Spaghetti Legs 

This popped up in my local CL at a fair price, so I went over and snapped it up today. For some reason Masi has never really been on my list of must have Italians, but I’m pretty pumped on this one. Seller told me it belonged to his brother in law and he’s had it a ridden it occasionally for several years. He told me it’s Italian made and I didn’t believe him based on what my little bit of research suggested to me, mostly on Bob Hoyer’s site. Once I got her home and took a closer look though, I tend to believe him. Only bottom bracket markings are the 57 pictured which matches that I found on the steerer. Very interested to hear opinions

During it’s life it got the Sachs upgrade with 7 speed brifters. My quick spin on it before buying showed nice crisp shifts and a smooth ride. I might actually leave that be, but will need some more hill friendly gearing though. The paint is definitely beat up so if we get along well, might be a repaint candidate.

spudly

Nice bike! Yes, looks like a later 70's Italian bike. Like the Mavic Cosmos wheels too (though maybe not on this bike). I think it will look fine without a repaint after it's cleaned-up and gets new bar tape.

Drillium Dude 

I see Campy 1010a long rear DOs, which suggests early-mid 70s. Is the frame designed for nutted or recessed brakes? Whatever year, I prefer this fork crown to later offerings.

Is the paint really all that bad? Looks good from here; a fully NR or SR gruppo and it'll be like new.

DD

styggno1

After some thought I would put this one as a US made model. Late 70ies. With some oddities.

Ingredients:

Cinelli MC crown - not a Fisher crown – put it (the fork) at circa 1978-82 (edit adding - this is also pointing to US made Santa Fe/San Marcos according to Bob H)

No holes in tang under the seatlug and shape of seatstay cap circa 1976 and up

Crest and Worlds decals on seat tube facing forward = probably 1978 and up Gran Criterium,
made at Rancho Santa Fe/San Marcos

I would use this bike as a reference bike:

https://www.speedbicycles.ch/velo/49...rium_1980.html



The long rear dropouts and the plain “57” on yours are odd in this.

Flatforkcrown

Very nice! I messaged them about this but decided to pass on it.

Spaghetti Legs 

Nutted rear brake, recessed on front but the front brake is a newer Shimano caliper. Maybe the fork was drilled when brake replaced? I wondered if the fork was replaced but I wouldn’t expect it to have the same stamp as the frame. No signs of crash damage on the frame I can see. The paint is fairly beat up along top of top tube and the fork blades; doesn’t show in pics on the gray paint. I’m no stranger to beat up bikes though.

Yes it was the fork crown that led me to think California made at the start, but the lack of any serial # other than size stamp argues against. The Hovey Italian registry, this style stamp looks most common in mid 70’s. Thanks for the link - mine is very similar with the exception of the rear dropouts. What are the odds a mid 70’s bike would have braze on top tube cable guides? FWIW, the crank is date code 1982 (2 in circle) but the FD looks older, mid to late 70’s.

Ha thanks for leaving it! I thought for sure I would be one of many lining up to take a look.

Flatforkcrown

Well… I already have one Italian with a mix of campy and sachs new success and French wheels… didn’t need 2. Enjoy it!

SJX426 

@Flatforkcrown - Drove through your area a couple of months ago and visited the Barboursville mansion. We are interested in coming back to check out the winery and food with my oldest daughter.

Looks like good riding country.

EricWade

Sweet score. Love it.

Flatforkcrown

it’s nice riding, but I moved here from Florida and then took a year off of riding, so my legs are still acclimating to the hills. I’ve thought about lower gearing or a triple on my De Rosa, but that wouldn’t be right, so I’m just gonna kill myself in the hills till it either hurts less, or I go faster.

SJX426 

@Flatforkcrown - Got ya. Didn't want to do that to my De Rosa either, but it has a 10v drive train. I opted to modify the Montello.
Pinarello Montello component morphing - Bike Forums

Spaghetti Legs 

Got a little more info. I emailed the seller and he told me his brother in law bought it in San Diego in 1980 with full Record. Sellers wife took it over and raced it in the mid 80’s and she added the Sachs bits at some point. He’s going to contact BIL for more info. Pretty much seals the deal though IMO on Cali made.

Flatforkcrown I moved here from west Tennessee and it took me a couple years to get the hang of the hills. My DeRosa originally had C Record on it but I compromised with Campy 8 speed to at least get a 53-39 and a few more gears. I’ve put alloy compact cranks a few of my old ones to enjoy the uphills a little more.

repechage

repainted most likely. Post Carlsbad and before San Marcos. Maybe by a subcontractor, but the fork does not look "Lippy", maybe from the "ranch" era but not Rob Roberson. USA origin. Note the Cinelli MC crown. these were used in the late 70's periodically.
One of the two Masi Movie bikes has this crown, the other a Fischer appearing crown.
As to who built it? really good question.
Jim Allen of the Cycle Smiths in Vista Ca might provide some guidance if asked politely. More luck if you were interested in him repainting it.

repechage

Masi had a BUNCH of long dropouts, they were still using them into 1981 for sure and maybe 1982. They bought that much at the beginning.