Cinelli Design, 1983 "Golden Black"

We have written a few times about these special bikes (see here, here, and here). The last of these is has a badge that "Cinelli Design, September 1983, n 5". This particular bicycle is now in the collection of Speedbicycles who has been kind enough to allow us to use the photos of it. For the complete collection of photos click here.

Stefan, of Speedcycles, writes, "Show bike from Cinelli Milano with Columbus framework #83520 G finished in full black chrome. Campagnolo Super Record equipment plus Cinelli bar/stem/saddle, Regina 6-speed freewheel and chain, Fiamme 700 rims, Clement Seta Extra tubulars. All parts with special back/gold finish which includes about 200 small parts in 18 karat gold plating.

Very original except new tubulars. New-old-stock, no miles. Patina from age and storing. Rating 2+

Seat tube c-c 51cm (c-t 52cm), top tube c-c 52cm, weight 8.9kg"


I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components.

Thanks for stopping by.

I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com

1987 Cinelli "Golden Black", Cinelli Design

Another bit of black Cinelli bike history has arrived courtesy of Mark A.

Mark writes, "In 2003, I saved a few pictures of a Cinelli like this that I saw on the Internet, said to be from 1987. This is a copy of the text I saved.":

Cinelli 1987 “Golden Black” with 1981 Black Campagnolo Super Record
"The Golden Black was evidently an exhibition bike or a design study, never meant to be ridden. The frame is not noticably different to the standard Cinellis of the same period, but the attention to detail and the groupset are extraordinary. This Golden Black was purchased by a collector in Germany and never ridden; price unknown. The Super Record groupset dates from 1981, but the frame itself was built in 1987. The frame bears no serial number; it has only a gold plate stating it was built in February 1987 (I'll give you one guess how many were made in Feb.'87!). The highly modified Super Record components must have been delivered in pieces, specially prepared, and stored in anticipation of a limited production run. The total number of units produced is unknown."

ed. note: In this article about the "confused" Cinelli, Cinelli discusses how in 1983 the Cinelli name/logo on the seat tube was covered by the crankset. That is also the case with the two black Cinelli's I just wrote about (here and here) previously. On the bicycle in the above photos you can see that the Cinelli name has been moved so it is now visible above the crankset which would be be consistent with a frame made later than 1983.

I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components.

Thanks for stopping by.

I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com

Cinelli, 1983

My thanks to Chuck C. for writing in about his 1983 black Cinelli. It is very much like the Cinelli Design featured yesterday except it does not have a gold badge. Chuck's Cinelli has the serial number 17 stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket on the non-drive side.

Chuck writes, "Have been following the latest postings of 1983 Cinelli SC's. Well, here is mine. Purchased in 1983 from a shop in Florida. The owner stated he had receive 6 of the odd bikes, no chrome except the front and rear drop outs. It turns out the entire frame had been chromed and then sprayed with a translucent black paint. In the sun it shows well. This bike, as is the one posted, once had the black anodized Campy parts. Mine came as just the frame. In 1983 I dressed it with proper equipment for the time, Campy Super record, Cinelli bar and stem, Cinelli saddle, Fiamme hard silver rims with Clement sew-ups. Enjoyed riding it for 17 years but became very tired of downtube shifting and sew-ups. So, as you can see from the photo I have updated it to more modern Campy gear but trying to maintain the retro look, and love riding it much more.

The lugs on the bike are tapered paper thin, very well done, even for a Cinelli. This is my fourth Cinelli, 1965 SC, 1960 Pista, 1965 model B (still have) and the 83 SC. The story is that the first run of the year (mine is #17) were built for the year's trade shows and then sold as a entire bike or stripped down and sent to Cinelli dealers to sell. The 83 was a big transition year for the SC, mine still has the 26.2 post, three hole sheet metal lugs. Hope You enjoy another 83."

Photo: click to enlarge


I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components.

Thanks for stopping by.

I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com

Cinelli Design, 1983

This black Cinelli is said to be one of six that were made, this one is number 5. The bike has black with 24K gold Campagnolo Super Record components. The badge reads, "Cinelli Design, September 1983, n 5".

If any reader has information about this bikes please write in.

The bike is presently for sale in Europe.

I invite you to contribute by sending in photographs of your Cinelli bike, illustrations, personal stories, and articles about Cinelli bikes and components.

Thanks for stopping by.

I can be contacted at veronaman@gmail.com