed and shown. The 1987 catalog only mentions a wide range of colour schemes for the Montello but if look at the cover page you will see a Prologo in the Spumoni scheme. Enjoy your new acquisition.

SJX426 

@T-Mar - Thanks for the calibration. I have thoroughly enjoyed this bike. I have over 2000 miles on it and have almost been converted to DA 7400!

Have had a couple of close calls with two spills and a number of skids. Yesterday I was cleaning it up and found tire cord exposed on the rear tire. I did enjoy the Michelin Pro 2 Racer that came on it. They are 23's. I had an extra set Specialized Pro 25's that I put on. Will be interesting to feel what the ride difference is. They barely clear the chain stays and I have to open the caliper with the adjuster to get them on and off!

[IMG]P1030578, on Flickr[/IMG]

Drillium Dude 

Whoa! I haven't personally seen that since the old days when I couldn't afford new tires at just any old time. I used to run them until the entire tread was down to the cord all the way around. Wish I had pics

DD

SJX426 

Clearence:
[IMG]P1030581, on Flickr[/IMG]

HT shot
[IMG]P1030582, on Flickr[/IMG]

T-Mar

It looks like the axle is all the way forward in the dropouts. If you back the adjusters off and move the axle farther back, you will gain a little clearance, hopefully with no appreciable slowing of the shifting.

SJX426 

@T-Mar I could do that!
this is where I have been running it.[IMG]P1020171, on Flickr[/IMG]

xiaoman1 

Re-wax and let sit for a while(not to dry or haze) wipe it off and it should be better.....i would never use a paste wax in the sun as the chemicals can cause problems if left on too long...