Classic & Vintage - Junky Atala

So Abarth alerted me to a craigslist add, I clicked and I bought. What I know about the bike is that it might actually fit which is a bonus, it has Campy SR parts along with a mixbagged of some so-so parts and it's ugly.
The good!
-Campy
-A decent Rolls in white no less.
-Columbus tubing of some sort.
-Decently filed lugs, Campy dropouts and some chrome here and there.
-27.2 seatpost.
The bad!
-Trashy paint.
-Mixmatched improper wheels. Front is a Shimano tri-color hub on a Sun 700c rim while the back is a Matrix rim laced to a Mavic hub (cool) with a 6 speed Regina freewheel.
-Shimano 105 headset.
-BMX pedals (wtf?)

So I guess I want to know what I got. I already know I need an appropriate wheelset, headset, pedals, some nick-nacks and full tuneup. Are the brake calipers SR too?

Some pics:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5611376903_da12c2357f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611376903/)
Atala (1) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611376903/) by Kelly Michael (http://www.flickr.com/people/21162852@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/5611886156_fb427e7b8b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611886156/)
Atala (2) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611886156/) by Kelly Michael (http://www.flickr.com/people/21162852@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5611892396_ca1c63c3d6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611892396/)
Atala (6) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611892396/) by Kelly Michael (http://www.flickr.com/people/21162852@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5611313877_abf1cb4931.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611313877/)
Atala (9) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611313877/) by Kelly Michael (http://www.flickr.com/people/21162852@N07/), on Flickr

So whaddy'all think? I'll probably be posting in the ISO/for trade thread looking for some bits to put this poor thing back into shape. I'll likely just give the frame a good cleaning and waxing and live with the "patina". It's only original once right? =)

Congrats on a nice find! However, I think you're getting spoiled when a Columbus-tubed Italian classic decked out in Super Record gets dubbed "junky". Also maybe I'm not seeing it in the pictures, but the paint looks great to me. That doesn't qualify as patina where I come from.

Looks like a decent bike to me.

I think that's an SL sticker on the fork blade (?). Yes, the calipers are "Super", and the front's missing the cone jam nut. I'd build a nice set of wheels for it, find a Super seat post, new brake hoods, bar tape, cables, pedals, headset, etc... and ride it!

Ok Ksnob505, what seatpost is it? I will bet you a case of 21th Amendment IPA that it is Columbus SL. The paint doesn't look too bad and the chrome looks great from the pictures.

Looks very nice. I saw one of these at the bike swap in PA in October.

I believe those were called the Atala Strada. Had an identical one in the workshop today, in blue/white. It had a "STRADA" decal at the front of the top tube; where the Campione D'Italia sticker sits on the silver frame. The blue frame had the Championship decal at the rear of the top tube.

Fork was severely bent on it.

-Kurt

[QUOTE=abarth;12493290]What seatpost is it? [/QUOTE

I'm pretty sure it's a Gipiemme. It has the cursive G.P. and brev 27.2. Almost gave myself a hernia getting it out! So a new seatpost has been added to the list. Maybe. I have to check the box.
I think I'll just give it a quick once over and a wheel swap right quick and see if I even like riding it before I start throwing money at it. If anyone has the missing nut for the front caliper please let me know. I'd also consider an OMAS hardware kit. The brakes are staying with me regardless of whether I keep the bike or not.

Nice find. Looks like a winner.

Any date on the components? Looks like Atala team colors from the 80's.

The rear derailleur has a patent date of '79.

Does anyone have a suggestion on what brand and model of rims I should hunt down? I think I may have an appropriate set of of hubs to lace into something. I'd also like to know if the sten and bars are correct. They seem later to me but I don't know.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5611891138_2170c0102f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611891138/)
Atala (5) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/21162852@N07/5611891138/) by Kelly Michael (http://www.flickr.com/people/21162852@N07/), on Flickr

Is your goal to restore the bike ("correct"), modernize it (eliminate that which is "junky"), or just make what you now own work well (bike repair and tuning)?

It's a very fine Italian bike, top-grade tubing, lots of racing heritage, and should be a great ride. Where's the junk? I don't see any.

Keep the seatpost. It just needs a clean tube to go into, with grease.

Looks like my size....

I'm pretty sure it's a Gipiemme. It has the cursive G.P. and brev 27.2.

