Looking forward to hearing from De Rosa experts on this… but I think the Nuovo Classico may have been introduced in the early 90’s — here’s an entry for a 1993 model:
1993 De Rosa Nuovo Classico - New and Used Bike Value
… and here’s one noted as a 1996 model:
De Rosa Bicycles - BIKEADELIC: De Rosa Nuovo Classico and De Rosa King 3
"Early 80's" seems too darn early -- they're not listed in the catalogs during that timeframe (e.g.,
De Rosa catalogs available here). That said, the head tube decal on the bike in question looks congruent with what De Rosa was putting on their 80's and very early 90's bikes, i.e., the multi-colored diamond. The recent Nuovo Classico models have a different head badge.