Colnago Regal Arabesque 50th Anniversary Bike 1980s

When it comes to classic bicycles, a Colnago Arabesque is undoubtedly a must have for any collector. Very hard to find, the original Arabesque might be the most well-finished bicycle that Colnago has ever manufactured.

It was produced around 1984 to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the company: Ernesto Colnago wanted to create a bicycle which would be a milestone, both for himself and for the bicycle industry.

By looking at the lugs, it is simple to understand where the name "Arabesque" comes from. Those "arabesque shape" lugs were made by Rauler and actually remind of Gloria Garibaldina bikes, an Italian company Ernesto Colnago worked for. As for the tubing, the Arabesque was built in different versions both with Columbus SL tubes and specially profiled Colnago tubes (the later ones similar to the Columbus Gilco of the Master and Esamexico).

The frame became so popular and legendary that for 2016, Colnago started to produce a number of reproductions from a stash of leftover lugs. But unfortunately their reproduction looks (and is) just like a "normal" Colnago Master with special lugs. It somehow lacks the elegance of the original.

This Colnago Arabesque is simply a breath-taking beauty from 1984 (Se. No. 67). The frame and parts are in a really great condition, which shows that it has been ridden only once or twice. This rare piece of cycling history comes directly from Italy, where it belonged to a logistics entrepreneur.
The frame of this Arabesque was built using a special tubing with a profiled shape, very much the same as on the last Nuovo Mexico model. And it perfectly matches the "Arabesque" lugs.

But what makes this Colnago even more unique and turns into a clash of anniversary titans is the Campagnolo groupset, designed for this companies 50th anniversary in 1983 which sports numerous golden inlays and pantographs.
Most of the produced Arabesques were sold as framesets and most of them did not the gift of being built with a Colnago or Campagnolo anniversary groupset. The parts of our groupset (Serial number 3434) are a perfect addition to the frame.

There is nothing more to say about this masterpiece. One of the rarest (small series) produced bicycles: for true collectors!