rumble b

hi, I was just given my grandfather in-law's bike, a Pinarello that has probably been in storage for about 20 years or so. Can anyone help identify the year/model and what it might be worth? I'm trying to decide if I should just ride it or if it might be worth more to a collector. There are some scratches but otherwise the bike is in great shape, just needs new cables, tires, etc. and an overhaul in general. Curious to hear any opinions, thanks!

jet sanchEz

Top of the line frame with top of the line components, probably from about 1992 or so

It is a Pinarello Montello with a Campagnolo Record group with Delta brakes

It looks to be in excellent shape

Your location will often determine the value of this type of bike but I don't think you should take less than $1800, no matter where you are

If you are comfortable selling on Ebay, don't take less than $2500

rccardr 

Suspiciously nice decals for a Pinny, that plus the owner’s name (assuming your GFiL was Chuck) if under clear coat would suggest a respray. Not necessarily a bad thing, but to a collector would likely reduce the value.

Overall in very nice condition, although I’d go over the chrome on the frame carefully to see how much of that is surface and how much is rust.

I would be somewhat lower on the value spectrum, maybe $1800 max on eBay; even then you could have it listed for a long while until the right buyer comes along.

And at that price, suspect that most buyers would want it ready to ride with all consumables attended to.

rumble b

thanks for all the replies, I appreciate your expertise. Yes, 92 would be about the right time. Time to get this bike tuned up!

CyclingFool95 

Bottom bracket and top tube cable routing say Montello but paint is wrong - Montello stays (all 4) should be chrome. As someone said, looks repainted/labeled so that might be it. Surface rust on the chrome can be cleaned up with a ball of tin-foil (the kitchen stuff) and a little WD-40.

The Delta brakes are worth around $300-500
The 93 or earlier Record group is not worth so much - maybe $300-400
The wheels probably not more than $125-150
And, a Montello frame around $400 (and that's a big frame so not an easy sell)

It's not a collectible. You might be better off selling the Delta brakes and replacing them with a set of dual pivot record or chorus from that era.

Is there a serial number in the bottom bracket shell?

rumble b

yes, the serial number is 00449

Mackers

1st gen C-Record crank set in great condition, 1st gen Record Ergos with the aluminum bodies.
Just as desirable as the Deltas.
Chorus rear derailleur. Not sure about the front derailleur, might be as lowly as Avanti....
Hubs look like Record though the quick releases don't match.

DMC707

If it fits, id ride it. Nice bike but not quite a holy grail collectible.

still — very very nice bicycle

SJX426 

@rumble b - Being an owner of a 1990ish Montello, I agree with @CyclingFool95 wrt the frame features. I can tell you it is a great ride! I have over 4000 miles on mine and it is one of two favorite rides.

CyclingFool95 

Not light, but the ride is great (yes, I've drunk the Italian Kool-Aid). Handles like its on rails, and has that oh so smooth steel ride quality. I bought mine (a circa 87) in 92 with 1st gen Chorus downtube. Rode it that way in 93, and then brought it up to 8 speed Ergo Chorus with wheels like the OPs (32 spoke Chorus hubs and Mavic SUP rims in my case). This photo is a couple of years old (when it was still 8 speed but with a compact crank and more modern compact bars - it used to have Cinelli 64-42s)). Now it has 10 speed Chorus on it.

Mine is still original paint (no way to duplicate the Spummoni) so you can see the chrome on both sets of stays. Mine has an SSxxx serial number. Someone who knows more than I might be able to speak to whether the OO serial number would have come before or after.

If the chrome and the condition of your decals aren't enough, another sign yours is a repaint with replacement labels is that the single Pinarello decal on the seat-tube, would only have been used on the earlier frames without the second set of bottle bosses. Once the bosses are there, the dual label would be used (as shown on what's left of mine).

SJX426 

@CyclingFool95 - I remember that pic! We have the same colorway!
CConversion95 on Flickr

Purchased from CL with original 740x DA with DT shifters. Converted about a year ago to Chorus.

rumble b

very nice! also that's great to hear that you've got a 10 speed setup on it now. One of my concerns was finding 8 speed parts if something were to fail.

DMC707

theyre relatively easy to find (8 speed parts that is ) . I've restored several bikes from this era in the last couple of years . Campagnolo 8 speed Ergo still works well and is rebuildable

Chombi1 

Based on the bridgeless bottom stays and top gusseted bottom bracket, it does seem to be a very very late 80's or early 90's Montello (the late 80's Montellos before this one had a full chromed rear triangle and a riveted metal head badge.).
C Record components and the Delta brakes are pretty much "de riguer" on Montellos. It looks like this bike does not have C Record derrailleurs, but the offset, slant parallelogram derailleur mounted to this bike should perform much better than C Recors. Offset, slant parallelogram RDs like the 1st and 2nd gen Chorus RDs (I think the one on the bike is a 2nd gen Chorus, or an Athena) performs much much better, as long as you use non-indexed (Synchro) shifters. The Delta brakes can be adjusted enough to provide OK braking. But they tend to be a pain to do so. And will also just provide middling braking performance, at best.
I agree about the decals most like having been replaced, as pretty much, 99.9% of C&V Pinarellos have long started shedding their decals, pretty much as soon as they left the factory. Most people knowing this, I think we are pretty much at they point where these high end Pinarellos don't really lose any value if they do not have perfect, original decalwork on them. There had been the very very rare occasion when a Pinarello pops up in the market with perfect or close to perfect decals on it. But these were bikes that were pretty much never ridden and stored in perfect conditions that preserved the decals. Reality is, the moment such Pinarellos are subjected to any kind of "normal use", the decals would flake off before one's eyes.
I have an 88 Montello and it is pretty muchthe most solid feeling/riding bike in my stable. Certainly not a weight weenie bike (mine with Chorus 1st gen drivetrain and Delta brakes is 18+ pounds with GL330 tubular wheelset.), but the frameset's non-weenie weight definitely adds to the bike's solid feeling and handling.