Colnago, real or fake? Pls help

[De Profundis]

Hi guys

About to go look at this Colnago. Guy selling says he doesn't know the model or year. I'm wary of the long head tube and no mention of any italian parts, though he knows it's Columbus tubing.
Also not sure about the decals, most old Colnagos I've seen are stickered to the hilt.

Some identifiers that might help:
- Only one set of bottle lugs, second cage looks clamped
- Suicide shifters
- Biopace chain rings ;-p
- head tube reflector
- curved forks

1. Is there anything here that does not compute? Or indicate a specific year or model?
2. Are there any specific unmistakable identifiers or imprints on the frame I should look for? (how to know it's Columbus?)
3. Is the groupset on a real Colnago guaranteed to be Campagnolo?
4. Anything to look for on the dropouts

Thanks for helping a n00b rapidly falling for old italian bikes.

[sunho]

that def. does not look any where near as nice as a real colnago.

a 2 dollar sticker to make a 200 dollar sale...

[munga]

does it have any club shaped cutouts under the bottom bracket or filed into the lugs?
no clubs, no colnago.

[TDC]

Hmm.. looks like it has mudguard eyelets on the forks, and possibly on the rear dropouts. Pretty unlikely this is authentic.

A more terrible out of focus picture might help

[RonK]

does it have any club shaped cutouts under the bottom bracket or filed into the lugs?
no clubs, no colnago.

Yep, that the clue...

[munga]

there are always exceptions to the rule, but pretty unusual to see a real colnago without the clubs.
also check the seatpost diameter, should be 27.0mm or more commonly 27.2mm
check the dropouts - should be stamped campagnolo, or colnago.
once again, exceptions to the rule do exist - i'm no colnago guy.

[De Profundis]

Excellent, thanks guys.

[Wal42]

Without a super detailed picture, it looks like it has a ridge at the front of the seat tube (on the top) & the rear brake cable is routed under the frame so I'm guessing it's a mid-late 80's (Taiwanese built) Malvern Star, one of the touring range (guard lugs on seat stay & fork).

Not as valuable as an Italian bike but you'd buy it for up to $100 depending on condition, if it probably has a frame number I1H or something very similar (stamped under the bottom bracket not on the rear stay as Italian frames tend to have), then it's a Malvern Star, they're beautiful to ride, very relaxed & uber comfy.

[bp1]

Hi, interested to know what you found when you went to look at this bike. Is it a fake? I myself am looking for a good old rebuild project and also came across this one on Gumtree. Much appreciated.

[BRLVR.v2]

ThaT is Fake with a capital F. Looks like a unicrown fork too. Look at the geometry and the rear brake cable guides.
Fakenagos seem to be the most common of all try hard clones on the net for sale.

[jonbays]

The advantage of having cheap reproduction digital stickers for classic bike restoration of original decals is unfortunately offset by the fact they are cheap enough for the unscrupulous to use to tart up old gas pipe bikes for the noobs.

[De Profundis]

I didn't end up going, sent an sms asking for photos of the club cutouts, bb, serial no. etc. before going (40 min by car) but no answer. Tried calling and left messages but he didn't pick up. No surprises.