Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Please help me to identify this Torpado dumpter dive find!

I recently rescued this vintage Topardo, I know virtually nothing about it. Although, I bet my gf $100 that it's worth more than $75. Any help would be great appreciated. I'm probably going to put it on Craigslist or eBay and, per our bet, must sell it by 10/1, either as a whole or by the piece... $75, net of all fees/shipping needed for the WIN!!! This isn't an offer to sell for $75, I think it's worth a good bit more, but I need some info like model, year, spec, etc. THANKS!!!

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/th_b1.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/?action=view&current=b1.jpg)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/th_b3.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/?action=view&current=b3.jpg)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/th_CIMG1579.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/?action=view&current=CIMG1579.jpg)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/th_CIMG1577.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/?action=view&current=CIMG1577.jpg)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/th_CIMG1575.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/?action=view&current=CIMG1575.jpg)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/th_CIMG1573.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/?action=view&current=CIMG1573.jpg)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/th_CIMG1572.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/?action=view&current=CIMG1572.jpg)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/th_CIMG1570.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/?action=view&current=CIMG1570.jpg)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/th_CIMG1580.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/?action=view&current=CIMG1580.jpg)

Yeah, that's worth a good bit more than $75. Ebay will determine the correct price, probably $300 - $500 but what do I know. The rear derailleur should have a date near where it attaches to the frame, "Pat 78" or the like would mean a 1978 derailleur and the rest not too far off. I believe the hub lock nuts also have a date code, but it's harder to find. Looks like late 70's-early 80's. Good find.

Where are you located?

Thanks so much for the info. I'm in Pittsburgh, PA. The rear derailleur is "Pat 84." I wasn't able to find the number on the hub lock nuts, but I did notice a "52" on the crank, so I assume that's the size in cm.

Also, it's not too visible in the pics, but the top of the frame is a little rusty.

I would clean it up and throw it on CL for $300. If you part it out on Ebay, you'll do a lot better than $300.

52 = the number of teeth on the big chainring.

Size looks like a 56-57cm

Wow! That is great news. Also, thanks for the chainring info. Obviously, I am not exactly a bike expert, so what is the best way to clean it? What kind of details are most important in the listing?

That is amazing, someone really threw that in the dumpster? Now that is a nice find. BTW, what were you doing in the dumpster? :p Congrats on that beauty though.

i meant dumpster dive as expression... it was just left out for trash from a house that was being sold, there was a ton of furniture and stuff, too. guess someone just ran out of time. we almost grabbed a decent cedar chest, too.

if anyone knows pittsburgh, i live near squirrel hill and shadyside, there are some pretty palatial houses on roads that i use very often. also, lots of older inhabitants who don't know (or care to) how to look things up. i found a sweet coffee table with wooden screws a while ago, it's probably worth $250-$300.

last year, i grabbed some 1940's folding chairs and got $135 for the set of four on ebay. i actually started going on my longer runs on garbage nights, so i can see what's happening. i'm always on the lookout!

If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it. Really. Sell it as is, on ebay or Craigslist, with a clear description of what you have done to it (nothing!) and what you know about it (only what people tell you) and let the buyer figure it out. You'll do fine that way.

Most of the components on it are Campagnolo Nuovo Record (which is a good selling point). A lot of them (and others) have been pantographed (that's the technical term) with the Torpado name etc. That, too, is a good selling point. Pantographed parts sell well, but since you've got them all together on the bike, I would leave it all together. The buyer will recognize the value of this.

You need to measure from the center of the crank to the top of the frame where the seat post is inserted; this is the "seat tube" measurement. Also measure the top tube center to center, that is from the seat post to the handlebars. These two dimensions will help the potential buyer figure out if it fits him.

Photograph all the components --crank, both derailleurs, brakes, brake levers, seat post, hubs, etc. as well as possible and include that in your ad or at least on a photo hosting site like flickr. You don't have to take them off the bike to do this.

There should be a decal on the seat tube of the bike identifying the tubing the frame is made from. Probably Columbus, or Reynolds 531. Be sure to photograph this too. And the rust you mentioned. And anything else that seems relevant, like dents.

Good luck!

You will not only net more than you need, but your girlfriend will owe you, too. Make certain to take her to a nice dinner with the proceeds. Having fun is part of the journey...

I am not so sure about the value of this. I wish the pics were better but I don't think the cranks and brakes are CampI. It is hard to see but the logo on the carnks looks like Gipimme, and so do the brakes. I don't recall CampI having a teardrop shaped cutout in the QR.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/b3.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/CIMG1577.jpg

I still think it is worth $200 or so and if the frame was my size I would be thinking about snagging it.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k15/dewst22/b1.jpg

It happens all the time. I was able to pickup a nice Santana tandem that way. I actually went up and knocked on the door to make sure it was really "in the trash". Home owner confirmed and insisted on helping me load it into my truck... after a bath it was very near mint with just cracks in the tires...

The model is a Super Strada; the cranks are Ofmega. Specs:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Torpado/torpado_specs.htm

In current shape, I think about 100/150$. The mechs are worth a bit but need work. Frame has rust issues, no telling how deep. I think it is surface, but don't know. I would certainly check the seatpost and stem and see if either one has frozen into the frame. It would sell quick at 150$, I think, but it needs a serious overhaul and work.

I sold a Torpado Amateur for $125 that had no where near as nice a set of components. The frame was in much better shape than yours though. It might be worth a lot if you would put some sweat equity into it: de-rust the bits of the frame, touch it up, clean up the components, replace the chain and tires/tubes
You should be able to get double your money if you at least did that much. Very nice pantographed bits, very nice looking in the rough, btw.