Brian,
I have a Colnago hanging in the basement that needs restoration which I have always thought was a '72, but I am not so sure about this any more. I will have to go take a look at it tonight, but one item that caught my attention is that there aren't any water bottle bosses on the frame. It does have the cable guides on top of the bottom bracket and there aren't any shifter bosses. Fork crown is chrome and only has the club engraving, with small clubs in the fork tangs. The frame is a Molteni-type orange and I am not sure if there are world champion color bands or not on the seat tube. When were those applied? Post-'72? I'll look closer tonight and let you know a few other details. I do know that this frame was originally sold by Turin Bike Shop in Chicago.
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org]On Behalf Of Brian Baylis Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 4:39 PM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Colnagos 1970,'71,'72
Colnago affecianados,
I just made a trade for a (what I think is a) 1970 Colnago super. It was sold as a 1974 which it obviously is not. The one I had back in 1972 was a 1971 frame I'm pretty sure. There are probably a few minor differences that would (generally) distinguish the frames with the graphics that I know were on 1970 and '71 Colnagos. For those who are unfamiliar with that version, the head tube decal has a playing card with the ace of clubs surrounded by an oval border.
Does anyone have a verifyable 1972 Colnago super with original decals? We have a perfect example of a 1973 where the graphics have changed. I'm curious if the 1972 has the '71 decals or the '73 style decals.
I also have noticed that in the fork tangs there are some changes. I think it goes like this: 1970 has nothing in the tang, 1971 has the club, 1972 ?, 1973 has two holes drilled in them. Anyone confirm or deny these observations? They may be the key to the differences between the frames that have the older graphics and the two holes drilled in the side of the fork crown (prior to the appearance of the club on the top of the crown).
Has anyone seen or own a Colnago that is verifyable to be pre 1970? I've never seen one. Curious how far back the playing card graphics go and just in general what Colnagos looked like before 1970 when Peter Rich started bringing them in at Velo Sport in Berekley. Any information would be much appreciated.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA