Description
Masi Gran Criterium Size 60ct from 1973/1974.
Faliero Masi is without doubt the most famous bike frame builder of all time, providing custom build frames for champions as Aldo Bini, Fausto Coppi, Fiorenzo Magni, Alfredo Martini, Louison Bobet and later, Jacques Anquetil, Roger Rivière, Antonio Maspes, Ferdinand Bracke, Eddy Merckx, Rick Van Looy, Felice Gimondi and Vittorio Adorni.
Since 1952 the Masi Atelier located at the famous Velodromo Vigorelli in Milan has manufactured some of the finest road bicycles which has been appealing collectors worldwide ever since. A Masi is definitely a bicycle which should not be missing in any serious collection!
Launched in 1970 the Masi Gran Criterium is one of the most sought after Italian bicycles ever manufactured. Inspired by the racing bikes that Masi had built for Eddy Merckx the Gran Criterium is perhaps the pinnacle of Faliero Masi’s achievement. The exquisitely filed lugs and double fork crown are clear indicators that this is a bicycle for serious racing.
Masi rarely disclosed which steel tubing he used for the Gran Criterium, but it’s presumably made either of Columbus SL or Reynolds 531 tubes. My believe is that in the 1970’s he mostly used Reynolds 531 simply because that was the best tube!
The story about this bike and how we found it:
This Gran Criterium frameset was hand built by Faliero Masi himself in 1973.
His son Alberto built (finished) this bike with his ‘Alberto Panto’ Campagnolo groupset in 1974.
From then on this bike was on display in the Masi Atelier, Velodromo Vigorelli Showroom for 9 years.
In 1983 a retired amateur cyclist from the Netherlands visited the Vigorelli Velodrome and purchased the bike for his collection and rode it only once or twice in special events. Due to his age and moving to a smaller house last year he found us (Classic Steel Bikes) to sell a part of his collection. So there we are, Lucky and Proud to have found such a unique piece of history!!
This Masi is in all Original and Near Mint Condition!!!
Feel free to get in touch with us!
Worldwide Shipment for Bikes:
The Netherlands: 20 euro
Europe Zone 1: 80 euro
Europe Zone 2: 120 euro
Worldwide: 185 euro
