Francesco Moser 51.151 bikes - need help?

[petitelilpettit]

So i went to my friend's father's house to look at a bike for him to get. While there, he asks me if I knew anything about Francesco Moser bikes (he knows that I am a complete bike nerd). He then wheels out this guy:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/petitelilpettit/20140209_124754_zpsbfs7aa2g.jpg (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/petitelilpettit/media/20140209_124754_zpsbfs7aa2g.jpg.html)

I am immediately floored by the condition; being an older bike, I would expect it to be in a little bit worse condition, but it looked pristine. Overlooking it, I was unsure if there was anything particularly special about this guy, until I saw things like this:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/petitelilpettit/20140209_124946_zpsmet1kqmn.jpg (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/petitelilpettit/media/20140209_124946_zpsmet1kqmn.jpg.html)
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/petitelilpettit/20140209_124912_zps6jyek7k7.jpg (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/petitelilpettit/media/20140209_124912_zps6jyek7k7.jpg.html)

In doing a bit of research on the internet, I found out about these 51.151 bikes made to commemorate Francesco's hour record.

Any other information out there?

It also doesn't help that this guy is my size, and he's selling it... :crap:

[ultraman6970]

The whole bike is chromed and yes that the signature of the record...

That chrome fork needs to be cleaned really well and probably the rust will go right off, looks superficial.

Excellent bike man.....

[spacemen3]

Beautiful! I'm guessing that's a '85 or '84 with Columbus SL. I believe the decals changed in '86 when they moved to Oria tubing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eisenherz-bikes/4521117093/in/photostream/

[velomateo]

What a beauty. Too bad it's lost it's Campy group over the years...still has the headset though. Is he selling it to you?

[toytech]

ooh chromovelato finish, I would be all over that.

[thinpin]

Looks like a cromovelato finish. The frame was completely chromed and the main tubes sprayed with a translucent lacquer. Most common colours are red and blue. You will also find smoke, gold and green. The finish is brittle and prone to chipping, especially as it gets older. Moser did this finish on his full range from the cheap Aelle tubing to his aero and SL frames. The Oria frames also got it. He was one of the builders using this finish back in the 80's. The most famous is probably the Wilier Ramato in copper.

The hour record logo was a marketing thing and was on nearly all of his frames from entry level to high end for several years.

The ride is classic italian and if the tubing is good and the lacquer in good order I'd buy it. A very unique and special finish in my opinion. Think polished aluminium, shiny chrome, glittering polished lacquer and a sunny day. A real head turner.
Oh and get that bloody frame pump out of there as it is a sure way to ruin the finish on those.

[wallymann]

looks like my size, too!

[john903]

So, you haven't bought it yet. Put some shiny Campy C Record on there and it would really pop. Yes cleaning up the fork chrome should not be to hard I have used fine, fine steel wool then mothers polish on an old chrome fork and it came out great.
Have fun, if you buy it.

[spacemen3]

Seriously, lose the pump, drop the stem, swap in a different gruppo, and you've got a sick bike that would embarrass any Colnago owner on your group ride. ;)

[ultraman6970]

Looks a lot like my De reus.

[petitelilpettit]

Thanks for all the responses, guys!

To clarify, my friend's father is selling this bike, and I was not intending on buying it, but after hearing all these comments, I have to see what I can do about this...

Based on what you see (has a Shimano 600 group on there with Biopace chainrings, a perforated Turbo saddle, some Coda bars), what would be a fair price for him to sell this for, if not to me, then to the general public? Yeah, I know that if he had Campy on it, the price would be higher. And based on what is offered, I can play middleman and have this beauty at your doorstep... :banana:

Thanks again, fellas!

Pettit

[soulspinner]

When I saw the bike I just said Ohhhh.

[oldpotatoe]

Thanks for all the responses, guys!

To clarify, my friend's father is selling this bike, and I was not intending on buying it, but after hearing all these comments, I have to see what I can do about this...

Based on what you see (has a Shimano 600 group on there with Biopace chainrings, a perforated Turbo saddle, some Coda bars), what would be a fair price for him to sell this for, if not to me, then to the general public? Yeah, I know that if he had Campy on it, the price would be higher. And based on what is offered, I can play middleman and have this beauty at your doorstep... :banana:

Thanks again, fellas!

Pettit

Most $ by parting it put and selling F/F, then group...

I'd think F/F/HS is in the $500-$700 range.