Over the years, pure dumb luck has, often times, played a roll in acquiring bicycles. And Lady Luck showed up, again, in the past week, or so.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to get an all chrome plated, all polished chrome plated, Torpado frame set, with a few pieces still attached...



In the middle of last week, I came close to buying a Torpado headbadge off of Ebay, the first one I have ever seen offered. But I didn't, thinking that I would make the Buy It Now purchase when I got back from the city, later that day. I had to go to the city to help with a small project for Bicycles for Humanity. Lucky I did...

While there, I spied and purchased a lovely old Torpado Step Through, complete with headbadge, embossed headset, pantographed crank set, Ambrosia stem/bars and some unusual brakes, all for twenty bucks. The badge, crank and headset are bound for the all chrome Torpado that I am working on now...





When I went to get the Torpado Step Through this morning (could not take it last visit as I had a boxed bike in the Honda and no room for the Torpado), a few hours ago, I dropped another twenty bucks, at a local used stuff shop, for an early to mid seventies Falcon, complete with Campy transmission, Campy high flange hubs, Cinelli old logo bars, leather saddle and other less important odds and ends...



My wife was just thrilled:-( And so am eye!-) N+some seems to be the trend, even though I don't seek out old bicycles anymore.

You have some seriously good bike Karma going on. Great scores!

Randy,
congratulations on this wonderful find.

please don't forget to add it in to the "show us your torpado" thread.

Almost all things come after we stop looking.

Lucky bugger ! Looked like these needed saving. Glad you were there to catch them.

Nice! Looking forward to the build.

Anymore pics of your lovely chrome bike you had up a while ago ?

Most of them are here. OK, one more then:



Now quickly back to Randy's Torpado.

I really like mid level Italian bikes from the 60's they had interesting cosmetic touches like chromed detailed lugs with cut outs that you typically only see on really expensive stuff from other times. These Torpedo's have some of the prettiest mid level frames ever produced great score.

I have owned three or four all chrome plated Torpado bicycles. This Torpado Luxe five speed was the prettiest of the bunch...



This all chrome Luxe was built up for a customer...



And this one is going to be for me (like I need another bicycle)...

Yes, I remember those now, went looking at the collection of chromed wonders on here when I was trying to decide if I wanted to own one.

Well, after six months, or so, away from my bicycle stash, I managed to assemble the Torpado for its test rides. If satisfied with ride quality, I will strip it down, paint it powder blue with a white head tube, new decals and you will see those results in a month or two. For now, what I intend to ride tomorrow with different wheels and, of course, I will be replacing the air chain with a steel one...









As luck, or unconscious planning, would have it, I had everything for the bicycle, except a decent cottered crank set. A fellow forum member and real world friend was kind enough to give me the crank set - for something to be revealed sometime. Anyway, found more stuff than I needed, including the water bottle and the rim/spoke washers. Even stumbled across a set of Universal 39 brakes.

Not only do you have great luck and timing, you're paying in Looneys, so it's like $15, rather than $20 US.

I have a similiar story from earlier this year. Schwinn Voyageurs don't appear frequently and are almost never below my $100 threshold. My chrome Voyageur 11.8 was missing a few parts, but within the space of a less than 30 days, managed to acquire another Voyageur for parts(no photo), and also acquired for about the value of the racks, a canti equipped Voyageur with repaired seat stays.

The chrome bike will be finished today as a 10 speed.

Well, the frame set is cleaned off and the components are mostly assembled _ loosely, I might add since the bike must come apart again, for painting.

Chrome Torpado #3 or #4 - lost count...

A work of art as it stands. Is it going to get the red back on it ?

those B- brakes are nice to work with. Have a similar set with the cursive font.

Not too sure about the art thing, even though this one will be wall art, when it is done. Fully functional, absolutely, but to be ridden lots - nots.

I was lucky enough to find most of the components needed for the bike in my stash of this and that (Milremo handlebar end caps, Carnelli Stem, several sets of Balilla brake sets, most with useable hoods, chrome saddle clamp, transmission, REG brake cable guides, single handlebar mounted water bottle holder, and cloth handlebar tape). And Lady Luck also revealed some Simplex brake cable guides, some Gian Robert bits and pieces(this is what I would use if I had all needed parts for the transmission(, Gaslo alloy end caps and a bunch of other stuff that I will have to find frames to fit to(N+1 in disguise).

Red again? Nope! I really do not like red on my vintage bicycles. Rather, I am going for a powder/baby/pastel blue with an antique white head tube. The lugs, fork and stays socks will be left with exposed polished chrome, which is in really nice shape. And what paint do I hope to use, this time..?

Tremclad Harbour Blue, in a spray can, if I can find it locally...



And, I hope to use Mother Nature's oven to bake the paint. Pictures and description to follow, if the effort is even marginally successful(and it will be).

You know I have a soft spot...

Good point.

Great score!

Me too, Ed and your Torpado served as a bit of inspiration. How about some more pictures, if you feel like sharing. Also...

I am going tubular with all of my older restorations, these days. And all I am interested in restoring is older bikes, pre early seventies, if I can find them at a price I can afford. However, what do I do about this problem. The valve stem is slightly too big for the valve hole in the rim. I cannot help but believe that this will create anything but a smooth ride. The rims are vintage AVA, if that means anything...



Suggestions as to how to deal with this situation would be appreciated.

Sure thing!





(Headset is not original - grrrr. I have the original, but it's brinelled.)





As the man said, "Anyabody can maka da [bike] stop, it taksa genius toa make it go fast!" I remain amazed at their lack of even slowing capacity, with new pads, even.



Hopefully that will do, tho I do have more.

Re tires. Don't know. I've been using 'new' tires on old rims with no noticeable issues. I'll check to see what it is that I have on the Torpado.

Ed, what does your original head set look like? I have a spare for my Torpado. In fact, I can't decide which to use.

This one, the original and I might have a spare...



Or, this one, picked up from the same seller(will sell if I decide to not use it on my present build - will list it in the For Sale forum, if I do)...



And thanks for the pictures. I do like your bicycle.

Well, I finally found some time to get to the color on the Torpado - harbor blue with some white, here and there...

What a killer old race bike. I really dig the steel cranks, too.

Holy crap! So freakin awesome, very well done!

That frameset turned out really nice, Randy. I like the head tube, and seat tube with panels and the bands. It looks like what an Italian classic should present as, to me.

I have this mental picture of old racing bikes just tooling along, riderless, all headed to your town. The bicycle gods have put out the word that they must go up there to be resurrected by this Randy guy. Only explanation I have for all the nice specimens you find.

Also, kudos on all the work you do for Bicycles For Humanity.

Bill