This is one of the younger Legnanos in my collection, and it is a beautiful bike to be sure (click on the above photo for an enlarged image). It also came to me in its original condition, parts in tact and has not been repainted (note: the modern clip peddles were installed for an outing shortly before the above photo was taken). One of the reasons that I wanted to add this Legnano to the collection is that the fenders were still with the bike. As fenders fell out of fashion in the ‘weight saving’ seventies, they where often removed soon after the bike was purchased, hung up on a hook in the garage and eventually discarded or lost. So to come across a vintage Legnano is such beautiful condition and with the fenders still in place was a real find.
I have dated this Legnano to 1972 based on the serial number, the frame detailing and the Campagnolo components (crankset, hubs and rear derailleur). The frame sports the rectangular Legnano logo on the downtube in lieu of the older red and white oval shaped logo of the ’60s. The seat binder bolt has moved to the conventional location on the back of the seat lug, and the beautiful brass headbadge of Alberto da Giussano is replaced with a decal. And in response to changing tastes and greater competition, particularly in North America, this bike is painted jet black rather than the classic ‘lizard yellow’ color that branded Legnano road bikes for decades.
Here is a blueprint of the bike:
Model: Gran Premio
Year: 1972
Color: Black
Decals and Paint: Original – Condition 9/10
Serial No: 32142 (left side of the seat tube just below the seat lug)
Frame Size: 56cm ctc
Total Weight: 12.08kg / 26.6lbs (including pedals and pump)
Tubing: Falck Precisione
Dropouts: Campagnolo Record
Pump: Silca Impero frame fit
Crankset: Campagnolo Record Strada (42/52) pre ’72
Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo Record
Pedals: Campagnolo Record 1037
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Record 1052/1
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Nuovo Record 1020/A (Patent 72)
Shifters: Campagnolo Record 1014
Freewheel: Reginal Extra
Hubs: Campagnolo Record 1035 HF 36H
Rims: Ambrosio clincher 700c x36 hole (nos)
Tires: Deestone 700×28 wire bead gumwall (new)
Handlebars and Stem: 3T
Headset: Magistroni
Brakeset: Universal Mod.61 Centerpull
Seat: Brooks B17 Black (new)
Seatpost: Campagnolo Record 1044
This bike was sold to a fellow collector in June 2021.
condorino 
Hi
Is this legnano for sale?
i have a 73ish legnano, would you be able to help me determine the model from pictures?
Wow
Its a very nice legnano
Good one ahhh
Raymond
I’m slowly restoring a Gran Premio from around the same time, possibly a little later but the seat clamp is in the front.
I’m looking into decals at the moment to try and match what would have been there (they are all gone and the bike was repainted black at some stage).
This paint / decal scheme seems to be the right fit. I’ve found decals for sale that look correct, but is there a drop shadow on the logo? It’s hard to tell from the image above.
http://www.velocals.com/legnano-down-tube-decals-set-of-2/
Thanks!
Well, if the seat clamp bolt is in the classic Legnano front position then your Gran Premio is probably from 1970 or earlier. And that being the case it did not use the style of decal in the ‘parallelogram’ frame but the older style that is in rounded or ‘rondel’ shape that you can see on my 1961 Gran Premio. This version is available on the Cyclomondo website.
Thanks for the quick reply! I’m basing the date off info gleaned from posters on this thread on Bike Forums:
http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/996429-legnano-gran-premio-dating-decals-paint-style.html
The painted lugs, no serial number on the seat post and lack of brass head badge are the main things that seem to push it into the early 70s, very similar to the red version posted by utahrandonneur.
With these things in mind, would you still lean towards 60s? I’d love your thoughts on this.
To follow the ongoing discussion on Bike Forums, the unique front binder bolt on some Legnano models continued until at least 1974 as shown in this thread.
http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/996429-legnano-gran-premio-dating-decals-paint-style.html
Your ’74 Gran Premio would be the latest (or youngest) Legnano that I have seen with the classic front binder bolt. The other component on your bike that is a layover from the typical 60’s spec are the Universal Mod.51 sidepull brakes. However as I have commented before, there were lots of changes going in the early 70’s at Legnano after decades of very little change in their bikes or the components. You list the headset as Ofmega however it looks like the Campy Nuovo Gran Sport in the photos? Also, what is the seat post diameter on this Gran Premio? Thanks for posting!
The original post is a 26.4 mm steel Italia unit. It was very short and had the typical pressed steel clamp. I replaced it with a Campy 26.4, unknown model.
The original seat is also an Italia and even though it looks a little rough it may still be serviceable. I still have all of the original parts for the bike.
The headset is branded Ofmega on the lock-ring. It is almost certainly a Campy knock off.
If it is the Gipiemme seat post that I am thinking of, it is a very nice piece and every bit as well made and designed as the Campy Record of the time. I really like the work that you did on this bike, replacing or upgrading the original parts with period correct components. We are both old enough to remember that this was a very commonplace practice in the day whether to improve the performance, personal preference or replace a worn or damaged part. Very nice Legnano!
Hi, I have the same model of frame nr.33601, but the assembly of the parts is not similar. Nuovo Gran Sport rear derailleur, Ofmega panto Legnano crankset, Universal 68 brakes…
Do you have a photo from the catalog or a list of the original factory assembly?
Thank you!
Hi Carlo,
Thanks for writing. Unfortunately I do not have a catalog page for this bike and it is not shown in the 1971 Legnano catalog that I do have . . . although a few pages could be missing. As I have mentioned many times on the site, there were a lot of changes happening at Legnano starting in the 1970’s and I have also come across a lot of differences in their models depending on the country or market of export. So the difference in components that you describe does not surprise me. Also to note that the serial number (left side of the seat tube) does not necessarily mean that the frame is the same model of bike. If you want to send me some photos of the bike I would be happy to comment further based on what I know. Email address: info@condorino.com
best regards,
Mark