Jerry asked:
> Mark, didn't Torpado at one time have top models available in Celeste, not the
> Bianchi Celeste, but the sky blue the word implies?
In Italy, it would appear that there is quite a diversity of shades that fall under the 'celeste' denomination. Most Italians when asked what the color of a Bianchi will respond 'celeste' with only a small percentage calling it 'verdino'. The Torpado that I believe you are thinking of is however much more a baby blue than a real sky blue. It would normally be called either 'celestino' or 'azzurino chiaro'. I doubt anybody would actually call it 'celeste'. I used to own a 1964 Fiat 1500 in the exact same color of the Torpado.
The baby blue of the Torpado and other pastel shades were very common in the Italian bicycle trade from the 30's well into the 70's.
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Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