While searching for the roots of an Italian bike called a Marini, I found some great info on Mark Bulgiers site regarding the CIOCC bikes.... and I'm getting more and more convinced that the Marini indeed came from the CIOCC shop. The lettering on the tops of the chainstays, and the fork crown carvings on both bikes have many similarities.
I have been thinking that my bike is a 1984 model, and the wording on the top tube has made me think so. It reads:
DESIGNER '84 MARINI MICROF. C 40
Here is the text from the top tube from a CIOCC, listed in brochure document on Marks website as a "Ten Speed Drive Import" - maybe a US distributor / builder / importer for CIOCC ?
DESIGNER '84 CIOCC MICROF. C 40
Do you think I'm correct in thinking '84 means its a 1984 model ??? or does it mean something else.... And what do you think the last line means ?
If you check the two website pictures below, you'll see the similarity of the writing, and the similar location of the text on both these frames makes me feel more confident the Marini is some kind of relative to a CIOCC:
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you have.
Rich Pinder Van Nuys, CA
My Marini: http://www-hsc.usc.edu/
The CIOCC: http://bulgier.net/