They did, in fact come out in 1971, and the model designation refers to that. When I rode in the Junior sprint regionals in TTown in 1971 I had them on my Ron Kitching. They are shown in the same catalog that introduced the Cinelli 1R stem. THAT is where the debate is. I'm sure everyone has this catalog, with the monotint print of two sprinters on the cover. I have one that is date stamped 1971 by the Bicycle Exchange (Cambridge, MA). However, if you look at the Rebour dwgs and other photos of the Euro pro circuit, including Merckx's bike, you'll most likely conclude that the date of the Cinelli 1R introduction is 1973.
So, if you follow that logic, the only conclusion is that the M71 pedal was
developed in 1971 but catalogued later. Cinelli was intermittent about their
catalog releases anyways, so who knows.
>From: OROBOYZ@aol.com
>To: paul.vincent@futurenet.co.uk, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: Re: [CR]Cinelli clipless pedals
>Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 09:51:30 EST
>
>In a message dated 12/19/00 9:41:59 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>paul.vincent@futurenet.co.uk writes:
>
><< Can anybody tell me when the Cinelli MP clipless pedals were released
> onto the market?-I'm writing a feature for Cycling Plus Magazine on
> comparing new with old. >>
>
>Based on the model designation ("M-71") I think it was 1971.
>I await the keeper-of-the-books, Mssr. Chas. Schmidt, to elucidate us....
>
>Dale Brown