Mexico

1980 Colnago Mexico

55.5cm center-to-center

This bike represents the beginning of my bike collection. It was the first bike I chose and paid for myself. I bought it in 1987 and I have owned it continuously since then. I rode it quite a bit for a few years. I even did a couple of century rides on it. It is extremely comfortable and the handling is practically perfect. And the attention and admiration that it gets is amazing. Be prepared to talk about this bike.

The frame is made from Columbus Record tubing, which was a lighter tubeset than Columbus SL. The Mexico model began production in 1975 and went through 1980 or 81.

The measurements are:

Seat tube: 55.5cm. center-to-center

Top tube: 55cm. center-to-center

Head tube: 14cm. end-to-end

Stand-over: 81cm. to top of top tube

Based on the following frame features, I believe the frameset is from 1980: fluted seatcaps with "Colnago" engraved; brake bridge with cast square boss for recessed brake nut; and, the chainstay bridge is tube shaped (not spool shaped). It could be as late as 1981, based on the the under-the-bb cable routing. But I don't think it's from 82 or later because the chainstays are not stamped "Colnago" and because there is no front derailleur braze-on tab. Furthermore, by 1982 Colnago was making the Nuovo Mexico (made of Columbus SL, with crimped top tube and shaped down tube), and the original Mexico was out of production.

I bought the bike used, and it was set up with Campagnolo Gran Sport at the time. Over the years I changed the components several times. I first had it setup as a rider with a mix of Campagnolo parts; at one point I had C-Record aero brake levers on it. Eventually I retired the bike to display-only status, and I started to build it up as close to "correct" as I could. My guide for the "correct" standard was this Colnago catalog page from approximately 1979:

It took me years, but I finally have it built the way I want. I don't have it set up identically to the catalog bike, but I have it very close. And where it differs from the catalog, I think my component choices are as appropriate and appealing as the components used in the catalog bike.

Photos of this bike have been published in a few books and magazines, and for a while this bike was featured in the vintage section of the official Colnago website.

Although Colnago made quite a few gold-plated Mexico frames over the years, I have never seen another Mexico frame quite like this one. All of the gold-plated and partially-painted Mexicos that I recall seeing are like the one in the catalog above; that is, they have painted seatstays. This frame has the unusual feature of not having the seatstays painted. Additionally, I don't know if all these frames were completely gold-plated, but I'm sure that this frame is completely gold-plated under the paint. You can see the gold-plating where the paint has rubbed off under the bottom bracket.

The paint is a semi-translucent burgundy that, when applied over chrome, or in this case, gold-plating, produces a brilliant candy-apple type of finish. As pretty as it looks in the photos, this finish really has to be seen outdoors to fully appreciate it.

This particular color and graphics scheme were made famous by Giuseppe Saronni when he won the World Road Championship in 1982, riding a Nuovo Mexico with this same paint and graphics scheme. The scheme eventually came be known as "Saronni Red" and is very popular among Colnago aficionados. I have not seen another gold-plated Mexico with a Saronni Red paint scheme, so as far as I know, this bike is unique.

Another feature of this bike is that it comes with two sets of wheels. One wheelset has black anodized rims similar to the catalog bike, and the other wheelset has wood rims that are very unusual and give the bike a distinctive retro look. Both wheelsets are rideable, but if I had to ride one of them, it would be the aluminum rim wheelset. The wood rims are irreplaceable, while the aluminum rims are not. I have ridden the wood rim wheels (when I was young and skinny), but now I would keep them strictly as display wheels. Each wheelset comes with its own pair of quick release skewers, but only one freewheel is included, and only one pair of tires (the Clements shown).

As is to be expected of a frameset this old and which has been ridden, it has experienced some some wear and tear, but I have touched it up where I could, and overall I think it looks pretty good. The parts are all in excellent condition, and some are new/NOS. I feel confident in saying that this bike is in very, very good condition. I have provided approximately 150 large and clear photos which should allow you to confirm its condition for yourself. But if you need more photos, feel free to ask!

So to sum up, I am offering a beautiful bike that is very special to me, and which is widely considered to be rare and extremely desirable. I dare say that this is a blue-chip, investment-grade bicycle, which will never cease to appreciate in value, and which most importantly, will provide you with many miles of ecstatic riding, and many years of blissful ownership (in other words, there will be drooling).

I am asking $7,500 but I will gladly entertain offers.

I welcome any questions or comments you may have. Feel free to call me at 786 423 4024.

Thanks for looking.

Ray

Which wheels do you like better? It doesn't matter, you get them both.

I bought this saddle NOS. It has never been ridden. It is the same one used in the catalog.

This is a polished the Nuovo Record seatpost, same as in the catalog.

Note the touchups - they were there when I bought the frame. I might have done a better job, but they are not noticeable in person, so I didn't think it was worth redoing them.

Another touchup that was there when I bought the frame. Also a lot less noticeable in person.

The black anodization on the stem is a little faded on top.

The stem length is 120mm.

The Super Record headset is in beautiful condition.

