Mark, Bob, and Mark,
Yes, you are right. It's a Nuovo Sport! Up by the head tube lug, on the top tube, is the utterly most faint remnant of color non-discoloration. Could only make it out with a magnifying glass. It looks like it would disappear with any amount of polishing.
The serial number of 1523 is correct, and is only four digits. Chipping away at the crust on the rear derailleur did expose Svelto. I believe the front derailleur is a Valentino. The appearance does seem to be late 1960's, both color and general style. So, maybe this is one of the earliest of the name.
Thanks for the assistance. There is something slightly disturbing to me about not knowing what a bike is, that's part of your "collection". This was very helpful.
Ciao for niao, Steve
[<Steve, < Sounds kinda like a Nuovo Sport model. <What color is it? ]
[<This sounds very much like a Nouvo Sport. It was the entry level ItalVega and rode nicer <than a lot of the other bikes in its price range.
<Mark Ritz <under overcast skies in Arcata, CA] ----- Original Message ----- From: FujiFish1@aol.com To: srd@gocalnet.com Cc: d.kennard@adelphia.net Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2004 1:17 PM Subject: Re: [CR]Italvega Identification
OK kids, here's what I got: The Gran Turismo model seems to be the most like this yellow bike we have here, save for two distinct differences. One is that the G.T. has chromed head lugs, as Duane mentioned, and two is the unusual seat lug of this yellow bike. I have no albums of any Italvega with this seat lug, but yet it seemed familiar to me. After searching, I realized that this is the seat lug on my orange 1960s Torpado Speciale! The Torp Speciale is a better bike with Campy drops and chromed head lugs too, but I do believe it to be a 60s bike. It came with Campy hubs dated 1960, but somehow I never felt like the rest of the bike was that old. Now, I believe my orange bike to be a mid to late 1960s model. The fork crown on Steve's yellow bike is a bit unique as well, only seen on SOME of the G.T. bikes I have PICs of (although they all have the chromed head lugs) and not on any other model that I have seen. I suspect that it was late 1960s when the Italvega project began. Following that, this may indeed be a very old Italvega Gran Turismo-like model of the beginning years. The yellow is an unusual color too. I suppose that less of the very early models were built until sales kicked in, so that might explain me not seeing this color before. If the above assumption is correct, the it was probably not called Gran Turismo, because that is the name of the Campy rear der. used on the models I have seen ... where this yellow bike has the Huret rear der. Unless Huret offered a Gran Turismo model at the time too? Perhaps Steve, if you could ask the CR list to cite when that derailleur came into and out of production, it might help date the bike. Also Steve, can you please confirm that serial number is only 4 digits (1523) long? It too doesn't jive with the longer 6 digit serial numbers I usually see on Italvegas. The exception is the 4 or 5 digit number on my first generation (undrilled or milled) Super Speciale from 1972 or earlier.
Duane, albums of the better models are coming soon...
Ciao, Mark
In a message dated 4/11/2004 3:03:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time, srd@gocalnet.com writes: Mark,
There is no chrome on the frame, but only the fork. No decals on the top tube either, as least not now. Rear dropouts are stamped. Huret rear derailleur. Hope this is helpful.
Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: FujiFish1@aol.com To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Cc: steve@velochrome.com Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2004 11:21 AM Subject: Re: [CR]Italvega Identification
Steve, Sounds kinda like a Nuovo Sport model. What color is it? Are there four chrome bands on the seat tube? Please send PICs, and a serial number from under the b.b. if there is one. Include what is left of the model decal on the front end of the top tube (potentially, on either side), and shots of the b.b. sockets, rear dropouts, and cable guides if there are any. These will all help, as most of the Italvega frame models seemed to have slight variances from one another (except for the Superlight / Super Speciale model that has been discussed recently). Be sure to send the PICs to my personal email address, and not to the list. As for decals, thus far I know of no source for replacements. However, list member Jay Sexton in CA is/was in the process of developing replicas. Perhaps he is ready to help... You're right that the bike is probably no racer, but at $5 ... a little Italian style can go a long way!
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI USA
------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 4/11/2004 1:53:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes: Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 06:42:04 -0700 From: "Steve Dahlquist" <steve@velochrome.com> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: Re: [CR]Italvega Identification Message-ID: <0c1301c41fca$c7334f60$db5d2a42@digitalputty.com> References: <1ee.1dbdcc6e.2daa42fa@aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain;charset="iso-8859-1" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Precedence: list Message: 7
Hi Mark,
Your name sounds familiar...maybe you purchased some bike stuff from me on Ebay.
Well, what I'm looking for on the Italvega is what model it was, its status in the Italvega line, and approximate year. It's not like some of the nicer Ital's I've seen around, but that may be explained by it perhaps being an early model, as it looks 1960's-ish. Or it could be that it was a low model of which one could choose from several. It turned up at a yard sale ($5!) a few months ago, and I've had it hanging in my shop since then.
It would also be really outstanding to find a downtube decal/transfer, as it has worn or faded away, to being barely perceptible.
I do have pics if there is interest.
Here are the features: Fork has chrome crown and lower halves, steel rims, non-identified 3-piece hubs, unknown group Campy front derailleur and dt shifters, ttt stem, Nervar cottered cranks, and Universal 61 brakes. No chrome on frame. Neither does it have any tubing identification or model indicators. So, I don't think it's a boat anchor, but neither is it in the "mojo" category, but I don't know. Would like to know.
Steve
----- Original Message ----- From: FujiFish1@aol.com To: steve@velochrome.com Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 11:43 PM Subject: Re: [CR]Italvega Identification
Hey Steve, Torpado lover Mark Agree here! Italvega was made by Torp, so I have acquired a bit of data on them. What do you want to know? There are at least two other people on the list that can potentially be helpful. One has posted in the last few days on the subject of Italvega, Mark Ritz. He used to work for Ben Lawee, the mastermind behind the Italvega project. You can get his email via checking the CR archives, as well as the emails of other knowledgeable people, if you search under Italvega, I'm sure. Looking forward to hearing from you...
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI
---------------------------------- In a message dated 4/11/2004 1:28:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes: Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 21:33:26 -0700 From: "Steve Dahlquist" <steve@velochrome.com> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR]Italvega Identification Message-ID: <002501c41f7e$31bb10e0$db5d2a42@digitalputty.com> Content-Type: text/plain;charset="iso-8859-1" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Precedence: list Message: 17
Howdy,
Is anyone able to direct me to information to identify my Italvega road = bicycle.
Thanks,
Steve Dahlquist
Velochrome Frameset Painting
V 559-592-6367
F 559-592-2585
C 559-967-3318
steve@velochrome.com
22582 Carson Avenue
Exeter, California 93221
http://www.Velochrome.com