The Godfather

De Rosa's are rare birds any day of the week.

This one just so happens to be the same age as me - and in far better condition.

Pre 1980 De Rosa's are rarer still, and in 1977 De Rosa changed the seat stay pantograph to a heart as opposed to the more frequently seen 'De Rosa'... so the story goes. Many years ago the frame had a makeover by Star Enamellers and the paint, save a blemish on the seat tube is sublime.

Then there are the De Rosa pantographed components that make this bird prettier still. The overall condition is excellent, some cosmetic flaws that are heavily outweighed by the brilliance of paint and detail.

Nagasawa himself studied under De Rosa, and the influence is evident in his own work. Crisp lugs, beautiful shore lines, flat crowns and understated elegance. Bryan Hayes also noted De Rosa as the standard by which other steel frames are measured.

35 years on.