What is disturbing about this listing is that it sidesteps the issue of saying what it actually is. To quote: "The frame is a very early, DE ROSA consulted, 'MERCKX' brand item, made of COLUMBUS tubing with CAMPAGNOLO dropouts"
Whatever that means. The frame is claimed to be "DE ROSA consulted" which doesn't say that De Rosa built it, just that they allegedly consulted with whoever did. "MERCKX brand" just means that whoever built it stuck Merckx decals on it, with or without permission. It looks like the vendor is going to great pains to avaoid saying that it is a De Rosa Merckx while wanting to imply that it is..
Could it even be a Falcon Merckx frame that has had a bit of fettling before its repaint? Except I think the Falcons were 531 and this is said to be Columbus. I think that anyone contemplating offering for this should try to get a straight explanation of what the frame actually was/is because I otherwise consider that it has no real interest or historic value -- just a nice looking bike with nice equipment that has been made to look like a Merckx. Does anybody know if Ugo De Rosa consulted with any other manufacturers to give a possible clue as to what the vendor meant? Hugh Thornton Cheshire, England
From: Hilary Stone <hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk> Subject: [CR] Supposed Merckx De Rosa on English Ebay To: Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Saturday, 5 September, 2009, 7:36 PM
Just recently what purports to be Merckx De Rosa bike has been listed on English Ebay - item number 160359704131 Its obviously rather late to be a Molteni Merckx De Rosa - the dropouts are Campy Portacatena though they do appear to be finished in the De Rosa style. However the lugs - in particular the head lugs don't look De Rosa to me... I'd be interested to hear what other CR members who have seen many more De Rosas than I have think...
Hilary Stone, Bristol, British Isles