Updated: June 11/2020

From the end of 1952 to the end of 1968, Bianchi Reparto Corse built a total of 480 framesets. In other words, 480 framesets over 16 years or, on average, 30 framesets per year. Below, I have compiled dates (verified and non-verified) of different "999" series framesets. Judging from the framesets that I could find (see chart below), assuming that Bianchi produced approximately 30 "999" series framesets per year seems to be a reasonable assumption. This then places #326's build year toward the end of 1963. Chart with year and serial number based on 30 framesets/year. 1953: 001-030 [#009 - 1953 pista for F. Coppi (owner: E. Razzani); #029 - 1953 pista for F. Coppi (owner: Museo dei Campionissimi di Novi Ligure)] 1954: 031-060 [#034 - 1954 strada for F. Coppi (owner: G. Trevisan); #046 - 1954 strada for F. Coppi (owner: Museo dei Campionissimi di Novi Ligure); #052 - 1954 pista for F. Coppi (owner: E. Razzani)] 1955: 061-090 1956: 091-120 [#111 - pista - date not verified] 1957: 121-150 1958: 151-180 [#157 and #161 - 1958 strada (information from Registro Storico Cicli (RSC) site; #162 - 1958 strada for F. Coppi dated 24.10.58 underneath the fork crown (owner: G. Drali, whose father built the bikes used by Costante Girardengo and Fausto Coppi)] 1959: 181-210 [#205 - 1959 strada for G. Barale (owner: D. Charles)] 1960: 211-240 [#215 - 1959 - date not verified - strada (information from Registro Storico Cicli (RSC) site); #234 - 1961 - date not verified - strada (information from Registro Storico Cicli (RSC) site)] 1961: 241-270 1962: 271-300 1963: 301-330 [#326 - date not verified, pista. Frame number also debossed underneath fork crown (owner: J. Katsaras)] 1964: 331-360 1965: 361-390 [#369 - 1966 strada, with frame number also stamped underneath the fork crown (owner: Bob Johnson); #370 - 1966 date not verified, pista for G. Turrini; #380 - 1966 for Mario Maino - date not verified (information from Registro Storico Cicli (RSC) site)] 1966: 391-420 [#418 - 1967 for Felice Gimondi - date not verified (information from Registro Storico Cicli (RSC) site)] 1967: 421-450 [#424 - 1966/67 date not verified, strada (owner: E. Elman); #42* - 1967 date not verified, strada (owner: C. Duckett); #433 - 1968 date not verified, strada] 1968: 451-480 E-mail from Kevin Stimpson, March 17, 2020 Hi John, I obtained the Bianchi track frameset from Grant Handley, a well-known fixture in the cycling scene in the 80’s and 90’s in San Francisco. He at one point owned a bicycle shop there called Planetary Gear. Grant was very knowledgeable of the European cycling industry and had an interest and expertise in French bicycles and at one point worked for the Alex Singer shop in Paris with Csuka. He was extremely knowledgeable about the European cycling industry and he traveled extensively. According to Grant, he obtained the frame set directly from the Reparto Corsa attic at Bianchi's Milan headquarters. It was assumed to be a team bike. I obtained the frameset from Grant in the late 1990’s. He brought back numerous parts and bicycles from his frequent trips to Europe, both to France and others. Many enthusiasts and collectors, including myself bought numerous parts and bicycles from him. He was legendary. I bought several bicycles, several framesets and many parts from Grant over a several year period. He always seemed to have the rare and hard to find parts. I know Peter Weigle, and many others, knew him as well. The frame set was in good condition with no damage. I made the decision to have the frame refinished. Paintwork was done by Brian Myers, owner of Fresh Frames based in Lancaster County, PA. I finished the build with the components currently on the bicycle. The NOS Magistroni crank-set I obtained from a source in England at about the same time. I don't recall where I obtained the Ambrosio adjustable stem and deep-drop pista bars. The bicycle was shown at the 2002 Lars Anderson annual show at the Transportation Museum of Transportation in Brookline, MA. Shortly thereafter the bicycle was boxed and stored for the last 15+ years until recently unpacked and offered for sale. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any other questions. Kevin 999 DISCUSSIONS ON CR LIST E-mail from Steven Maasland August 12, 2012 A while back somebody asked about Bianchi frames that had serial numbers starting with 999. I know there were at least two CR list members who have such a frame. I noted the frame number 999205 belonging to Doug Charles but can't find the second one, which might have belonged to Eric Elman. Anyhow, I can now definitively state that Doug's frame was built for the rider Barale for the 1959 season for Giuseppe Barale. This information comes from the logbooks of the Reparto Corse of Bianchi which were recently re-discovered among the goods of Giuseppe "Pinella" De Grandi who was the long-time head mechanic of the racing division of Bianchi. It had been thought that these logbooks had been lost for ever, so the re-discovery is quite special. Not only do the logbooks say who the frames were built for, they also contain sizes and notes regarding what components were fitted to various bikes, as well as who was the framebuilder. The friend who now has the logbooks is hoping to have a book published that will describe much of the information contained in the logbooks, as well as the first comprehensive listing of proven "Coppi" bikes (he has already been able to find, document and describe 14 of the 70 bikes built by Bianchi for Coppi). It is important to note that these logbooks will finally be able to demonstrate the authenticity of bikes claimed to be Bianchi "team" bikes. An amusing tidbit is that none of the bikes that have been presented by Bianchi at trade shows and other events of late as Coppi bikes is actually a Coppi bike. Steven Maasland Moorestown, NJ USA E-mail from Eric Elman August 13, 2012 Hi Steven, Wow, that is really exciting news you share! Yes, I own the other '999' frame your reference in your email. Here is my email with the information provided a while back: I have a Bianchi frame serial number 999424. She's 100% original and believed to be ca. 1966/67. Has some special features such as deeply scalloped fork and stay ends along with drilled drop out faces which are also chrome plated on the surface where the QR cinches. Also noteworthy is that there is no blue fill on the chainstay indentations as seen on 'typical' Specialissima's. The workmanship/craftsmanship on this frame is flawless. Sorry no pics at the moment... we keep losing power as storm Sandy is beginning to hit harder by the hour. Eric Elman Somers, CT USA THE BIKE Frame: ca 1964 team pista frameset #999326. Fork stamped 326 on underside of fork crown. Frameset was acquired by Grant Handley from Bianchi's headquarters in Milan and sold to Kevin Stimpson in the late 1990s (see e-mail from K. Stimpson). It was refinished in the early 2000s by Bryan Myers (Fresh Frame) . Top tube: 58.0 cm c-to-c; Seat tube: 56 cm c-to-c. Handlebars: Cinelli Mod. 14 steel pista. G. Blassieaux (Paris) plugs. Stem: Steel Cinelli A.V.A. badged. 9 cm. Headset: Bianchi integrated Crankset: Magistroni Passo Humber (cottered). 165 mm with 24 skip-toothed chain ring. Bottom Bracket: Magistroni (need to verify) Pedals: Sheffield Sprint with Christophe 496 Special toe clips and A. Binda straps. Wheelset: 1950s Bianchi labeled Fratelli Brivio (F.B) large-flange pista hubs. Rear hub is single-sided. Hubs laced to Nisi Moncalieri rims using Stella spokes. Chain : Societa Regina inch-pitched (skip-tooth, 1"x3/16") Freewheel: Campagnolo 8 skip-toothed (3/16") Seatpost: Steel post (27.0 mm) with Italia steel clamp Saddle: Reproduction Italia by Tony Colegrave (UK)