Product Description
This is one of SOMEC's very first frames ever built, likely from 1973. The frame number is 12, confirmed by Lara Gallegati to be the 12th frame they ever built. A true piece of Italian bicycle history! It's also drop dead gorgeous and stands out from the bigger Italian framebuilders. The most unique feature is the head lugs that have a cutout starting on the sides that then wraps all the way around the front of the head tube. Finely filed long tang lugs are pantographed with the iconic SOMEC Tulip logo. That same tulip also shows up on the chrome fork crown and as a BB shell cutout. The seatstay caps are deeply scalloped and chromed. The brake bridge is "curved" to follow the line of the caliper, a feature they claim they invented. Integrated cable guides under the BB shell are a design I've never seen elsewhere with 3 cutouts showing the cable. World championship stripes adorn the seat tube and non-driveside chainstay.
It was painted by the legendary Mario Martini! The downtube has a logo with "Verniciatura F.lli Martini Lugo" surrounding Somec's other logo, the cavallino rampante stallion. Martini is the artist responsible for the wild pantographing on SOMEC & other Italian bikes.
SOMEC (Società Meccanica) was founded in 1973 in Consolice, Italy by Oliviero Gallegati. They built in very small numbers until the 1980's after they started going to international trade shows in 1978.
Condition
Superbe unrestored condition with fully original paint and decals! For a 50 year old frame it is preserved wonderfully, and has a lovely light patina. It would be a crime to consider repainting it. Zero dents, bends, cracks. Decals show only light wear, even the easily worn Columbus decal. The paint is glossy and clear for the most part. There is one section between the WCS stripes on the seat tube where the paint is a bit worn. There's a decent sized chip on the bottom of the downtube just behind the "S". There is a handful of small chips here and there but mostly not worth singling out. Chrome looks great with just the very beginnings of pitting in spots.
Details
- Top tube: 56cm
- Seat tube: 56cm c-c, 57.5cm c-t
- Head tube: 150mm
