Re: [CR]Old Specialissimas Celeste? Yes! Long

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2007)

From: <NortonMarg@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 19:53:32 EDT
Subject: Re: [CR]Old Specialissimas Celeste? Yes! Long
To: Bikerdaver@aol.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
cc: j.mccoin@attbi.com

In a message dated 4/20/03 1:53:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Bikerdaver writes:


> While I can not verify your comments about chrome banding, I feel very
> confident in describing the 1960s and 1970s Specialissimas I have seen. ALL
> were Celeste in color. ALL were chromed beneath the paint. whether the
> chrome was visible in the form of "bands" around the seat-tube or not, I
> can not say with any certainty. However, Most but not all, Specialissimas I
> have seen had Chromed Head lugs

First I have come across one reliable report of a Specialissima (2 chrome bands on seat tube and chrome fork ends) that was submitted to Brian Bayliss for a repaint of its ORIGINAL Celeste color. The answer to the original question is yes, but I have to say the variation is pretty rare.

We may be having a misunderstanding about Bianchi models here so I will put forward some definitions. There are 3 models that are involved in this discussion that are substantially similar but not necessarily identical. I'm documenting details and forwarding them to Dale for inclusion in his Bianchi registry. All are the older, integrated headset and have chrome lugs and fork crowns. If you have a Bianchi, I urge you to send the particulars to Dale for inclusion, especially if the bike is original.

#1. Specialissima. SL tubing (.9x.6mm wall, 27.2mm seat post), chrome fork tips and stay ends (approx. 6"), either 2 or 5 chrome bands on the seat tube. There is a headbadge (early and late style) and the downtube decal says "Bianchi" followed by script lettering "Specialissima." Variations have to do with oil ports on the head tube or bb shell. The entire frame and fork are chrome with a translucent (giving a flamboyant effect) or opaque paint over it. Known colors are: emerald green medium blue black red root beer brown celeste I'm sure I'm leaving some colors out.

#2. Competizione. As per the Specialissima except the tubing is SP (1.0x.7mm wall, 26.8 or 27.0 seat post) and the down tube decal says "Competizione" in script. Despite many coming equipped with steel cranks and Gran Sport derailleurs, these frames have the same pointy "Gruppo Campagnolo Record" decal, just below the lower head lug on the down tube, that Specialissimas have. I have not seen oil ports on these frames, but some with them are probable.

#3. Team Issue. SP or SL, depending on frame size. Frames are fully chromed with the only areas showing being the polished headlugs, fork crown and faces of the drop outs. Paint is Celeste. Down tube decal is a simple "Bianchi" with no model designation. NO head badge, identical decals on head tube and seat tube. There is also a wood plug (approx. 2"), driven in from the top, to reinforce the fork crown / steerer joint. Earlier versions of these frames (from the Coppi era) may have a polished chrome seat lug and may have a specific model designation decal (Tour de France, Campione del Mondo) following the "Bianchi" on the downtube.

There are a bunch of other decals on the frames, I've just put in the ones that are differentiating. One reason I say that the frames are not "identical" is that I have a Competizione and a Team Issue that are the same size, similar serial numbers and they have different length chainstays. I don't look at this as a mistake.

Fork steerers: I have seen a number of these forks, and have recently been looking carefully at the steerers because I've seen my first broken one. It fractured right at the diameter change of the crown race seat. I was surprised to see that it was not a rifled Columbus steerer, but appeared to be "seamed" tubing. The fork in question is from a Specialissima (approx. 1964) and makes some sense of the old story about the wood plug in the forks of the Team bikes.

Details I would suggest sending to Dale (if known to be original) include: Columbus tubing decal gold or red? serial number oil ports (if any) number of chrome band on seat tube head badge type, round or old type colors (including color of the "Bianchi" downtube decal), lug lining and indentations dimensions

I'm a stickler, so if a frame has been refinished and you don't for a fact know how it was originally, it would be best to call it refinished with the details either probable or unknown.

BTW, I will compile this also as a reference, so go ahead and copy me on machine details.

Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA