Colnago ESA - 1988 ?

[colnago4ever]

Hello
New to the forum and just bought my first retro frame. This one is from 1988 I think, it may have been hanging in a shop for 25 years because there isnt any evidence of a BB or headset ever being installed. I found a little info on the Colnago ESA Mexico frames, mostly from this site and a German advert which I cant translate.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/33588433@ ... 4534996872

I'm not sure how to build this up, my first thought is Campy Chorus 11 speed or Ultegra. I plan to parade around our neighborhood quite regularly with this.

 

[colnagolover]

Can't tell you if it's '88 or not but you're close, I am sure. However, if you too are the fortunate owner of a late '80s Colnago, the chain stays will almost certainly be 126mm and, in that case, I doubt that you can get any 11 speed to fit (without using brute force and ignorance!!).

Quite apart from that - and this is a very personal viewpoint - I think that modern equipment/groupsets on such a beautiful frame are abhorrent. It deserves to be built with a groupset (of course, preferably Campagnolo) from the era from which the bike originates.

It's a beautiful frame - good luck with it :xmas-big-grin:

 

[Diamant_Don]

Re:

That frame is Gorgeous with a capital G.

I'm with colnagolover - vintage is best here!

 

[stringfellow1946]

I agree 100% with the comments above 11 speed modern groupset will be all wrong for this frame & like colnagolover says the spacing at the rear will be wrong, 7speed rear wheel max IMHO & NOT SHIMANO.
Is the one one in the flicker link Yours? the reason for asking is that all the ESA Colnagos I've seen have the 6 crimps in the seat tube as well as the Top & Down tubes where this one has a plain round seat tube?
here is a link to my ESA with Super Record fitted
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0hq0fkxsvve2 ... G3i-a?dl=0

 

[colnago4ever]

Re:

I agree 100% with the comments above 11 speed modern groupset will be all wrong for this frame & like colnagolover says the spacing at the rear will be wrong, 7speed rear wheel max IMHO & NOT SHIMANO.
Is the one one in the flicker link Yours? the reason for asking is that all the ESA Colnagos I've seen have the 6 crimps in the seat tube as well as the Top & Down tubes where this one has a plain round seat tube?
here is a link to my ESA with Super Record fitted
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0hq0fkxsvve2 ... G3i-a?dl=0

thanks for the responses.

interesting conversation about how to build it up, i will look around the forum for sources. i think i did not want the hassle of older gruppos, plus getting functional 80s/90s components in the states is a little tougher than overseas.

those arent my pics though, i just bought it germany and its being shipped here. i could be wrong about the frame? maybe i am the new owner of an overly priced re-badged Trek? haha.

btw: @Stringfellow1946 - really nice ESA

 

[colnago4ever]

I agree 100% with the comments above 11 speed modern groupset will be all wrong for this frame & like colnagolover says the spacing at the rear will be wrong, 7speed rear wheel max IMHO & NOT SHIMANO.
Is the one one in the flicker link Yours? the reason for asking is that all the ESA Colnagos I've seen have the 6 crimps in the seat tube as well as the Top & Down tubes where this one has a plain round seat tube?
here is a link to my ESA with Super Record fitted
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0hq0fkxsvve2 ... G3i-a?dl=0

here is the description from the seller:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271699264780?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
- Within the exquisit Colnago Mexico family, the EsaMexico is the latest and definitely the rarest model
- Much rarer than the later Master frames
- Top- and downtube have 6 ribs whereas the Master has only 4
- Unique detail on the ESA MEXICO frames is the location of the two cable guides on the toptube: they are on the left side of the tube and not in the middle / on the top like on Master frames
- What makes this frameset even more special is the unique colour; you won’t see a second one like that; this had been a special order colour combination
- Condition: new and never ridden; just check the threads of the bottom bracket and bottle cage, the clamp area of the seatpost and the headtube
- 51cm seattube (c-c), 53cm toptube (c-c) length, 10,5cm headtube length
- 130mm rear spacing
- Original paint; NO touch ups


showing 130mm rear spacing, i will verify when i receive it.

 

[stringfellow1946]

I agree 100% with the comments above 11 speed modern groupset will be all wrong for this frame & like colnagolover says the spacing at the rear will be wrong, 7speed rear wheel max IMHO & NOT SHIMANO.
Is the one one in the flicker link Yours? the reason for asking is that all the ESA Colnagos I've seen have the 6 crimps in the seat tube as well as the Top & Down tubes where this one has a plain round seat tube?
here is a link to my ESA with Super Record fitted
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0hq0fkxsvve2 ... G3i-a?dl=0

here is the description from the seller:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271699264780?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
- Within the exquisit Colnago Mexico family, the EsaMexico is the latest and definitely the rarest model
- Much rarer than the later Master frames
- Top- and downtube have 6 ribs whereas the Master has only 4
- Unique detail on the ESA MEXICO frames is the location of the two cable guides on the toptube: they are on the left side of the tube and not in the middle / on the top like on Master frames
- What makes this frameset even more special is the unique colour; you won’t see a second one like that; this had been a special order colour combination
- Condition: new and never ridden; just check the threads of the bottom bracket and bottle cage, the clamp area of the seatpost and the headtube
- 51cm seattube (c-c), 53cm toptube (c-c) length, 10,5cm headtube length
- 130mm rear spacing
- Original paint; NO touch ups


showing 130mm rear spacing, i will verify when i receive it.

I think that you might just have a very unusual ESA? with the seat tube being round not crimped. Mind you it could have been replaced at some time! (hopefully not)
That said, it dose look like a very modern paint scheme to me! for a frame that old, it looks like its been painted in Modern Bianchi Colours (a La Pantani) But Colnago's do seem to vary all the time & have lots of different features even on the same Model. There are far more knowledgeable colnago people out there than me & I'm sure one of them will throw more light on it.

 

[random man]

It's a beautiful frame and I agree with the other guys, it would look best with a vintage group on it, and definitely a quill stem, not ahead.
With it being a NOS frame though, the components will also have to be NOS, making it an expensive build but you'll have a brand new bike which will ride beautifully. Good luck