kleinboyz

Hi all, I'm new to the site. I've been cycling only about 8 years and at first just wanted the latest and greatest stuff. Love the sport and the history and have an interest in learning about the vintage bikes. I's like to to find a 70's Italian Steel lugged, for no other reason then the history and craftsmanship. But I understand that I could have issues with BB and other parts. I want to find a bike the I can ride, and I am happy to build it over time. If I find a frame I like, how do I then find old specs so I know how to build it up or where to get parts, or is that part of the fun in this hobby? I found a 72 Italvega, but it was repainted, it has a rectangle Columbus plate, I understand that is a good thing rather than the upside down trianlge. It has Nouvo Campy and Stronglight cranks. I'm bummed about the repaint, should I be? Where would I find decals? It looks like he did a nice job on it and he wants $360 obo. Any help? I know I jumped around a bit.

Thanks,
Chad

MajorA

Pictures would help; $360 seems a little steep, even for one of the higher-end Italvegas of the period, unless it's in pretty cherry condition, and that would be for a bike in rideable shape. (Your message makes it sound like this is a frame with a few bits on it, but not rideable.) If you do get it, Mike Swantak (known to hang here under the moniker mswantak) does a great job with repro decals.

To make sure of where it fits in the Italvega lineup, check the dropouts. If they're stamped, it's an entry-level bike for sure, worth nowhere near that price. If they're forged Campy, it's higher end, and my comments above would apply. And while you may know this, Italvega was a brand used by an American importer ... the frames were built by Torpado in Italy, until production shifted to Japan/Taiwan, at which point the brand became Univega.

Last thought: I have one of the cheaper Italvega frames, the Nuovo Sport, and the BB is threaded English ... replaced the BB during a rebuild to a singlespeed with a 1980-ish Shimano BB pulled from a Miyata or some such, and it works just dandy. The frame rides great, too; very nimble, a lot of fun.

kleinboyz

sale-305433861@craigslist.org
This is in Phx Craigs list

Thanks!

Old Fat Guy

He's been trying to sell it for months, offer a lot less

MajorA

Nice bike, now that I've seen it ... (but ... the link you pasted is the email link ... this is the link to the listing: https://phoenix.craigslist.org/bik/305433861.html) ... but for a repainted frame with no decals, you should be able to get him down a bit (I always like it when a listing says "or best offer"). FYI, a full set of Bob Jackson decals from Mike Swantak set me back $60, if you're budgeting, and they're well worth it.

That being said, if you like the bike, I'd probably jump on it if I were you, even at that price. You can't touch a decent modern entry-level road bike at your LBS for anything less than twice that money, and an all-Nuovo Record Columbus-framed machine is soooo much better than a welded aluminum mass-produced POS. But that's just me.

unworthy1

I agree with OldFatGuy, but I took a look and given the poor little pics, it looked pretty good so maybe don't go TOO low if you really want it. It's a 1972 Nuovo Record Special (Italvega/Torpedo guys: do you know that one?) and almost all Campy but for the (nice) Stronglight cranks, the wheels look like newer Up-or-downgrades...this is one you really have to see in person to judge the quality, but it might be worth $250-$300.

kleinboyz

Thanks, I think I'll run out and take a spin on it, maybe offer him $250. I haven't heard back if the dropouts are forged or stamped. This would be an Italian BB?? How did you say I could get decals?

Thx Chad

kleinboyz

He says he also has the orginal brakes and the these sew up campy wheels. I'm new to vintage so I'll heed your advice, should I ask him to put in the wheels and brakes. I can't handle tubular on my current road bike, I'm not sure I could glue on these old campy's. Am I right on that?

Here is his repsone . All the
> rest of the stuff is Campy less what I listed! I
> still have the original Campy wheel sew up large hub
> rim set, Brook saddle, and Universal 68 brakes... If
> I can't sell the bike the whole thing will be parted
> out on ebay this Saturday.

Old Fat Guy

You don't want sew ups in AZ, too many flats. They newer brakes are probably better than the Universals. If it fits tell him $300 with all the extras. You can always sell the tubulars.

jjvw

The rear looks like forged dropouts to me. The fork tips are most likely stamped. I have what the kind people here think is a Nuovo Record frame and fork. The biggest difference b/t mine and the one you are looking at is that mine has top tube braze ons while this one has cable clamps. Maybe they were removed during the repaint so it could have an even more vintage look. Search here for my topics called "Italvaga ID" and "Jeux de Tubes" for some more info about this bike.

MajorA

If I understand correctly, and he's throwing in a wheelset including high flange Campy hubs from that era, go for it. If the complete wheels are something you don't want, you can cut those hubs out, polish 'em up, and flip them on the 'Bay for a hundred, give or take. That'll make the deal well worth it, IMO ...