Information for the below models listing in the following order:

Basso Casiti Cinelli Colnago Daccordi DeRosa Geurciotti Masi Olmo

Basso ===========================================================

Basso bicycles is an Italian manufacturer of hand made road bicycles, founded in 1977 by the three Basso brothers, Marino, Renato and Alcide.
Marino Basso was the world professional road-racing champion in 1972, winning the race in Gap, in the south of France.
Their current line of road machines feature framesets built both of modern materials - carbon fiber and aluminum - and traditional steel frames.
They started building steel frames in northern Italy. Although of excellent quality, they didn't sponsor enough pro-teams to become really well known.
Vintage Basso machines from the late '70s and '80s are generally of lugged construction with Columbus steel tubing.

Basso had a couple of nice frames. The Gap model was the top of the line and was made from Columbus SL throughout and usually had lots of chrome. They had other models, some of which had 3 main tubes SL, or made from Aelle, or Cromor. My Gap rides buttery smooth and I love it.

I have 4 Basso's, Gap (SL), Astra (ELOS) and 2 Ascots (MS). Basso makes excellent frames, nice lug work and fnish and significant anti-corrosion treatment. They remain an excellent value in the vintage Italian steel market which is fine by me.

Casiti ===========================================================

An Italian name relatively new to the U.S. Some examples are extraordinarily nice. There is a fair number of S.R. examples floating around. Not all Casati bikes are of the same quality apparently. Rumor has it that the examples coming in from the big mail-order company in Brooklyn New York are actually the best examples!

Cinelli ===========================================================

Among the most sought-after of all vintage lightweights. A few heretics claim they are over rated. I say take a closer look and get a clue - or buy a Cannondale. Many Cinelli frames show exquisite mitering, smooth and even brazing, and lots of lug thinning. This is even true for many examples from the early 50's! Sure they have deep ugly file marks too - but that is only the surface! Add to the equation that many ride pretty close to perfection - at least as some would define it. Cinelli frames are also a visual feast with Italian style that just won't quit. In Japan, appreciation for Cinelli products is near cult-like. Over the past several years domestic prices have soared for prime examples. A Cinelli is an icon of cycling tradition. Sure, a few Cinelli frames have some lapses here and there - but don't miss the point. Cinelli frames defined the paradigm of a quality racing bike for decades.

Around 1978 Cinelli was sold to the Columbo family. There are bikes with either the new or old logo's from this period. Until about 1980, while the graphics could go either way, the brake bridges and bottom bracket shells had new Cinelli logs making these bikes recognizable. Headbadge examples are worth more, although modern logo bikes from the same period are just as good. From around 1980 until perhaps 1981 or 1982, Cinelli bikes with the new logo using a 26.2 seatpost and the lugs with 3 holes in each were very nice. Many do not consider these to be "real" Cinelli bikes, but they are at least as good as many of the earlier ones. Apparently either some very good builders from the previous period continued on, or work was contracted to outside builders of considerable talent. These bikes from this period deserve to be classics in their own right. Their geometry is upright, yet the ride is comfortable. These are bikes designed for the fast short distance riding so common in the United States. They, nonetheless, will handle mountain descents with ease as well! These bikes are more valuable and worth the extra cost.

Sometime around 1983 it all ended. The 26.2 sleeved seat lug was replaced wit a different cast model that used a 27.2 post. The familiar 3 hole lugs were gone as well. Quality during the following years took a pretty heavy hit as well. Many examples didn't even have chrome lugs. These examples in S.R. are worth less than the others described above. By the late 80's quality improved and chrome lugs returned. It just, however, isn't the same.


Colnago ===========================================================

There are probably as many variations of these as Imelda Marcos has shoes. I remember going into Branford Bike in the late 70's or early 80's and seeing the bikes with the different types of Crimped (pre- Gilco) tubing. They all looked different. Maybe they were the same, but boy was I confused!
Not sure when Colnago started, but in 1970 or 1971 Colnago had a different decal set. The headtube, seatube, and downtube panels had a giant white square with the famous clover. [club?] Early models also have a fork crown with two holes on both outer sides of the crown. The lugs each had the clover cut-out that is either hand done or produced by the worlds most uncoordinated machine. These bikes are pre-bike boom models and are very uncommon. Size does matter here, so models under 52 cm and over 59cm will be potentially worth a good bit less.

By 1972 or 1973 the decals became more modern. Gone was the Comic-book graphics, although the style was quite similar. A Clover with "Colnago" written below on both the head tube and seat tube became the norm. The downtube, I believe, just said "Colnago". There was a special Eddy Merckx version during this period with fun pantographing and an awesome drilled chainring. For details see the current book on the Tour which contains a photo of Merckx next to a bike which is clearly a Colnago. The Merckx model is worth atleast 30% more than the regular version.

