Well after all the discussion about whether to part out a classic bike or
not, I am going to give folks a chance to vote with their pocketbook. I
recently bought a 1968 Atala that had been deceptively re-decaled as an
American bike... several folks have suggested it was for some racing reason
or another. It is well done, but didn't fool the maker for a minute when
showed clear photos of it. It just does not fit at all in my collection of
American bikes. It has some great components on it, however. I paid $366
for it and drove 100 miles to Detroit to take delivery of it. You can see
that the impetus for me to part it out is very strong.
The bike has no dents that I see, a 52 cm seat tube, 55 cm top tube (both
ctc), 170 mm cranks, Record non-steel post with small writing and no minimum
insertion mark, undated '68 NR rear derailleur (everything is clamp on, of
course...believe it or not, the jockey wheels do not appear cracked!), large
flange record hubs with straight blade skewers (One blade is cracked, but I
have a NOS set of straight blades available at slight extra cost to any
purchaser), Fiamme red label tubular rims, Universal Special 68 brakes (the
pads and hoods and cables are a total mess), NR headset with <C> on it, TTT
bars and Grand Prix stem, Ideale saddle. None of this is mint, but it does
appear to be a complete build kit from '68 and not often found all together.
>From what I can see, the top tube cable clamps are like those that recently
sold on E-Bay for nearly what I am going to ask for this bicycle...I am not
guaranteeing that, but they sure look like it.
I will send pics if anyone is interested. I want my $366 plus reasonable
shipping for the whole kit and caboodle. If I don't get a buyer, the bike
gets parted out. Save a classic! Buy this bicycle! Or buy it and part it
out...the Karma will be on you instead of me...but frankly I feel if it's
yours, it's your business.
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi