Gene, It was me that asked for the serial numbers ... thanks very much for the follow through!!!!
I still don't have enough series collected to have confirmed any of my suspicions, but I believe the first digit of the four you supplied, to mean the year of manufacture in that decade. Seems easy enough to distinguish a 1961 bike, for example, from a 1971 bike, because of enough changes in design, so just the "1" would be sufficient for dating. No idea yet what the other numbers mean, but I suspect it is either a month, or a period ... and then the unit number.
So, following all that, my current guess is that your bike was made in the 9th period or month of 1971, piece number 41.
Can you please send me a link to the photos again? Have you had a chance to get better shots posted of it yet, by chance?
Anyone else out there got serial numbers on Torpados or Italvegas that I don't have yet? I'd appreciate them very much ... thanks...
Ciao, Mark(o) "Torpado" Agree Southfield MI ~ ~ ~
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 21:57:23 -0800 From: Eugene Powell <radfin@SpiritOne.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]ItalVega Serial #
I was sent a message last week regarding ItalVega serial numbers, and lost it. The number I found on the bottom of the BB shell is 1941. Hope this helps, and if it sheds any light on the nature of my bike I'd love to know more about it
Gene Powell
Rad Finishes
Portland, OR