[CR]dating a Merckx frame

(Example: Racing)

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:43:38 +0200
From: "Freek Faro" <khun.freek@gmail.com>
To: classicrendezvous <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]dating a Merckx frame

Good day all!

My neighbor from the other side of our street, is bitten by the bug, and has bought a classic Eddy Merckx bike. Now that both of us have been looking at it longer and more close, questions arise.

1. It is most probably a respray, with the right decals at the wrong places, and some wrong decals. 2. It is a Merckx frame, it has all the right engravings. 3. Rear derailleur is patent 84, but this frame looks older, cause of the cable guides on top of the bb shell. OTOH, it has a braze-on fd. 4. It looks a very well made frame, nice details like the short lugs, it also has a nice compact but elegant look to it.

So my question, what model frame is this, and what vintage can it be? And any other observations of course, to give an idea of what we have here.

Any thoughts are appreciated! Here is the link to the pics: http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/Freeks-racefietsen/merckx+corsa/

greetings,

Freek Faro
Rotterdam Netherlands