Classic & Vintage - Anyone an expert on Italvega?

I tried to walk away from a guy selling a beat up bike But I failed. That being said, I now own a 197? Italvega, Petina or metalic green color with "designed by Toressini" decals, Superlight cranks, leather grips (which I like) Fiamme clincher wheels. Please see pictures below. Any information would be appreciated. Mahalo!

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/jnymdnyt/Bikes/CIMG4446.jpg

It's one of their lower end models, not a Super Speciale or Superlight. I'm not sure what they called that one, but from the drop-outs it would below the Nouvo Record model, even though it has the Stronglight cranks.

There's a catalog on Mark Bulgier's site that might have it shown, but the site is not opening now. I will check later.

Yours would make an excellent single speed or Fixed gear conversion.

Nice bike. I'm not your expert, but I believe that they were imported by the same folks who imported Univegas from the other direction. That color's purty. Enjoy it.

I was contemplating on making it my first single speed bike. Thanks for the good info. The serial number is 211138 maybe a 72 to 74?

Here's a link to the Nouvo Sport in the '76 catalog. Your frame is probably pretty close build wise. Although yours is earlier ('70-'74 I would guess), and nicer looking having the chrome headlugs and better color. Plus you have a better crankset and Italian Universal brakes. The leather wrapped bars were probably a owner upgrade.

http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/ItalVega-76/IT4.jpg

As said before, perfect SS or FG conversion project.

+1.
I can't tell if it has stamped dropouts or forged Campys, but that color was one of THE typical paint choices of Italvegas, the 2nd most common being a metallic brown. Yes they were made in the same shop that produced Torpedos (Torresini) and an importer's brand: same guy who changed the marque's name to Univega when sourcing from Asia and was also the importer of Bertoni. '72 to '74 looks about right. Skip Magnussen knows about Italvega serial numbers, look him up and send a PM.

Thanks for the information. It does not have Campy dropouts but has Campy Derailleurs front and rear. This will definitely be my first fixed gear project. I'll post a picture of the finsihed bike when I'm done with it.

I have a '72 Nuovo Sport (low- to low/mid-level bike; pic attached) built up as a freewheel singlespeed, and I like it a bunch ... I went through the same process you're going through when I got it a couple of years back, and all of the above info about Torpado, the shift to the Univega brand, etc. is spot on. The diagnostic bit is the rear drops: if they're forged Campy, you've got one of the higher end bikes. If they're stamped, you've got a lower-end offering like mine.

Sweet bike! Do you use 27" wheels? or just regular 700x23?