By the early 70's the bike boom was under way and Colnago pumped out bikes as though the future of humankind was at stake. Note that interest in these bikes is deep. It is well known that Colnago frames were built like - well, let's not go there. More importantly, Colnago frames almost always ride like a dream. That is more important. For that reason it is easy to sell an older Colnago.

By the late 70's Colnago had even more frame varieties. We never could figure out the difference between a Mexico and a Super. In fact, everyone who tried to explain it to us has been contradicted by other "experts". Mexico models, I believe, should have different chainstays. Then again, the gold plated Mexico I once saw seemed absolutely identical to a Super. I hope someone can help out with this! Regardless, late 70's Colnagos should be worth about the same as for early 80's examples. There were some nice looking examples in the early 80's with crimped top and downtubes. They ride wonderfully, although some had paint that peels if you look at it.


There were some late 70's and early 80's examples that are built with the soul of an Italian Huffy. These sad examples are the least valuable and desired. The notable characteristic of these is a hideous seatstay attachment.

In the early 80's the Master model was evolving. The 1983 World Championship bike ridden by Saronni was gorgeous. With Candy Red (Wine Color), white panels and black lettering, these bikes are future collector gems. They often have crimping on the top and downtube, A very sought after example is the Arabesque. Very ornate lugs, sometimes chrome, these are for many the most sought after Colnago. Produced until quite recently, a guideline condition bike with S.R./N.R. part mix should be highly desirable. 

Daccordi ===========================================================

The company began in 1937 with Giuseppe Daccordi and a partner. The start of World War II required suspending their business but they were able to re-start after the war ended. During the 1960s son Luigi joined his father in the business.

In the '80's at least one top echelon Euro Pro team were on Daccordis.

Not much info on Daccordi on the net but did find below from Richard a RoadBikeReview Member

I have a Bertoni TSX which was made by Daccordi. How do I know this? Well, the owner of our LBS is the brother-in-law of the late Ben Lawee, the creator of Bertoni (as well as Italvega and Univega.) With the success of Univega in the '80's, Ben went back to his love affair with all things Italian and "created" Bertoni (no, there's no little wizzened Italian named "Bertoni" with a torch in one hand, brazing rod in the other and a cigarette dangling from his lower lip.)

Over the course of the Bertoni "brand", frames were made by Bianchi (most of the Columbus Cromor and SL "workmanlike" models), some by Rossin, and the top of the line SLX and TSX models by Daccordi. The TSX I have was personally "specced" by Ben, primarily the paint, the pantographing, and the webbed lugs. A friend of mine has an SLX with the same seat lug and bottom bracket shell, but minus the webbed lugs. He had it built up with NOS Campy Record C about 9 years ago.

The finish work is simply better than most Italian frames of the same era, and easily the match of the best from De Rosa or Colnago.

Bottom line, that Daccordi is as good as anything out there from that era and probably better than most.


DeRosa ===========================================================

One of the major vintage lightweight race bikes. Many consider the top three to be Masi, Cinelli, and DeRosa. Ugo DeRosa represents the next generation of master builders. His bikes from the late 60's and early 70's are very rare. Bikes from the late 50's to early 60's are so rare that a price estimate isn't even possible. Bikes from around 1970 feature prominent cut-outs in all the lugs, unlike the modern examples with few cutouts. Early models were true hand-worked masterpieces, while the present day bikes have lost much of that flavor. All DeRosa bikes, new or old, do ride wonderfully. The geometry works, and the bikes are very well balanced. By late 70's or early 80's some unexpected flaws became somewhat more regular - gaps in brazing, for instance, are more common tan one would anticipate. It really doesn't matter - the bikes still ride great and look pretty awesome too!
For early examples (cut-out lug examples) in prime sizes (less than 59 c-t) expect them to be the most valuable. These bikes also hold considerable in the Japanese market too! Japanese buyers favor Cinelli and DeRosa bikes when it comes to Italian race iron. Mid 70's through mid 80's bikes without all the neat cut-outs are less valuable, maybe 30% less. In general, the earlier the better.

There is an Anniversary DeRosa model from around 1987 that features pantographed C-Record components - very nice! Figure such a piece should be valued close to an earlier model in excellent condition. Because bikes of this era are not yet hot collectibles as N.R.IS.R. bikes are, these represent excellent investments. Early C-Record is gorgeous and should take off in price!

