vascoboy

hello,
I am trying to find out a little about this Italvega bike I picked up and worked on...I replaced the old steel wheels and handlebar/brake levers...It looks to be a "pre-Univega" bicycle, made in Italy. I was drawn to all of the old Campagnolo components, cotter cranks,...and it's overall classic look. This bike looks to be almost half a century old, and it's a good sporty ride. It has a "made in Italy" sticker on the center tube, and "viva sport" on the top tube, 27" wheels. I imagine it was bottom of the line to average for Italvegas of the time. Wanted to see if anyone can date this bicycle and/or tell me what kind of tubing. I'm guessing some lower grade Columbus (no sticker). The tubes are very flexy.

juvela

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Badge launch was 1971.

The 3D head emblem marks it as slightly later.

Earliest examples had emblem of stamped sheet.

This is the bottom of the line model.

Transition time from Italvega to Univega was 1976.

Here is an ItalVega catalogue from 1976.

Note how the Viva Sport model has begun to wear some fittings from Japan by this date...

bulgier.net - /pics/bike/Catalogs/ItalVega-76/

Marque(s) created by Ben Lawee, a bicycle importer/distributor in southern California.

ItalVega produced in Padova by Torresini (Torpado).

Italvega, main

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P!N20

Hi vascoboy, do you mind posting this in the 'I' thread? We're a little short on contenders: Show Us Your Bikes Starting With I

T-Mar

The subject bicycle is circa 1973, During this period Columbus only had two road tubesets, SL and SP. The flexy tubes are an interesting comment as the presence of stamped dropouts and top tube cable stops are usually indicative of a lower grade frame material, which would be thicker and more rigid. Given, the aluminum rims, it could be a mid-range tubeset such as Falck but I wouldn't rule out the wheels being upgrades and the frame material being a hi-tensile steel. In the absence of a tubing decal, the best indicator of tubing grade is the seat post diameter.

juvela

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poster states he replaced the OEM steel wheels with alloys


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T-Mar

Thxs, I missed that!

BTW, I sent to you a PM with further dating information on the Firestone from that other site.

mech986 

Agree with 1973 dating, serial number coding starting with 303 suggests that's it was stamped in Mar 1973 although it could have been brazed earlier and stamped later. The bullet stays and lack of tubing decal suggest a straight gauge Hi-ten steel tubing, maybe Falck or other, so I wonder if the "flexy" feel was maybe more lax geometry instead, hopefully not a broken frame. All the Campagnolo low level parts suggest earlier than later as the Euro parts were still cost effective then. The 74-76 later catalog photo suggests the later Viva Sport had the flat and wrap around seat stay treatment used similarly in the late Super Record and Gran Rally models and the use of Suntour derailleurs as juvela mentioned. Still, the chome fork socks and crown are a nice touch.

OP has certainly done a nice job of cleaning up the bike, the chrome and drivetrain are particularly well done and attractive. Residual rust areas on the cable hangers is always a difficulty. Photos shot somewhere in the SF Bay area hills?


1974-76 Italvega photo of Viva Sport model

johnnyace 

I used to own a Nuovo Record with quite a mix of parts. It was a neat bike and a great rider.