Originally Posted by
randyjawa
For me, I seek 100% original componentry. However, I build a vintage bike with, as close as I can get to period and model correct components. Of course, that is challenging for different reasons.
First, as others have mentioned, many bikes were sold as frame sets and then fitted with components of the buyer's choice.
Second, during the early seventies, the Bike Boom, created huge shortages in components and bikes, for that matter. With that in mind, manufacturers of bikes fitted what they could get, not necessarily what was originally specified.
Btw Randy, that Torpado is fantastic!
An example might be thie old Torpado LUXE that is almost 100% origional, as fitted, patterned steel rims and all...
However, t could have been issued with a Campy transmission...
or a Simplex transmission...
or a Gian Robert transmission. With that in mind, it becomes difficult, at best, to determine what is and what is not original...
This identical Torpado does not sport mostly original components. Most are period correct, though...
For the reasons Randy is illustrating, I've always thought the best we can do 30 years after the fact is to use parts in the same period and same level.
Second best is to use occasional newer parts about 5 to 10 years after probably frame release, since an owner could be assumed to have replaced broken parts, and LBSs would not always have the original one on hand. A shop who sold you a Masi Gran Criterium could promise to always have a high-quality 32 tubular rim on hand, but probably didn't stock a less-used part like the original Martano.
Third, and actually my favorite, is to follow the "Retro Roadie with modern drivetrains." I first tried this on my 1984-ish Mondonico, and it is a wonderful bike with a Campy 2x10 compact drivetrain and custom 2011-built tubular wheels. Saddle has settled down to be my Ideale 92, a design from probably the mid-1960s, and bought new by me in 1985.
But to make all this diversity work is where the knowledge of the Vintagisti comes in.
One build in the queue is my 1980 Woodrup frame. Frame needs a little repair and rear-end cold-setting, but I think it will become a wider-tire fendered 700c tourer. The original design could use 630x32, and I would like to try 700 x 35 with fenders.