Dude, you failed, that's not a Gipiemme post. Try again. :p

Since the frame has a Campione 1982, 83 decal on the top tube, the SR rear derailleur is probably not original to the bike. Interesting to see if there are any ridges inside the down tube and the seat tube.

Atala doesn't have the reputation of a high end make, lot's of low level bikes, but they did commission a few high quality models. This appears to be one and in quite decent condition. Someone sure didn't give it the love it deserved. It is a basket case, but worthwhile save none the less.
Ambrosio clincher rims were period correct. You can try Nisi and FiR as well.
The stem and bar appears to be Cinelli, if the reach fits, you're all set there.
It's a nice find. My size too!

Kelly, this is pretty much the same frame I had at the bike swap recently. All Columbus SL with Campy ends, chrome in all the same places, the works. And I agree with everyone else: it sure looks like the paint is in good condition, from here, anyway. You should have seen mine before it was repainted...

I'm pretty sure yours is from around 1984. The only difference between yours and mine is the engraving on the top of the fork crown; mine's just an "A" whereas yours has the entire script. Since this is one of Atala's highest-quality offerings, you could do worse than to keep it!

DD

Look for a full wheelset, they are often really good deals-- especially tubular's. Sometimes you can get 'em for less than the cost of the hubs alone.

Is your goal to restore the bike ("correct"), modernize it (eliminate that which is "junky"), or just make what you now own work well (bike repair and tuning)?
Where's the junk? I don't see any. ....

First I'm just gonna get it on the road and see if I like it. If I do I will then replace the components with period correct stuff worthy of the frame. Abarth emailed me a pic of a team bike dressed in Ofmega that looked nice (I have all of it too.). I also found a pic on an Italian blog that is nearly identical to mine. Full Super Record and some nice light blue cellowrap with world champ stripe tape to finish it off near the neck. I like that an awful lot. For now I have a couple different sets of tubulars (none of which are appropriate) I can throw on it and I'll replace the 105 headset and aero levers with something better looking.

As for the junky stuff. That would include the bmx pedals, mix-matched wheelset, brake levers, chipped derailleur pulleys and the 105 headset (it's ugly).

What no love for the 105 headset. It is light! Team Atala used Campy SR gruppo up to '84. Ofmega supplied the components from 85 to ?. I think in '85 Atala switched from SL to SLX for their top of the line frame.

Here is the info (http://www.velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=A1E70601-22A5-465F-BE17-56402290E657&Enum=105&AbsPos=0) on your seat post.

No Abarth...No love for the 105. I'll give it to you after I bash it out with a screwdriver and a B.F.H...

Good news! I removed the stem. It wasn't stuck! I kinda looked at the bike again and noticed a dropout adjustment screw is snapped off. I can't believe I missed that. Probably could have talked the guy down a bit more. Tomorrow I may just dig in the stash for a decent set of levers, swap the wheelset and take it for a spin.

No Abarth...No love for the 105. I'll give it to you after I bash it out with a screwdriver and a B.F.H...

Sweet I need a 105 headset for my Colnago Master build. Thanks

Sweet I need a 105 headset for my Colnago Master build. Thanks

Hey, no problem brutha. You can have the Sun Mistral rim laced to the tri-color hub too. And the brake levers with the ergonomically rotted AME hoods. Should look sweet on that 'nago.

No Abarth...No love for the 105. I'll give it to you after I bash it out with a screwdriver and a B.F.H...

Good news! I removed the stem. It wasn't stuck! I kinda looked at the bike again and noticed a dropout adjustment screw is snapped off. I can't believe I missed that. Probably could have talked the guy down a bit more. Tomorrow I may just dig in the stash for a decent set of levers, swap the wheelset and take it for a spin.

Sad day. I need a 105 headset for my Ironman. And here you are using a BFH on one. :(

Hey, no problem brutha. You can have the Sun Mistral rim laced to the tri-color hub too. And the brake levers with the ergonomically rotted AME hoods. Should look sweet on that 'nago.

What levers are those? I thought they were campy aero.

What levers are those? I thought they were campy aero.

I don't know what they are but I'm 95% sure they are not Campy. I'll take a closer look at them this evening and maybe snap a pic.

There is one of those at my local bike shop. I would guess it to be older than yours. In un-restored condition for $295.00. It calls me over every time I am in there.. lol..