Product Description
Italian bicycle builders have an obsession with anniversary bikes that hold spots on a list of the prestigious and collectible vintage road bicycles. Among this list is the brightly accented Bianchi Centenario, the ornate Colnago Arabesque 30th & wildly shaped C35, the two-tone Merckx 10th. Then there's this 35th Anniversary De Rosa from 1988, of which only 350 were ever made. It is perhaps the classiest of the otherwise loud and modernistic bunch, with a luminous "mother of pearl" white paint dotted with a scrolly Ugo De Rosa signature downtube logo & a bold rose on the headtube. The seatstay bridge is adorned with a simple De Rosa heart in blue. The seat tube and downtube each have a minimalistic pinstripe.
The 35th is positively identified by it's unique serial number format on the bottom bracket shell. it's format is "35" / a number 1 to 350 (this one is #90). Below that is a letter, indicating the country it was imported to by De Rosa. This one is A for America. B is for Belgium, C is for Switzerland(?), D is for Germany, E is for Spain, F is for France, G is for Japan(?), I is for Italy. I've not figured out what the "7/I" to the right indicates.
Paint and decals are 100% original and unrestored. The components all date to 1988/1989, and largely match the catalog images. The highlight is the Ugo De Rosa signature pantographed Delta brakes! The C-Record seatpost's logo is in white, which seems to be a special version for the 35th. The chain and freewheel are rare high spec Regina Superleggera. The exceptions to the catalog are period correct Campy Delta XL Chromium rims/Continental tires, San Marco Regal Girardi saddle, & a Cinelli cockpit vs the catalog's 3ttt.
Condition
New old stock, completely unridden (zero miles). It lived in it's original box for years, and eventually made it's way to a collector who had it prominently displayed high up on his wall. This is cleaner than 99.9% of "NOS" bikes, and is truly showroom condition. The ONLY imperfections are a ~2mm chip under the top tube 35 Anniversario logo, a few tiny chips on the underside of BB shell from bottom bracket installation, a light diagonal surface scratch on the rear derailleur's face, a few small spots where the black in Ugo's signature on the rear brake faceplate, & a couple light scratches under the Cinelli name on handlebars. Aside from these the paint/decals/components are absolutely pristine. The rims show zero brake pad marks. Chainrings have just specks of dried clean grease between the teeth. Driveside chainstay is pristine, not a mark. Hoods & cable housing are clean/perfect. All bearings are perfectly smooth/lubricated/adjusted. Absolutely show worthy for even the most detail-oriented collector, and professionally tuned if you choose to ride it.
Frame details
- Tubing: Columbus SLX lugged steel frame/fork
- Frame number: 35/90 -- A -- 7/I (Indicates 90th 35th Anniversary frame, out of 350 total, A for USA imported bike, "7/I" is unknown
- Top tube: 57cm
- Seat tube: 58cm (c-c), 59cm (c-t)
- Head tube: 164mm
Components
- Wheels: 32H Clincher Campagnolo Delta Strada XL Chromium polished/green decal, laced to C-Record
- Freewheel: Regina America Superleggera 6s, 12-21t
- Chain: Regina Extra Superleggera (SL), hollow pin
- Crankset: C-Record 172.5mm x 53/41t (51 in rectangle, 1989)
- Derailleurs, shifters, brake levers, seatpost, headset: C-Record
- Brakeset: C-Record Delta with Ugo De Rosa signature laser etched, 3 pivot, 4th gen
- Saddle: San Marco Regal Girardi, perforated black leather, brass rivets & OS magnesium rails
- Stem: Cinelli XA 135mm
- Handlebars: Cinelli Campione Del Mondo 66-42, Ambrosio tape
