squirtdad

Here is latest build, it has been a learning experience.




Thanks to all to have provide input in various posts. Special thanks to Randyjawa for posting ebay auction for torpado pantographed seat post, Bianchi Girl for the the ofmega BB and holiday76 for the Vo touring pedals.

My original idea was to get an interesting frame and make a single speed out of it. Then the torpado was given to me and single speed became city bike vision.

The bike is 84 or so Torpado Super Strada. It had sat outside, unprotected for a couple of years. It is pantographed all over, stem, chain rings, seat stay, fork, seat post.

this was their #2 frame built from DB columbus Allele (top frame is SL)

It has the original Universal brakes, Ofmega crankset, Nuovo Record deraillers and shifters, campy nuovo tipo (or gran sport) hubs and ambrosia rims.

Part of the fun and learning with this build.

The seat post was stuck, it took weeks, different chemicals and a lot of leverage to reomove and in the process is killed the seatpost but found one on ebay thanks to Randyjawa (details https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ory?highlight= )

At some point the headset was changed out to a shimano...I left that in place as it looked good and was in good shape.

The BB had been changed out to a shimano which was perfectly compatible with the crank. Tried to find a cartridge...didn;t work out. Got an Ofmega ball and cup from Bianchi Girl. (bottom line the whole campy/ofmega spindle size square taper older cranks is a pain go vintage bb or go phil wood)

The freewheel could not be removed as the removal slots where hosed. So I used a pin punch to unscrew the retaining ring and remove the freewheel body. The insides of a freewheel are impressive and there are a lot of very small bb. (eventuall the parts will get out of the soak they are in and go to pastor bob)

So then came the iso/italian threading dilemma... bit the buillet and used a mint suntour the guy in the cube next to me had, it is 13-21 no hills for me. I have to admit cringing a bit when I had to use some force...but then rememberd this is cool bike but not a hugely valuble classic and probable would be at a metal recycler if I had not taken it.

I cleaned up the rust and decided not to paint if for now, with the idea that the rat rod look cool and I had already put more time and $$ in Than had planned

It has a VO postino bar, tektro City bike levers, cork rubber grips. VO touring pedals (via Holiday76)

cheapo saddle....someday it will get the turbo off of my miyata when I get new saddle for that bike

Of course all new cables, rebuilt everthing and some Kool stop salmon brake pads (they screech right now)

I had envisioned this with a small porteur rack...but threw the $20 wald basket on it. I am thinking about moding this basket to be more porteur like (brake pivot attachement and support stays to Q clips on the fork, but we will see.

It is a ton of fun to ride.

gomango

Nice build.

Is this the Torpado that was on CL in the San Diego area last summer?

If so, I almost bought it while I was on vacation.

Would have built it the same way most likely.

20grit

Being a guy who like vintage cars as well, I was fully expecting a rusted piece of junk when I saw the words rat rod in the title. I was pleasantly surprised that is definitely not the case.

squirtdad

Thanks.... no it was in a neighors yard....he runs a bike charity and had a couple of hundred bikes in his back yard. He found a space to set up a permanent location and was triaging bikes for what could be fixed and used easily and what would not be worth the time, and I had helped connect him with my companies community giving program. I mentioned that as he cleaned up the yard if he tumbled across something, let me know and this showed up in my driveway. Now my son is organizing a bike charity event at his high school...it all goes around

squirtdad

Not rusted out, but plenty of rust that you don't see in the cell phone camera pic. You could call it a patina. At some point I might repaint but it is just too much fun to ride right now.

mparker326

Why do you describe this build as "rat rod"?

squirtdad

because I left the rust and imperfections in paint and decals in place vs repainting it to look like new..... and maybe a bit if mind set.... fun to ride, keep it simple (no kickstand, speedo, etc) and not worry about sratches etc.

there are more rust spots (stablized with oxalic acid and spot clear coated) than are easily visible

mparker326

I was expecting to see a set of ape hangers on a low rider.

Ancient Mariner

A rattle-can paint job in flat black would make the title a little more accurate. Sweet bike.