Eddy would not ride

http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/bik/3855854755.html
Eddy Merckx-Classic circa 1986 - $1400 (Salt Lake City)

This steel classic is 56cm and fits me like a glove (I am 5' 8.5" tall and weigh 160lb). Eddy is currently flying the original Merckx orange color and decals. Currently with full fenders and flap. The campy Chorus gruppo (53/42, 10cog cassette) is going great and the bike rides like we all know steel bikes ride plus some-- because it is steel and because I put a carbon fork on it. I still have the original fork, but it is blue. The original frame color was blue and was just like the Panasonic road team's that raced the TDF that year. I also have the original seat post but have saved some weight with a Thomson post in place now, along with a new Thomson stem, Salsa bars, Fizik saddle. The newer Mavic Axsium clinchers are also a great ride with the steel. The frame has a few small paint chips, with the worst of them visible on the rear stay in one of the pictures.
Serious classic riders please


If you were going to buy this bike you would absolutely want to see the fork.  It would give you more clues as to which Merckx this really was, specifically how the fork crown was pantographed.  I love Molteni orange but a repaint on a bike is difficult, especially when it isn't using any of its' original componants.  For example this could be a Merckx Falcon 10, the bike that Eddy endorsed made by Falcon cycles in England.  I've read Merckx designed all of the bikes that carried his name, so for that fact it would be a cut above, but it certainly wasn't the columbus tubed, Masi collaborated models he went on to make.
Even if the tubing on this is legit the price is pretty prohibitive to me.  I dont know why you'd mix steel and a carbon fork.  You either want a steel bike or a carbon bike.  And if you do rescue Eddy you have to pick up a headset and stem while you're at it.  New paint and it's already chipping.  Eh, it's kindof an irritating bike.