In a message dated 12/3/03 12:06:06 PM, jimallen@nctimes.net writes:
<< Jamie is correct in that the first Team 3V frames were identical to the 3Volumetrica frames. The biggest difference was the aluminum fork. And, of course, the different decal set. There were only two different sponsor decals for the top tube, I believe the years were 1991 and 1992. After that, no more top tube sponsor decals.
When Bill later had the bikes made in Italy by Mondonico, they came with the fastback seatstays and unicrown forks. Most of these were painted in Italy, so I never saw them except to do repaints and repairs. >>
Jim;
Thanks for the clarification.
So the Team 3V's in the '96-'97 catalogs are Mondonicos (these are described as only being available in a few stock colors, as opposed to the Tre Vols, which were still being imported unpainted). There are no sponsor decals on the frame in the catalog picture, but I regularly see these bikes with the entire top tube covered (six, not counting Faliero's signature... Gatorade, Bell, Powerbar, and three others I can't remember).
Do you by chance remember who the two sponsors were on the '91-92 bikes?
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA