Help identify this Italian bicycle found in grandparents basement
08-29-12, 07:09 PM
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Help identify this Italian bicycle found in grandparents basement
Hi, I found this old bicycle in my grandparents basement. The tires, seat and a few other pieces have been replaced over the years but I believe the frame was brought over from Italy in the early 1950's. Attached is a picture of the emblem on the front of the bike which says "Ciclo Invitta Roma SPQR". I have been unable to identify it and I'm trying to determine if this frame has any value or if I should just give the bike away.
08-29-12, 09:48 PM
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Need more pics. Appears to have a thick repaint on it.
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08-29-12, 10:14 PM
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It looks like more than just a few bits have been replaced, almost nothing on this bike looks original and the frame has been repainted. The wheelset looks to be from a 70's Schwinn. Your story tail about the bike just does not seem to match up with the bike in the pic.
08-29-12, 10:32 PM
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Yeah, looking at it I'm pretty sure the only original parts are more or less the frame which does appear to have a heavy coat of paint....but my question is really about whether the frame has any value mostly because I can't identify the logo on the front and google searches of "Ciclo Invitta" haven't turned up anything.
I'm intending to give this bike away since it has no real value to me being a bit of a frankenstein bike, but the logo frame intrigued me as to who made it and whether it's anything special.
I'm intending to give this bike away since it has no real value to me being a bit of a frankenstein bike, but the logo frame intrigued me as to who made it and whether it's anything special.
08-29-12, 10:44 PM
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Well the chrome lugs and headbadge do make the frame interesting and likely worth something. Hopefully someone here will have a little more knowledge of Italian frame builders can help.
08-29-12, 10:44 PM
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ciclo invitta means 'unconquerable cycle Rome'. considering the economics of Italy over the last 60 years this is probably one of a hundred small cycle companies that were not quite unconquerable. you should post in the 'head badge close up' thread that's a nice one.
08-30-12, 02:53 PM
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The head and seat lugs look a lot like an Italian frame that was up for ID in this forum 1-2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, that one was never resolved 100%.
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72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
08-30-12, 03:22 PM
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Can you post close-up photos of the head lugs, seat cluster, and dropouts?
