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Specialissima Vintage Celeste rehab

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Specialissima Vintage Celeste rehab

Old 10-01-21, 07:19 AM
  #1  
Andy Antipas 
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Specialissima Vintage Celeste rehab

The frame is a 1983 Bianchi Specialissima I bought from and eBay seller and it has been hanging on a hook for a couple of years now. The paint and chrome were in pretty rough shape and a previous owner touched up many of the chips and scratches with a color that was a different shade of Celeste.

From a UK eBay seller, I bought two shades of official Bianchi touch-up paint because I wasn’t sure, which color would match best. One color is called vintage Bianchi Celeste and the other is called Bianchi Celeste. I don’t know when Bianchi made the change but the vintage color is greener and the modern color is bluer. On this frame the vintage color was the correct shade. I scrapped off the bluer touch-up that was applied to the frame and I used a small stone on my dremel tool to remove flaking paint and rust. I also sanded the area in the vicinity of the front derailleur to hopefully give the paint something to adhere to.

I built up several layers of touch-up over the chips, scratches, and missing paint. Then wet sanded with 1500 wet/dry paper. Then polish. I would have to repeat that process until I got a smooth level appearance in the repaired areas. However, you reach a point of diminishing returns. There is still a lot of patina and small scratches here and there, and the photos flatter the repairs. The chrome is still rough but overall the frame presents well. The key is matching paint! I will build it with Campy SR and tubulars in the coming days.


the color options

PO touch-up with wrong shade

Cleaned up rust and loose paint.

after

before

after

before

after

ready for assembly
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Old 10-01-21, 07:34 AM
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Nicely done! Here’s my ‘83. When I got it, it had several areas, mostly along the top tube, that the PO had sanded down to bare metal. I also spent a lot of time tinting my touch up paint with primary colors , ultimately getting decent but not perfect match. If you know it’s there, you can easily see it but looks good on casual inspection and doesn’t bother me when I’m riding. I’ve really enjoyed this bike and would say of my Columbus SL bikes, only outdone by my Tommasini.

I’ve been meaning to get the “Made in Italy” sticker back on there.




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Old 10-01-21, 07:40 AM
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I NEED a top end C&V Bianchi!
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Old 10-01-21, 08:01 AM
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Wow! Very impressive.
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Old 10-01-21, 08:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs
I’ve really enjoyed this bike and would say of my Columbus SL bikes, only outdone by my Tommasini.


Same experience for me.
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Old 10-01-21, 08:21 AM
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Both are much improved, great that they are or will be riders. Don

Last edited by ollo_ollo; 10-01-21 at 08:21 AM. Reason: remove typo
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Old 10-01-21, 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by SJX426
I NEED a top end C&V Bianchi!
Does it have to be celeste?
Size?
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Old 10-01-21, 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by rccardr
Does it have to be celeste?
Size?
Of course it has to be celeste.
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Old 10-01-21, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Andy Antipas
The frame is a 1983 Bianchi Specialissima I bought from and eBay seller and it has been hanging on a hook for a couple of years now. The paint and chrome were in pretty rough shape and a previous owner touched up many of the chips and scratches with a color that was a different shade of Celeste.

From a UK eBay seller, I bought two shades of official Bianchi touch-up paint because I wasn’t sure, which color would match best. One color is called vintage Bianchi Celeste and the other is called Bianchi Celeste. I don’t know when Bianchi made the change but the vintage color is greener and the modern color is bluer. On this frame the vintage color was the correct shade. I scrapped off the bluer touch-up that was applied to the frame and I used a small stone on my dremel tool to remove flaking paint and rust. I also sanded the area in the vicinity of the front derailleur to hopefully give the paint something to adhere to.

I built up several layers of touch-up over the chips, scratches, and missing paint. Then wet sanded with 1500 wet/dry paper. Then polish. I would have to repeat that process until I got a smooth level appearance in the repaired areas. However, you reach a point of diminishing returns. There is still a lot of patina and small scratches here and there, and the photos flatter the repairs. The chrome is still rough but overall the frame presents well. The key is matching paint! I will build it with Campy SR and tubulars in the coming days.

