Classic & Vintage - Italvega

hey out there, first timer on the forum.
I happened upon an old Italian bike at a garage sale and finally figured out what the name said on the headtube, (no physical crest or plate), I could just make out the letters that were faded; anyway, my first reaction is to find out the year/model; i've been looking at other comments about Italvega and it seems it's a pretty good find; the number on the bottom bracket is just 58. Is there somwhere else to look;
also, when I do the finger tap on the tubes, it's more solid towards the outside; don't know what sounds to listen for. There are no other legible or even visible badges anywhere, unless I look at an angle or gently use a rag or something to wipe it down.
this bike has got beautiful petina and the chrome lugs are a work of art; any help would be appreciated.

How is the bike equipped?

Pictures, pictures, pictures.

Italvega made some nice frames. Probably your best shot at determining this ones place in the hierarchy is by its components and the rear dropouts. Yes, PICS will help

If the dropouts are drilled it's a top model bike.

If the dropouts are drilled it's a top model bike.

Otis, you were supposed to add "Where's the pictures" :D .

Hello safari69, welcome to the Classic & Vintage forum AND to Bike Forums :) .

The bike sounds lovely, but we are all waiting for those photos...:D .

East Hill

I believe the 58 means it is a 58 CM bike. It is not the serial number. They are very good bikes. Mine is full campy Record and Columbus tubing. Roger

This is my brother's bike, and I'm not sure what ya'll mean by drilled components. It's all campy, everything on the bike. It's quite nice. Aluminum rims, 27 1/8. Chrome lugs. Pictures...are coming...he promises.

tried to attach pics but they were too large, will change setting on camera and send later
it's got all campy components, but the paint is so faded/surface rust, that I can't make out anything else
i'm about ready dust for prints/leftover lettering; the down tube also says Italvega; derailleur is nuovo record;hubs campy record w/clip, assuming to be able to grease; dropout & front fork stamped Campagnolo; the 58 makes sense, did measure from bottom bracket to seat post (58); darn, was hoping it was an old serial number; can't wait to restore it;
thanks for the responses

tried to attach pics but they were too large, will change setting on camera and send later
it's got all campy components, but the paint is so faded/surface rust, that I can't make out anything else
i'm about ready dust for prints/leftover lettering; the down tube also says Italvega; derailleur is nuovo record;hubs campy record w/clip, assuming to be able to grease; dropout & front fork stamped Campagnolo; the 58 makes sense, did measure from bottom bracket to seat post (58); darn, was hoping it was an old serial number; can't wait to restore it;
thanks for the responses

The rear derailleur should say something like PAT XX, where XX is a two digit number for the production year of the derailleur. As for the pics, resize them in one of the free photo editing programs (Irfan is one) and save it at a lower quality to skate under the limit. Or else go to one of the free hosting sites.

here's a picture of the derailleur. it says "Patent 00 " or something. I know it's probably around 1970.

to confirm about the patent number, it looks like one zero, but another almost stamped exactly on top of it, slightly misaligned; it looks like one number 0 to me, but like it was restamped; who knows, I need something to go on, no decals, badges; "badges, we don't need no stinkin' badges"; In the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter, but it's just fun to find out; I swear this thing looks like a rat-rod, all surface rust, faded, and nice polished chrome lugs; pics tomorrow; yeah right. by the way, i'd love to see a pic of some original Italvegas, i've done searches but only came up w/ ones that had been repainted etc. thanks

It is hard to tell from the picture, but I am thinking it just says PATENT. What you think are zeroes look too big and too sloppy to be stamped numbers from Campy. Didn't the NR come just marked PATENT in early years?

Italvega photo attempt...
thanks for the help

here's one of the whole bike

Definitely not date numbers on the derailleur. Don't know what they are, but not date numbers. Any markings on the back of the crank arms? I think you are looking for a circle with a two digit number. I am thinking this is a late 60s-early 70s model, so there may be no date markings on the cranks. I am amazed the chrome lugs look as good as they do considering how the tubing looks.

EDIT: Maybe it is the angle or my eyes, but the frame looks like it took a front end hit in the closeup of the steerer tube.

EDIT: Maybe it is the angle or my eyes, but the frame looks like it took a front end hit in the closeup of the steerer tube.

I think it's an optical illusion. The head tube doesn't bend in a crash, usually.

That's a very nice bike!

I think it's an optical illusion. The head tube doesn't bend in a crash, usually.

That's a very nice bike!


You are right, the head tube does not. I was trying to draw attention the top tube and the downtube, right where the lugs end.

thanks again for the feedback guys; i'll take a look at the crank arms;
as for the lugs, I love detailing cars, especially when i know they have potential, so the first thing I did was to use some chrome polish and a soft brass brush on them, i've done more since; thanks for the compliments;
ready to ride it. need tubes, tires, chain; I think the illusion on the headtube was the bars on my porch. did any of you notice the bottom bracket? it looks like a huge weld line and a chunk taken out; any confirmation that the 58 is the size, makes sense.

On the older campy cranks the date code will be in a diamond or square (forget which), not a circle. Older than early 70's, expect no date code at all! Same with rear derailler.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but some parts of the bike look considerably cleaner/newer than others...?

That looks like an older version of my Nuovo Record. We think I have a '73 frame. It has the same weld on the bottom bracket and a similar clunky quality to the lug finishing. From what I can tell, the only difference is that mine has cable guides brazed onto the top tube. Your entire frame except for the bottom bracket area should be chromed and the main tubes are some kind of Columbus.

Read about it here
http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=217820&highlight=italvega+id

The Patent date on the NR RD started IIRC in '70. Have one of those. The NR cranks started labeling in '73 (IIRC) w/3 in a diamond. Yours should just have 'strada' and the crank length.

You are right, the head tube does not. I was trying to draw attention the top tube and the downtube, right where the lugs end.

Hmmm. Still doesn't look like it to me. Hard to tell, I'm not sure if there's any real paint there to get wrinkled! I would certainly hope not.

Hey, I love the feedback; to answer the latest questions; the bike had obviously been sitting outside or somewhere "humid"; anything on the bike that looked like it could be cleaned up, i've done; chrome polish, wire brush, rag; I'd like to keep the rusty petina as much as possible but have been wiping with a wet cloth to try and identify where the tubing stickers were, and any other info. pertaining to which level this bike is/was; the cranks are Strada 170, no diamond/circle markings; I feel like a detective; also, as far as the year, I was under the impression that these bikes were only made from early 70's to 78 or so; also, as i mentioned in previous thread, no physical crest, but I can make out the lettering on the headset, so that tells me what? were phys. crests riveted on? glued? i'm at a dead end; it's fun to play detective, but I suppose I should just work on getting this puppy on the road; just one more bit of info; it's got a crusty Brooks B15 Champion narrow on it, I know they sometimes date stamp their saddles, but it could have been put on there at any point in time; thanks again