Product Description
A pure work of bicycle art of the rarest type. This bike is a 1960 30th Anniversary Capo Sieger, their top of the line model! All of the parts on this frame are original to this bike, and match up with what should have come on this model (except the Brooks B17, which is older. 1940's to very early 50's). The frame features awesomely unique nickel-plated badges; a midieval knight on the seat tube and the Capo logo on the headtube. They are in quite amazing shape! Identified as a 1960 Anniversary model by the 1930-1960 Olympic rings decal on the seat tube and fork. It has a Los Angeles license on the seat tube that expires in 1965 (assuming they lasted 5 years, that confirms this was bought in '60). The serial number of 42652 also estimates a 1960 built date.
The frame is fully built of double butted Reynolds 531 tubing, with drop dead gorgeous hand-cut lugs. It features brazed on pump pegs and front/rear fender eyelets. Both the brake and chainstay bridge are drilled for a rear fender. Component highlights are the Ambrosio adjustable quill stem and matching Ambrosio Champion handlebar, gorgeous 1940's Brooks B17 with round logo in exceptional condition, open-C Record shifters, and super rare Agrati cottered crank and pedals
HISTORY
Capo was founded in 1930 by Otto Cap in Austria. Extremely few Capo bikes were imported to the US (California) in the late 1950's and very early 1960's. Otto's son Harold Cap still owns the company, and reports that “several hundred” Capo bikes were imported to the US in all. There are reports of about a dozen confirmed sightings of Capos in California (2007). Most were the base Modell Campagnolo, and just a few were this racing “Sieger” model. The main differences appear to be the Sieger has a stepped fork crown, as well as chrome stays, lugs, and crown fork legs, where the Modell Campagnolo usually has a flat fork crown and less much less or no chrome. The Modell Campagnolo also had the Capo decal on the downtube instead of the top tube like the Sieger. A lot of the Campagnolo's weren't Reynolds either. *This one has been positively identified as a Sieger by prominent Capo collector John Eldon.
CONDITION
Excellent “aged” condition with a great looking patina! The frame is straight with zero dents, cracks, or bends. It is in prime condition for a wall hanger. If you want to ride it, the drivetrain parts will need some work. Leave the paint as is, or give it a full restoration! Choose your wheels and consumable parts (cables, tires, etc) and ride away into the sunset!
The frame has been given a sympathetic restoration (cleaned and detailed as well as possible without a repaint). It has a lovely patina that I don't dare touch. The paint was originally white, which shows through if you rub the paint real hard. I love the rustic aged look the patina gives it, so I didn't clean this tan/yellow patina off. Overall the paint is mostly intact though covered in patina. The white main tubes have just a few paint chipped areas, with light corrosion. There are paint chips on the head tube with no rust under them. The Capo decals on the top tube look great. The colored band decals on the seat tube have some areas worn off. The Olympic ring decals on the fork look nice with minor wear. The Reynolds decal is intact though a bit faded, and looks wonderful.
The head badge and seat tube badge are in remarkable condition. Almost zero signs of aging. The headtube lug chrome is in great shape with minimal tarnishing. The chrome on the stays looks great and is fully intact with no rust. There is the SLIGHTEST of pitting in spots from where rust was removed. The fork chrome isn't quite as nice, and has some spots where the plating has worn off or peeled.
Component conditions are listed below in the components section.
SIZE/DETAILS
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Seat tube: 56cm (c-t)
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Top tube: 57cm
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Head tube: 146mm
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Serial number: 42652
COMPONENTS
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Ambrosio adjustable stem (excellent condition)
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Ambrosio Champion handlebars (very good shape with some scratching)
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Campagnolo Record rear derailleur (must have been upgraded as the Record didn't come out until 1963). Non original pulleys (Spring is just slightly loose but smooth, pulleys super smooth)
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Agrati cottered crankset & bottom bracket: half-step gearing. 52/49t (light rust in spots. Teeth show very little wear. BB spins a bit rough, has not been rebuilt)
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Agrati pedals (rust in spots, bearings a bit loose)
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Campagnolo Record Open C downtube shifters, curved/bent lever blades. Super rare version. (will need a shim, as the downtube is an undersized )
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Brooks B17 saddle: 1940's or very early 1950's. Oval side logos (indicates pre-1955), rear badge 1940's to ~1951. Exceptional condition. Leather is very flexible and not dry. Some surface cracking, but none that causes concern.
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Weinmann Vanquerer 999 centerpull brakes and levers (great shape)
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Seatpost: Unknown but assumed original. Brooks saddle clamp.
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Headset: Unknown steel model, quite nice. Great shape, smooth bearings
