Re: [CR] Pics of Early 80's Torpado Italia

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 09:30:45 -0700
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, <FujiFish1@aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <c17.5d2ffa1f.3737c9a1@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Pics of Early 80's Torpado Italia


Yes, that is a pretty accurate list of the OE, except that the shifters are Retrofrictions, with no brand marked on them. Functional stuff, but a bit on the heavy side and finish not as good as the top end. The current build probably reduces the weight by at least a Lb. A bit odd to find the Huret derailleurs on a Torpado, in those years Ofmega should have offered some derailleurs of comparable price and quality, and the Campy third line, either Triomphe or Athena should have been an option.

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA


--- On Sun, 5/10/09, FujiFish1@aol.com wrote:


> From: FujiFish1@aol.com <FujiFish1@aol.com>

\r?\n> Subject: Re: [CR] Pics of Early 80's Torpado Italia

\r?\n> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

\r?\n> Cc: jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net

\r?\n> Date: Sunday, May 10, 2009, 1:09 AM

\r?\n> Jerry,

\r?\n> That's a 1985 or 86 model build, based upon the second

\r?\n> set of bottle

\r?\n> bosses on the seat tube. Older bikes didn't have it,

\r?\n> like my 1984 Superlight.

\r?\n> My guess is that the fifth digit in the serial number

\r?\n> under your b.b. shell

\r?\n> will be either a 5 for 1985, or a 6 for 1986.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Nels,

\r?\n> A 1985 Torpado brochure that I have scans of (thanks again

\r?\n> to Jeff Archer),

\r?\n> lists the following for model Italia:

\r?\n>

\r?\n> = = =

\r?\n> ITALIA SPECS * Columbus Aelle Tretubi frame * Columbus

\r?\n> Aelle fork *

\r?\n> Gipiemme dropouts * ITM handlebar and stem * Iscaselle

\r?\n> seatpost and saddle *

\r?\n> Sachs Huret ECO S derailleurs * Sachs Huret shifters *

\r?\n> Regina Corsa 6-sp. 13-23

\r?\n> freewheel * Regina chain * Ofmega Mundial crankset * Ofmega

\r?\n> Gran Premio

\r?\n> pedals (with chrome moly spindle) * Miche Trofeo headset *

\r?\n> Ambrosio rims *

\r?\n> Michelin Superelan tires * A.C.I. spokes * Modolo Corsa

\r?\n> brakes * Ofmega

\r?\n> Mundial small flange hubs

\r?\n>

\r?\n> COLORS - (bright) Fuchsia/Metallic Royal Blue

\r?\n> WEIGHT - 23.5 lbs

\r?\n> SIZING - 49cm, 53cm, 56cm, 59cm, 63cm

\r?\n> = = =

\r?\n>

\r?\n> However, I had an '86 Italia here, equipped with all

\r?\n> Shimano 600 which was

\r?\n> very nice.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Ciao,

\r?\n> Mark Agree

\r?\n> Southfield MI USA

\r?\n> ~ ~ ~

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 19:46:16 -0700

\r?\n> From: Emilio Bozzie <emiliobozzi@hotmail.com>

\r?\n> Subject: Re: [CR] Pics of Early 80's Torpado Italia

\r?\n> To: <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>,

\r?\n> _classicrendezvous@bikelist.org_

\r?\n> (mailto:classicrendezvous@bikelist.org)

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Jerry-

\r?\n>

\r?\n> quite the perty torpado you have there. do you know what

\r?\n> was OEM on it?

\r?\n> Regards-

\r?\n> Nels Cone

\r?\n> Seattle WA

\r?\n>

\r?\n> > Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 18:39:50 -0700

\r?\n> > From: jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net

\r?\n> > To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

\r?\n> > Subject: [CR] Pics of Early 80's Torpado Italia

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> > Well, my standing as a Francophile is in grave

\r?\n> danger, as I am posting

\r?\n> pics of yet another Italian racing bike. This time my

\r?\n> wife's early 80's pink

\r?\n> Torpado Italia:

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> http://www.flickr.com/photos/19353998@N06/sets/72157617924305136/

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> > The pearl pink was the signature color of this Torpado

\r?\n> model. However it

\r?\n> was a mid-priced model and the original components were

\r?\n> mid-range stuff.

\r?\n> The wheels, shift levers and maybe the HS are original,

\r?\n> everything else has

\r?\n> been upgrade to higher-end stuff. Wheels have perfectly

\r?\n> good but not top

\r?\n> model alloy QR Ofmega hubs laced to Ambrosio 19 Extra

\r?\n> rims. the shifter are

\r?\n> retrofriction - I think Ofmega acquired Simplex or at least

\r?\n> the right to the

\r?\n> Retrofrictions in the 80's. Other bit follow my pattern

\r?\n> for an Italian

\r?\n> build - almost all Italian, but no Campy. Ofmega, Modolo,

\r?\n> Gipiemme, Galli, TTT,

\r?\n> Miche, Ambrosio and Selle Turbo are included.

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> > The bike was built up several years ago, but I just

\r?\n> today installed the

\r?\n> pink plastic 80's Ofmega RD I recently bought on eBay.

\r?\n> Not many bikes that

\r?\n> RD would be right on, but it's perfect here.

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> > BTW, the remnant of the tubing decal indicates

\r?\n> Columbus Aelle. This was

\r?\n> a good but less expensive tubeset. I've always admired

\r?\n> the detail and

\r?\n> finish the Italian builders were willing to lavish on a

\r?\n> frame made from less

\r?\n> than top tubing.

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> > Regards,

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> > Jerry Moos

\r?\n> > Big Spring, Texas, USA

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n> **************Recession-proof vacation ideas. Find free

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