I replaced the brake hoods many years ago with genuine Campy gum hoods, and they are still holding up very well.

This is a very uncommon pantographing scheme on the brake levers.

These are the earliest Colnago bar end caps that I am aware of.

3ttt Superleggero bars, 43cm. outside-to-outside.

Mexico style Super Record brake calipers, pantographed and re-profiled.

Note the discoloration in the gold-plating in the photo above. This is due to the clear coat coming off. It is only noticeable from certain angles (in the photo above this one, you can barely see it).

I've owned this bike so long that I don't think I did the touchup above, but I'm not sure!

The wood rims are beautiful, but being that they are irreplaceable, I wouldn't risk riding them. By the way, by the late 70s wood rims had not been in use for many years, so I have always suspected that these wheels came off one of Colnago's show bikes. It is just what you would expect Ernesto the showman to do. No proof of this of course, just idle speculation.

These tires are the ultimate tubulars. Hand made, high quality silk casings...and they are in great shape. They hold air and the tread is soft. But they are irreplaceable, so I wouldn't ride them.

I've never seen a pair of wood-rim wheels on a Colnago before - these wheels are truly rare, and possibly unique. The decals are in great shape, and that is also very rare!

These are extremely hard to find pantographed Campagnolo Record hubs. I don't know if the catalog bike has these.

Note that there are no marks on the hub flanges from prior lacings. These hubs appear to be original to the wheels.

Take a look at the down tube decal. Can you see where I touched it up?

How about now?

Invisible touchup (at least from the three feet away!).

Colnago cage and bottle by ALE.

Only ALE bottles will fit well in the ALE cage. The bottle is slightly narrower at the bottom.

This bottle is in great shape; in fact, it's NOS. But due to its age, I suggest you only use it for display (if you give it a good squeeze it may crack.)

This is where I beat the catalog bike. The catalog bike should have this cage, but somebody forgot to put it on! How do I know? Because the catalog says that the toestraps, the toeclips and the waterbottle cage (which is missing!) are by ALE. Also of note, the cage is NOS.

The Colnago toe straps are NOS.

These Colnago toeclips by ALE are NOS, and are the same ones used on the catalog bike.

Mexico-style Campagnolo crank - pantographed, milled and re-profiled. This is the same crankset used in the catalog bike, except for the small chainring. The arms are 172.5mm and rings are 42/53.

My choice of inner chainring - milled and painted with the Italian colors - is much nicer than the plain ring used on the catalog bike. I think Ernesto would approve.

Same as on the catalog bike, the chainring bolts are black anodized alloy.

I don't know if the pedals on the on the catalog bike are pantographed, but if they're not, they should be!

The toeclips are double NOS - New Old Stock, and Not One Scratch!

I had those bolts gold-plated specially for this bike, many years ago.

The pedals are also NOS.

This 4-hole front derailleur with straight clamp band is a recent addition. It is correct for 1979/80, and it's what the catalog bike has, so I finally got around to installing it just before this auction.

This is a one or two-year-only model front derailleur; they were only made in 78/79, or 79/80 (I'm not sure).

Soon after I got the bike I made the decision to cover the delicate decals with a clear chainstay protector. I'm glad I did that, otherwise the decals would not be there now.

I chose this Regina Record chain over the more common Oro chain because it is lighter and I like the look better. If you prefer the more common black-and-gold Regina Oro chain used in the catalog bike, I can change it.

Short Campagnolo dropouts with Portacatena holes, and a 1979 Super Record rear derailleur, just like the catalog bike.

Fairly rare one-year-only model with aluminum mounting and pivot bolts.

Patent 79

Regina Oro Extra freewheel. Six speeds, 13-18 straight block.

The seat tube band decal is in great condition.

This same shot was featured in Issue 4 of Rouleur Magazine from England.

And now some photos of the bike with the black anodized rims.

The rims are early 80s Ambrosios with the decals removed for a cleaner look, built with DT butted spokes and DT alloy nipples.

36 holes, laced crows-foot. These wheels were custom built for me. All the parts of the wheels were NOS at the time. The wheels have never been ridden, so you could call them NOS as well.

Notice the crows-foot lacing.

The gold plating is in very good conditon overall.

Some spots have lost some luster, but it still look good from a couple of feet away.

The top head lug shows some flaking, but it's been like this for as long as I can remember. It has not gotten any worse since I've had the bike. I think the key is to store it indoors, preferably in a dry and cool environment.

These nicks and scuffs are very small and look much worse in this closeup photo than they do in person.

Looks like I covered these decals just in time, right?

And now for the obligatory upside down photos.

The saddle rails are oh-so-clean! (The saddle is NOS after all.)

Note the slight corrosion on the inside of the seatstays. It is not visible when the bike is upright.

The band decals are not peeling.

Proper ferrules for the cable housing, not just here but all over the bike.

The bottom bracket shell and rest of the underside looks very good.

The reverse side of the crankset is in great condition.

Note the gold-plating visible where the paint has come off.

And there you have it. My very special bike. I hope you enjoyed the presentation.

Ray