Jeff wrote:
Hooray for ratty, unrestored Cinellis!! Another example of a frameset that would probably sold for less if it had been restored.
Jeff Pyzyk
Milwaukee, WI
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this is an interesting observation. I wonder about it, though. Cinellis are one of those frames that usually come through good restorations looking very tasty. And the frame that went on ebay had completely toasted chrome. Hard for me to believe the buyer isn't planning to restore it...assuming he is, that'll run him about 1000 bucks, with new chrome, if he's lucky.
it may be that it would have sold for less if restored. I know it was over my personal line for a restoration (that is, I'm not sure I could have ridden it the way it is, and I'm pretty tolerant)...
sometimes stuff sells on ebay for high prices for reasons that aren't crystal-clear. I know for a fact that another list member recently scored a 1950s cinelli pista, complete bike, including the first-gen Campagnolo pista cranks, in a prime size, on ebay, from a UK seller, for a grand. Now, THAT was a bargain. For my money the UK bike was, in every way, a more interesting piece than the later frame that we've all been buzzing about. But apparently no-one noticed it.
The UK bike had been repainted, and could use a full restoration. But, still...
Maybe that proves Jeff's point. Maybe it doesn't. I can't help thinking two or three guys got into a bidding war on that later Cinelli, and the result was as we saw.. sometimes there's just something about an item, and you get some competition, and, viola! big price. it might not have been the ratty original paint at all.
Charles Andrews
SoCal