The Super Corsa and Speciale Corsa are identical just slight variations on a name. They are also known as Model A. Until 1978 (and slightly later all used a 26.2mm seatpin because Cinelli used a liner in the top of the seat tube, Cino reasoning that a single butted tube (as almost all quality seat tubes are) was vulnerable to damage at the top end where the wall thickness was at its thinnest. When Columbo took over Cinelli they began to institute quite a lot of changes, one of the first of which was to discontinue the liner. Most Super Corsas ride very nicely including the 80s one from Columbo.
Hilary Stone, Bristol, England
hersefan@comcast.net wrote:
>>From all I've ever been able to tell, the Speciale Corsa and the Super Corsa are really one and the same. Look through the archives and there may be an explanation as to why. Both in any case would be considered the "A" bikes, while the model B Cinelli frames are a notch down (heavier tubing, still very nice build quality but not quite the same).
>
> In 1978 Cinelli changed ownership and they went to the new decals. You will find very nice machines with bold old and new graphics around this time. From about 1979 to 1981 or so you can tell that Cinelli build techniques changed - but in some ways to the better! The frames with new graphics but with the 26.2 post and the holes in the lugs were wonderfully made frames that are generally quite underappreciated. I'd say that they are far superior to DeRosa or Colnago from this peroid. In around late 81 or 82 I suspect the frames went to the 27.2 post (no idea where 26.4 came from, probably an odd frame that was reamed out a bit too much) - and soon after the holes in the lugs were ended. By that time, it seems that someone else other than the wiz who built the frames from 1978 to 1981 or so was weilding the torch. It all went downhill after that. Never too bad, but not what they were.
>
> So first choice is typically a old graphics 1978 and earlier - then a new graphics 1978-1981.
>
> Mike Kone in Boulder CO
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: "Tom Sanders" <tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net>
>
>> I am a bit confused over the top line Cinelli bikes. I had always heard
>> "SC" mentioned in connection with really desirable ones...now I find there
>> are both Super Corsa and Special Corsa models (Two SCs? How does one tell
>> them apart? Is the Special Corsa the more desirable of the two?) ...I
>> understand the Super Corsa may have been unchanged since 1948 or so? Yet
>> the company apparently changed hands in 1978 or so and was sold to the
>> Columbus Tubing Company? Then at some point ( '78?) the seat post size
>> changed from 26.4 mm and apparently the models with that earlier seat post
>> size are more desirable? The thickness of the tubing apparently changed?
>> The Company was again sold in 1997 to a company called Gruppo SpA? The
>> more recent Super Corsa bikes are not regarded as KOF, is this true? If so,
>> how recent...from the '70s or from the '90s?
>> I am hoping that some of the Cognoscenti that have been such an integral
>> part of my education on such matters will, once again, step up to the plate
>> and offer some enlightenment.
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Tom Sanders
>> Lansing, Mi USA