CINELLI Speciale Corsa Lusso (1949) – SOLD

Cinelli was founded in 1947 by Cino Cinelli (born Montespertoli, Italy, 9 February 1916, died 20 April 2001), a former professional road racer and president of the Italian Cyclists’ Association. He was a professional racer from 1937 to 1944, winning Milano-San Remo in 1943, the Giro di Lombardia in 1938, and the Giro dell Appenino in 1937.

Failure to interested manufacturers with his ideas led him to start his own company in early 1947. Cino’s brother Giotto was making steel stems and bars in Florence and Cino Cinelli moved the business to Milan, the centre of the Italian cycling industry. Cino hires framebuilder Luigi Valsassina from Bianchi’s Reparto Corse. Valsassina was the framebuilder who had built Cino’s bikes when he raced for Bianchi. Valsassina remained with Cinelli & C. S.r.l. until 1980.

The Cino Cinelli head badge design features a knight’s helmet, inspired by the one that Cino’s father kept around the house. To one side is a red giglio (lily), the symbol of Cino’s native Florence, and on the other is a green serpent, the symbol of his adopted Milan. First a 55mm Cinelli head badge that is fired colored glass on acid-etched brass that is then silver plated. Note that the early head badge has the words “MARCA DEPOSITATA” at the bottom.

The Modello Speciale Corsa Lusso (Special Racing Luxury) is the first frame produced by Cino Cinelli. It has a semi-sloping fork crown (not full-sloping) with or without spear point on outside of the fork leg and a Malaguti “Frejus-style” seat lug with separate seat tube collar; frame production is approximately 250 frames per year. The frame features chromed “wolf’s ears” head lugs, chrome fork, internal rear-brake cable routing and eyelets for fenders. First Cinelli Speciale Corsa Lusso frames are made with Campagnolo Cambio Corsa drop outs and Reynolds or Mannesmann tubing.

Here we are proudly presenting an extremely rare Italian steel jewel – CINELLI Speciale Corsa Lusso which dates back to 1949 and is one of very first Cinelli bikes. Extraordinary details of lugs, Reynolds tubing, fork crowns, makes you understand why Cino Cinelli is one of the most appreciated framebuilders. The frame shines in beautiful dark green paintjob, with partly chromed forks and seatstay. The cheery on the top of the cake is the Campagnolo Gran Sport 1st gen rear derailleur which is a holly grail among Campagnolo enthusiasts (the price of rear derailleur is around 1500€). Fully original build with Cinelli crank arms, pedals, headset, cockpit, Gnutti hubs, NiSi rims and special inflate system by Manni from 1940s.

Extremely rare. L’Eroica ready.

Frame & Fork: Cinelli Speciale Corsa Lusso

Size:

– seat tube (c-t): 60 cm

– top tube (c-c):  56,5 cm

– headset tube: 15,5 cm

– standover: 82 cm

Crankset: Cinelli crank arms with Simplex chainrings

Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Gran Sport

Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Gran Sport (1st generation)

Shifters: Campagnolo Gran Sport

Brakes: Universal

Hubs: Gnutti

Rims: NiSi

Cassette: Regina G.S. Corse (5 speed)

Seat: Export

Stem: Cinelli (steel)

Handlebar: Cinelli

Pedals: Cinelli

Toe cage: Rapid

Leather straps: Alfredo Binda

Tubulars: Continental Giro

Handlebar tape: cotton, biege

Inflate system: Manni Torino

Condition: The frame was completely restored at Cinelli facilities several years ago. No dents, no cracks, not bent. Groupset and components are in good condition.

Year: 1949

Price: SOLD (November 2019)