Colnago Sprint frame, what year is this from?

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  • Hi,
    I recently bought a pearlescent white Colnago Sprint frame, and I am now trying to find out a bit more about the history and it's exact year.

    I googled for hours now, but there are not enough Colnago catalogue scans online to get a clear result:
    does anyone know what year this is from? I guess 80s, but I don't even have a clue if early/late/mid?

    It is not a Super Sprint as far as I see it, just a Sprint. And it carries a SL tubing sticker. What level was this model?


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  • no one?

  • here is one in the 88 catalog

    nothing in the 82-83

  • saarf: I found that one, but that's the super sprint (look at the colnago panto at the seatstays)

  • i don;t think they made a sprint model, just super sprint, no catalog I have mentions sprint only
    i noticed the stay cap stamp in catalog as well, the two cats give an in between time frame 83-88
    if you have original forks, that would help dating

  • @rive_gauche : I have some Colnagos but I'm far from an expert. But thanks for mentioning me, now I know something more about this Super Sprint. ;-)

  • if the year from this example is to be believed > http://www.retrospectivecycles.com/colnago-sprint-52cm/ < which is 1986, look for differences, such as the colnaga seat stay caps lettering on the '86.

    any more pics from yours, specifically, clover cut-out on lugs, headtube details, bottom bracket cut-out..?

  • Clover Cut: only on the head tube/downtube lug

    Bottom bracket: two slots, no clover/club

    Forks: unfortunately missing

    I wonder why there are so few catalogue scans online, of a brand which is one of the most collected of all.

  • the stay caps are rounded, which is on frames from 83
    my super cx has slotted bb underside , rather than clover cut out

  • this from 88 catalog, unclear as if there are stay cap stamps

  • so we could collectively deduce that the sprint was a lower range model due to lack of 'finessing'; and that it is prior to 86, and saarf is probably right on the money with 83, or earlier, not too early though because

    1977 - columbus sl tubing introduced
    1980 - brake bridge with cast square boss
    1981 - chain stay bridge waisted spool piece

    according to teh inerntnets..

  • i don't think it's earlier than 83 mate, or stay caps would be hollow
    the cx i have is not in any catalogs, i have seen the sloted bb casing on other models

  • ..or, subbed out to a framebuilding contractor

    83 good doe

    in fact i'm going to have to go out and inspect an old frame that's been resprayed by argos because of some striking similarities....

  • Problem is, there is no hint in terms of the latest year, as this Sprint is reported to be from 1992, for example: http://smg.photobucket.com/user/squeegy200/media/Colnago%20Super%20Sprint/DSCF0255.jpg.html?t=1176436810

  • Is it possible to email Colnago to find out the year? I do they ignore emails like that?

  • a close up of head tube lug would help, as @WimVDD pointed out, the lugging changed on 88 models
    internal tt cable routing was implemented in the early 90's

  • i have found the company unresponsive regarding historical info in the past

  • Some more images including headtube


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  • the headtube lugg is not consistent with 83 models ( going by @WimVDD)
    rounded seat caps were implemented from 83 onwards, be it stamped or not
    I'd say this is 86-88

  • I have seen Colnago Sprints on the net, reported to be from 1987 which have a more modern tubing decal with the more simple "COLUMBUS" typeface that came later:
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/9609346@N03/sets/72157626504606793/
    and especially https://www.flickr.com/photos/9609346@N03/4547820240/in/album-72157626504606793/

    And http://www.retrospectivecycles.com/colnago-sprint-52cm/ is from 1986 and has the seatstay stamping.

    So it must be 1985 or older? (or the '86 above is a super sprint)

  • This one is very close to mine, unfortunately without build year: http://www.ebay.de/itm/151449852951

    Some differences though: this one has the yellow-red bands next to the Colnago downtube decal, and on the seattube below the clover decal, it reads "Sprint" instead of "Made in Italy" (my frame).
    And the rear dropouts are all chromed (my dropouts are partly white)

  • another Colnago mystery. They have more mystery bikes than other. ;-)

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Colnago Sprint frame, what year is this from?

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