Geurciotti ===========================================================

Some examples are great, but be cautious of the few that look like high school metal shop projects gone horribly awry. Many Guerciotti bicycles have the added appeal of wonderful pantographed components. The tale goes that the Guerciotti brothers entered the world of frame building with the guidance of Cino Cinelli. This makes plenty of sense - the frames bearing their name ride superbly! In the early 80's Ten Speed Drive Imports brought unpainted Guerciotti frames into the U.S and painted them with Dupont Imron. The idea was to have Italian frames with more desirable U.S paint. values of Guerciotti bicycles depend on condition, quality of construction, and interesting pantographed components. A full Super Record bike of top craftsmanship in guideline condition with all the pantographed goodies are the most valuable. Because some examples exemplify the Italian racing bicycle paradigm, really choice examples could justifiably fetch a good bit more. Nuovo Record examples without the neat pantographing are probably worth 20% less.

Masi ===========================================================

One of the big names. In the 60's and early 70's many of the worlds top racers
rode Masi frames - or frames that were built by Masi and labeled something
else. Merckx is among the famous who rode Masi bikes. From the 50's up to the
late 60's, Masi bikes were called specials. Lugwork was often rather plain -
long point lugs without cutouts. During the 60's, some examples are known to
have used Nervex professional lugs. By the late 50's or early 60's, Faliero
Masi probably ceased building frames personally.
Bikes that can identified as having been built by Masi himself should probably
fetch prices well into the $3000 to $4000 range. It is known that in the early
50's, some Masi frames actually have a card signed by Faliero himself placed
in the bottom bracket. It is unknown that if this means that Masi himself
built the frame. Masi bikes from the early 50's are certainly worth around
$3000 in guideline condition.

Bikes from the mid-to-late 50's through the mid 60's in guideline condition
should be worth $2000 to $3000. Late 60's Masi Specials start looking a lot
like Gran Criterium models - such bikes are certainly worth $2000 plus. Late
60's through early 70's Italian Gran Criterium models are worth around $1500
to $2000.

In late 1972 Faliero Masi along with some of his best builders (Mario
Confente) moved to California and started building frames in Carlsbad. Most of
these bikes were wonderful, a few were a bit sloppy but still extraordinary.
The 1973 California Masi bikes often had a gorgeous twin plate fork crown.
From 1973 until 1976 the Carlsbad facility continued to produce wonderful
frames. Faliero Masi visited once in awhile, but the facility was in the
competent hands of Mario Confente. Bikes from this period are worth around
$1250 in guideline condition.

From late 1976 through the late 70's, California Masi frames were constructed
by various builders. Think of it - some frames were constructed by the likes
of Albert Eisentraut! During these years of relative turmoil, quality ranged
from real nice to downright spectacular. Because of the variability, N.R.
bikes of this era should be worth around $900 to a $1000. By the late 70's,
Ted Kurkbride took over the helm of Masi Califronia and did a wonderful job.
Up until the mid 80's, his shop produced frames in the spirit of the Italian
master but with the crispness of an American custom. These bikes N.R. equipped
are probably worth around $900 in guideline condition.

Note that during the years of California Masi, Faliero's son Alberto continued
to build in Italy. In fact, despite the well publicized rift between them,
Faliero is known to have hung out at what became Albertos' shop at the
Vigorelli [velodrome.] The Gran Criterium frames built under Alberto in Italy
don't seem to have the crispness that the California bikes have. Such bikes
are probably worth several hundred dollars less than their California
counterparts. In the late 70's with the advent of cast lugs, Alberto launched
a new bike frame, the Prestige. These frames never came into the U.S legally
since California Masi owned the distribution rights to the Masi name. Masi
Prestige frames with S.R. parts are probably worth around $1000 in guideline
condition. Their value here is a bit higher as a result of their scarcity.

During the early 80's the Volumetrica frame [oversized tubing, internal lugs]
was developed and produced in Italy, and actually sold by Masi California.
These bikes are very attractive and very stiff. A nice S.R. example is worth
$1000 to $1100 or so in guideline condition.

The reason Masi bikes are such a big deal is twofold.

First, almost all are quite beautiful. A Masi Gran Criterium is a paradigm of
Italian framebuilding (even if done in the U.S).

Secondly, Masi frames almost without exception are great riding bikes. With so
many varieties and twists in their production history, collectors have their
work cut out for them!

Olmo ===========================================================

Someone I know once called Olmo the Schwinn of Italy. That is because Olmo produces a full line of bikes - some of which are quite extraordinary. The fancy Olmo frames always struck me as being rather similar to Colnago Supers in overall appearance. Their quality is also fairly similar. Some are absolutely gorgeous, others are a bit sloppy. They are, just like Colnago, known for their very nice ride. There were many examples in the late 70's and early 80's that came through with wonderful pantographing and the sweet Campy "Mexico" crank. There were actually production bikes! Models with no pantographing with N.R. parts are worth about 20% less. Note that Olmo is a very old name in bicycles. As a result, you may find wonderful examples from the 50's and 60's too! values of those bikes is mainly determined by condition and scarcity of the parts.

Reference:  http://www.sheldonbrown.com/