The green hue, I swear, comes from the pigment changing through exposure to the elements over the years. Pics of 70s Bianchis in the peloton look sky blue, but nowadays they're all green. That Bianchi Vintage version is as spot-on as I've ever seen, just by looking at the color band next to the later, bluer version. But the proof is in the results - that's some fine work, and the paint matches flawlessly. My Super Leggera sports no repair-worthy chips to speak of, but if it did this stuff would now be my go-to choice. Thanks for sharing!

DD

Last edited by Drillium Dude; 10-01-21 at 02:09 PM.
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Old 10-01-21, 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by SJX426
I NEED a top end C&V Bianchi!
Would this one fit? I can deliver



DD
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Old 10-01-21, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by merziac
Of course it has to be celeste.
and, just how do you feel about which shade?
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Old 10-01-21, 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by thook
and, just how do you feel about which shade?
Well that's the funnest part of it all, isn't it?

Try lining 5 of them up side by side.
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Old 10-01-21, 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by merziac
Well that's the funnest part of it all, isn't it?

Try lining 5 of them up side by side.
you got five i could line up? i'm willing to make a comparative critical analysis, but i'll need one of them bikes for my efforts.
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Old 10-01-21, 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by thook
you got five i could line up? i'm willing to make a comparative critical analysis, but i'll need one of them bikes for my efforts.
Maybe I'll dig em all out for a group shot for ya, maybe.
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Old 10-01-21, 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by merziac
Maybe I'll dig em all out for a group shot for ya, maybe.
is your real name Chance R. Slim?
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Old 10-01-21, 04:00 PM
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Impressive!
of course, why I like opaque colored bikes.

I would have been tempted to get out the airbrush...
I have a bike with paint like the seat tube... way too many places, but I am tempted to try as the decals are good and near unobtainium.
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Old 10-02-21, 05:31 AM
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Originally Posted by rccardr
Does it have to be celeste?
Size?
59-61
Originally Posted by merziac
Of course it has to be celeste.
YES!

It also could be just F/F with optional appropriate components.
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Old 10-02-21, 05:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Drillium Dude
Would this one fit? I can deliver



DD
It looks close 59 minimum. That is drool worthy bike IMHO like every bike and part you have Jeff!
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Old 10-02-21, 05:36 AM
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Originally Posted by thook
and, just how do you feel about which shade?
Doesn't really matter. Celeste in any version works for me. As stated, preference is top of the line or one down, from the mid 80's on back.
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Old 10-02-21, 06:48 AM
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Originally Posted by SJX426
Doesn't really matter. Celeste in any version works for me. As stated, preference is top of the line or one down, from the mid 80's on back.
fair enough. i was making a joke over a dialogue merz' and i had in another thread some months ago. he'd asked me what i thought about the bianchi celeste variations. i was hoping he might recall it as there was humor, but not sure
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Old 10-02-21, 06:58 AM
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You guys are out of my league, but I can vouch for the riding experience delivered even by a modest TreTubi Bianchi in a non-Celeste color. At least I have the Bianchi water bottle.
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Old 10-02-21, 09:42 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Andy Antipas

That's the most important one to me!!!

Anything that's in my eyesight or even my peripheral vision- I'll fixate on it. I had a stem with an off-center stamp on it- It was right in my face the entire ride and it drove me NUTZ.
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Old 10-02-21, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by thook
fair enough. i was making a joke over a dialogue merz' and i had in another thread some months ago. he'd asked me what i thought about the bianchi celeste variations. i was hoping he might recall it as there was humor, but not sure
We got more humor here, no?
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Old 10-02-21, 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Drillium Dude
Would this one fit? I can deliver



DD
Magnifico! My size, too. BUT, Both my 'aero-belly' Clyde-ish self and my riding style are not worthy of such a machine because I'd have to fit barcons (Campy of course)... AND I'm sure it is beyond my budget!

Damn, that's purdy!!!


ANd yes, Celeste is the ONLY color Bianchi that I'd consider if I were to find one in my modest working-class price range!
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Old 10-13-21, 05:23 PM
  #25  
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Specialissima build fini

I finished the build. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and I can take it for a spin this weekend. What is a bicycle collection without a Celeste Bianchi?








Last edited by Andy Antipas; 10-13-21 at 07:11 PM.
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