Bianchi Specialissima Frameset with Campagnolo Record Drivetratin, TTT Gran Prix Cockpit, Fiamme Red Label Rims, and Cinelli Unicanitor Saddle
FRAME Bianchi Specialissima, Columbus Tubi Rinforzati
FORK Bianchi Specialissima
SIZE 57cm top tube c-c, 56cm seat tube c-c
HEADSET Bianchi floating internal, 1â€
BARS TTT Gran Prix, 38cm
STEM TTT Gran Prix, 105mm
LEVERS Universal Classic
BRAKES Universal Mod. 61
SEAT Cinelli Unicanitor Mod. 65
POST Campagnolo Record, 27.2mm
CRANKS Campagnolo Record, 53t/45t 170mm
BB Campagnolo Record
CHAIN Regina S.C.
FRONT DERAILLEUR Campagnolo Record, w/cable stop
REAR DERAILLEUR Campagnolo Record
FREEWHEEL Regina Gran Sport Corse, 14-26t
HUBS Campagnolo Record, high flange 36h
RIMS Cerchio Fiamme Red Label, 36h
SPOKES “A’ stainless, double butted 4x cross
TIRES tubular, high TPI 700c
PEDALS Campagnolo Record
EXTRAS Campagnolo dropouts, Campagnolo cable guide, Campagnolo wheel
logo pump mount, Bianchi seatpost bolt, Campagnolo steel dust caps,
Campagnolo wheel logo cable clips, Weinmann brake pads, green cable
housing, white handlebar wrap
NOTES Original less saddle, impeccable craftsmanship, gold lug lining,
sculpted chrome head lugs, chrome rear stay ends, spearpoint fork lugs,
chrome fork crown and ends, fender mounts
Great shots! I recently bought a 60cm frame like the one pictured along with a few parts. I used to have a similar bike, maybe a 61cm, but with only 2 chrome bands and an unpainted brass badge. It had Magistroni cranks and Gran Sport hubs. Both were the same color emerald green.
How do you know this is a 1964? What kind of seat did it come with?
Thanks for sharing!
Everything about this bike matches the Bianchi in blue I purchased at Harvard Square, in fall of 1965, for $180. The only difference: paint color is dark blue, and saddle is a Brooks with steel rivets (not enlarged copper). Original tires were Pirelli– not sure of size. Loved the sound of the tires at 120 psi on new asphalt roads, while on training rides & one or two collegiate races near Concord and Carlisle Massachusetts.
Campagnolo Record Crankset…
Campagnolo Chorus 2006 10sp Carbon Crankset. DRIVETRAIN: Campagnolo Record 10-speed CRAN…
My 1964 tangerine Specialissima does not have an allen key TTT front stem. I believe the original Specialissimas had exposed hex bolts.
I believe the originals did have an exposed hex bolt, as this is what mine has. I’m still trying to date my bike, which I acquired through a swap meet many years ago. Mine is all black. Do you have any insight into how one is able to determine what year their bike was made? I’ve heard reference to a Specialissima 2, as well.
I’m also looking to restore my bike. If anyone has any suggestions of where to start, would be much appreciated. I’d probalby need to get my bike re-painted with new decals, cabling and break hoods, but the bike is generally in pretty good condition and I still ride it.
Thanks for any advice…
The headset is just listed as “Bianchi” but I think it is probably Campagnolo.
Bianchi’s cool bulged-headlugs and internal headset are not unique; there were other Italian brands with almost (or in some cases exactly) the same thing. Bianchi used it as far back in the 1930s I believe, maybe farther back than that. I’m no expert. The headsets were made by various manufacturers, including Magistroni. Steven Maasland once told me the whole list of headset brands that went into Bianchis but I forget now.
My Specialissima is probably ’61 to ’63 and I lean toward the earlier date due to some of the components on it. The headset in it is definitely Campagnolo, based on the logo and the ground/polished races. Unfortunately you have to knock the races out of the frame/fork to see the logo. Other Bianchi’s I have opened up had headset races with a V-groove top and bottom (similar to some old Stronglight headsets) rather than the more familiar cup-and-cone shape. In a V-groove headset, the balls touch 4 places, 2 places each on the upper and lower grooves. The Campy headset in mine is a regular cup-and-cone where the balls touch only one place per race.
I don’t know which models/years got the Campy headset and which got the inferior (in my opinion) V-groove headset. Anyone who knows for sure which headset is in their bulged-headlugs Bianchi should post back so we can get some more data points. I know even the top of the line Folgorissimo in the 50s had a V-groove, as did the ’64-’65 Gran Sport (a cheaper model), so the Campy might only be on early-60s Specialissimas and Competitiones.
I have a web page with pictures I took of both kinds of Bianchi headsets, with some observations about interchangeability and such. http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Parts/Forks_Headsets/BianchiHeadsets/
-Mark
I have recently acquired a ’65 Specialissima from the original owner and it very closely resembles this one except it is black. It was owned by a retired German mechanic who passed it to me in near perfect condition. That said I would love to restore at least the Specialissima decals which have all but worn off. So far no luck in finding these.
I am waiting to install some sew ups on it and hit the road.
I just scored one of these specialissima bikes at an auction I was told it was a 64 black with the bulge style lugs etc. Nice shape worng original saddle what was correct? I paid $300 whats a current value? Not for sale at this time..
Just got a vintage Bianchi. Its really clean, so I took some picture for the community. Its pretty much all original.
Cheers
http://www.syguys.com/Piano/bianchi.html
Mark, I have had two Specialissimas, and a cheaper model (San Remo I believe it was). One with a 60 (1960?) in the serial number had the round brass headbadge and two chrome bands on the seat tube. The other, with a 64 had the round anodized and painted aluminum badge and four bands, also an oiler back of the head tube. All three had the bulging lugs with “V” grooved races, though they were cruder on the cheaper model. When replacement races are too thin, rather than file down the lugs, why not simply install shims of the right thickness? I would think brass would be best, but you could cut thin washers from beer cans and insert them behind the races.
Ryan, I have heard that the last two digits of the year is included in the serial number. I’ve been told mine was purchased in 1964 and ridden at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The serial number contains a “64″. It has an older TTT stem with the Allen bolt. My older one had an Ambrosio stem with the standard hex bolt. (By the way, I could use a bigger frame if anyone has a 62 or 63cm they want to trade.)
hey nice bike. I have just aquired from what I have been told a 1946 Bianchi which was repainted by the owner so no I can’t tell if it is genuine. I have done some quick research on the net and it seems to check out but are there any things in particular I should be looking for. I have a serial # if that helps. Cheers
I have 2 like new 1984 LEGNANO BICYCLES WITH GARELLI BABY MOSQUITO MOTORS FOR SALE. USED 5 HOURS EACH…STORED IN WAREHOUSE. THANK YOU.