DaveB1960

Hi. I was looking at this bike just posted as a 1972 Colnago Molteni: https://buycycle.com/en-us/bike/defa...f809ac73-85149

I am just learning some of the features but noticed the braze on cable guides vs clips on the top tube. Seems to rule out an original 1972, correct? Feels like it might be a later bike even a non-Molenti version that has been repainted . . .

Thoughts welcome. Also lacks a drilled out chainring (although could have been replaced.)

Robvolz 

Could be.

Sorry to be so vague.

the race dept bikes were built as fast as possible and with little options.

+ Fork crown painted instead of chrome

+ Fork crown has simple Clover on it

the cable guides were an option starting in 1972, so that doesn't bother me.

However, I'm not certain about the brazed on gear shifters. That might take some research.

the more I look at it, it seems legit. The panto group came out in 1972 and this has it, plus nice patina. I think its legit.
Lil spendy, but the heart wants what the heart wants.




Latelry I've seen the market do two things.
instead of "resale red" I see

1) resale Molteni orange. And they so rarely get the color right.
2) resale Saronni red




Now Dave, I don't know where you are. But, just yesterday I saw a nice clean 1974-ish (really hard to tell 1971-1977, they seem pretty interchangeable) in your size on ebay on Florida with only $100 shipping for about $500. Then paint it. or get it painted.

I

DaveB1960

Thanks. Very helpful. I did ask about the provenance so will see what he has to say. I will look at the e-bay one as well.

satbuilder 

A lot of frame details point to pre-1973 build. Looks to me like the fork crown has dimples, clover cutouts on all the lugs, but the top tube cable guides are messing with my head. I’ve never seen one from that timeline with the braze-on cable guides.

Good looking bike. I have a ‘73 Molteni orange Colnago and it’s one of my favorite bikes to ride. Really comfortable.

DaveB1960

Thanks. Maybe one of the few that had it. I'm feeling more confident that its basically as advertised but will await other feedback.

merziac

I know we love these, this one is probably what they say it is, these guys are smokin the really good stuff IMO.

The ask is close to double what it should be, again IMO, even if it were pristine, a very steep hill.

DaveB1960

Thanks for the advice. If I do go for it, I will probably still overpay but by less than I would have

merziac

Yep, I get it, the heart wants what it wants, dog with a bone, bird in the hand, etc, etc.

Been there, done that, overpaid plenty, had to have it and not about to let it get away.

Robvolz 

Here is the timeline I was speaking about

Velo-Retro: Colnago Super Timeline

please note that changes happened gradually, not like Dec 31 happened and old lugs were tossed in favor of the new ones.

I’ve not seen dimples on fork or the seat-stay lugs past 71. Again, doesn’t mean they were not used.

as you can see from the timeline, cable guides and shifter braze-ons were options back in 72’

And, 1972 was the year the Colnago Pantograph came out. My dad had one. Frame was too big but I saved a few of the bits.

The only issue I have with this bike, is the price. Replicating the Molteni look is simply a matter of getting decals from Greg of Australia, using the proper rust colored primer and the Lancia orange paint.

I have the paint code if you are truly interested.

The reality is, Ernesto Colnago was a master tailor Framebuilder until Bikology dangled a huge contract to build and sell frames for the American Market. (1976??)

that’s when a a shoot ton was produced.

Any Colnago frame before 76’ is something to be celebrated.

As a Colnago collector and fan (please, I’m no expert. I only know a lil and I’m wrong on an hourly basis) the bike you are inquiring about is PDC (pretty damn cool). I just object to the price (a little).

robert

seagrade 

Given the seller has another similar bicycle and frame listed which are obvious repaints I think your feeling is quite correct.

The Columbus tubing decal looks to me like a very recent reproduction, with none of the aging, fading and drying evident on even virtually untouched originals of the era.

DaveB1960

Thanks again. I got the price down a bit. Turns out it was repainted at Colnago and was later owned by an Italian collector who passed.

DaveB1960

Which explains the more recent decals . . .

Senior Ryder 00 

I’m always skeptical of these adds with more flash than details. Especially when they are from an oddball site.
Cheers,
Van

DaveB1960

Update: So the 1972 "Molteni" might be a 1972, but never was nor is a "Molteni". The cautions from the forum were spot on even though the focus before was more on the year.

What I got from the seller before buying was: "The bike was restored in the COLNAGO house in the original Molteni orange and was redone with its original colour". The actuality is a blue vintage Colnago with a bad high school shop class paint job (which would still have gotten an "F"). Spray paint on top of the decals! Blue showing, etc. Too bad, because I'm sure a nice aged blue frame would have been better.

Needless to say it is going back. Thought I would post for general "lesson learned". Caveat emptor

Robvolz 

I'm sorry to hear that. But, at least you bought it through that site which looks to have a decent return policy.

Or, maybe an agreement could come about where they pay for a much better paint job. Remember, the secret is the tone of the primer to get the brightness (lack of) correct.

jdawginsc 

Is the person willing to take it back?

Robvolz 

he bought it through this site, which until this post, I'd never heard of…
https://buycycle.com/en-us/bike/defa...f809ac73-85149

jdawginsc 

Interesting.