Colnago cognoscenti? Last production date for Super?

[paredown]

I was trying to clean up the wikipedia article on Colnago--someone started dropping in random links in the steel frame section, so it was a mess.

I've reverted to the format that I started several years ago with beginning and end dates for models (where known)--and for the life of me, I can't find an end date for the Super.

At some point I had a NOS retinato paint super (picture is now in the Wiki page) that was from the '90s--but I don't know the last year of production.

Anyone?

[wallymann]

Not an answer but a path to one. If you can eyeball some catalogs...

When did the superissimo arrive? That's probably when the super ended.

[fiamme red]

Originally Posted by wallymann

Not an answer but a path to one. If you can eyeball some catalogs...

When did the superissimo arrive? That's probably when the super ended.

That was 1982, according to Chuck Schmidt: http://www.velo-retro.com/colnagotline.html.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Originally Posted by wallymann

Not an answer but a path to one. If you can eyeball some catalogs...

When did the superissimo arrive? That's probably when the super ended.

I dont think that would be the case as the Superissimo had different features (chrome lugs for one). I’m pretty sure they overlapped for a while. For what it’s worth the ‘94 catalog has a “Super Piu” , no Super or Superissimo. Not sure if that counts though.

[fiamme red]

If this listing is correct, it was still available in 1988: https://www.theproscloset.com/produc...-blue-frameset.

[merckxman]

The original Super had the concave seatstay caps.

Originally Posted by fiamme red

If this listing is correct, it was still available in 1988: https://www.theproscloset.com/produc...-blue-frameset.

[wallymann]

Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs

I dont think that would be the case as the Superissimo had different features (chrome lugs for one). I’m pretty sure they overlapped for a while. For what it’s worth the ‘94 catalog has a “Super Piu” , no Super or Superissimo. Not sure if that counts though.

cool. totally forgot about the super-piu, i guess that would be between the super and the superissimo.

[paredown]

Velo Retro has the running changes for the earlier Supers, up to the 1983 introduction of the Nuovo Mexico--but nothing after that:
http://velo-retro.com/colnagotline.html

Bulgier.net (Mark) has the 1988 catalog posted. There are three Super models still

• Super
• Super Sprint
• Super Sprint International

And it lists the Superissimo as well. Super picture is here:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...ago-88/07a.jpg

Saarf has the 1989 catalog--shows the Super with internal cable routing--no lug style:

https://saarf.london/category/colnago-catalogs/

Mine (that I posted a picture of in the Wiki article) is around the same time (it has the first gen lugged internal top tube cabling and the Retinato paint)--probably 1989- early '90s, while Mark's catalog still shows the '88 Super with single color paint and standard Colnago two brazed on cable guides. And someone added a link to a Super Piu from 1994 (Decor paint, no lug top internal top tube cabling) to the Wiki article.

I know they introduced the "Classic" (Zona tubing) around 2000-ish--and it was kind of a 'Super' replacement--but I'm missing the bit in between.

Kept digging: FWIW, Super does not appear in the 1994 catalog:
https://saarf.london/2012/12/31/colnago-catalog-1994/

[fiamme red]

The Super appears to have been available in 1989 as well: https://saarf.london/2017/01/01/coln...-1989-catalog/.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

The Super appears to have been available in 1989 as well: https://saarf.london/2017/01/01/coln...-1989-catalog/.

I need to ask saarf about that catalog...lots of straight forks shown, and the Spiral Conic SLX has gilco shaped tubing. I thought that started in 1990...

If not, my Spiral Conic, with round tubes and a curved fork, is earlier than '89... Guess I should send an email to Laura to confirm...

[paredown]

Originally Posted by wallymann

cool. totally forgot about the super-piu, i guess that would be between the super and the superissimo.

And I have linked your listing of the Master family, and the C40/c50 family tree.

[wallymann]

Originally Posted by C40_guy

I need to ask saarf about that catalog...lots of straight forks shown, and the Spiral Conic SLX has gilco shaped tubing. I thought that started in 1990....

the superconfex colnagos in 1989 spring classics like vanhooydonck's de ronde victory had curved forks.



my first recollection of a precisa fork in the pro peloton was 1989 giro...guipponi and his super-secret carbitubo.



although the idea did appear on colnago's carbon concept bike from 1988