capnjonny 

What goes around comes around.

Recently Squirt Dad contacted me. He and I both live in Sillycone Valley. He had read my posts about the Bike exchange and asked If I would like his Torpado Super Strada. Of course I high tailed it over to his house and picked up the bike.

I spent a couple weeks grocking it and mulling over what I wanted to do with it. In the end I decided it should stay as original as possible. It is an old War Horse and deserves to show its well earned battle scars. I stripped it down and deep cleaned everything then treated the frame rust, followed by rubbing the paint out with white polishing compound then clear coating everything with Rustoleum clear acrylic lacquer to seal in the patina.
All the chrome bits were dipped in vinegar to loosen any surface rust then cleaned and reassembled. I decided not to polish the aluminum bits as they looked great as is and I wasn't trying to tart it up. just present it as it is. The only additions were new cables and covers, a new chain, and a set of Ambrosio Super E lite wheels with Campi hubs.

Tomorrow it goes to the Bike Exchange to be displayed at our Grand opening and put up for sale

Specs as presented

Frame - 60 cm double butted
Wheels - Ambrosio Super E lite w/ Kenda 23 x 622 tires
Hubs - Campi
Bars - 3TTT
Stem - 3TTT / Torpado
Levers - Universal
Brakes - Universal model 77 side pull
Crank - Ofmega CX 52-42
Derailleurs - Campi Nuovo Record
Shifters - Campi
Seat post - Campi / Torpado
​​​​​​​Saddle - Turbo

squirtdad

Good job Capn..... just a note pretty sure it is a 58. I was sorry to see this go, but happy to see the team miyata that bumped it from it's place as eroica ready bike.

this bike, like all of mine, has a C&V story also. @Bianchigirll found the proper ofmega BB for it and @randyjawa notified be of a ebay sale on a pantographed seat post as the first one was destroyed in removal. it is a great rider
​​​​​​​

santa fe 2926 

randyjawa 

Being stuck in Winnipeg, I needed something to ride. With that in mind, I started to hunt a few days ago. Picked up this early to mid sixties Torpado Professional a couple of hours ago. Can't wait to get at cleaning it up tomorrow...

dubesor

Can anyone help ID the year/model on this one? Really not the nicest photos - just quick phone snaps - and the bike needs some love, but here's my spring Kijiji find. It rides pretty nice already ...

* Frame Serial number: ⭐310844⭐ (starts and ends with a star character, see photo)
* No info on tubing, but the lugs are really nice
* Campagnolo for both derailleurs and shifters
* TTT stem with "made in italy" stamp
* OF Omega headset
* Universal mod. 61 brakes with "Allstar" break pads.
* Generic wheels
* Generic bars and brake levers
* Cranks/chainrings - can't ID, probably generic ones
See photos right after this post

dubesor

Here are the photos:

mech986 

Very very nice!! Does it have full campy drop outs front and rear?
What is the group complement? Looks like the forerunner of the Italvega Nuovo Record model in chrome display.

juvela

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T-Mar hath writ that Agrati purchased Torresini in 1983.

Wondering under what badges Torresini produced bicycles may have been marked during the Agrati time.

Does anyone have any information on this?

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mech986 

Please give us a full drive side photo showing the whole bicycle so we can assess it a bit easier. No info from the seller? How much?

Here's my suggestions:
Frame serial number - if Torpado used the same serial number system as for its Italvega contracted frame production,
I believer the 6 digit ⭐310844⭐ decodes to 1973 October production frame #844. Appears to use a typical welded seam bottom bracket / lug from Agrati?
The rounded bullet seat stay cap suggests a lower or base model as does the apparent cottered crank, say an Italvega Viva Sport or Nuovo Sport equivalent. Tubing is likely straight gauge relatively thick steel. Without any tubing manufacturing sticker, likely its Falck tubing. The lugs are very nice, see Randy's pic of his Torpado above your post.
The Campagnolo front derailleur is a Gran Sport or Valentino IIRC and is their least expensive model from the 60's at the time of assembly. The shifters are also Gran Sport and are missing both knurled knob tensioner nuts, someone has replaced them with the oversize washer and common nut.
Headset Ofmega and 3TTT stem pretty typical parts for this level model and parts supplied.

dubesor

Thanks, great info!! Will do on the drive side photo, going to add it as a reply in the morning or just append it to my original post. And agreed on the tubing, it's not the lightest frame I've picked up. But not super heavy either. Rides quite nice like I said.

randyjawa 

Sadly, the fork is a replacement component. I am on the lookout for a proper fork now...


The Campy group would be Gran Sport, but the front derailleur is Dura-Ace (I have a Gran Sport at home) and Campy bottom bracket and crank set The Zeus track pedals have already been replaced with a set of spd pedals, my favorite...




Universal Model 61 center pulls that really really really needs new pads and, of course, hoods...




A lovely embossed Torpado head set, a very short but perfect for me stem and, of course, a Brooks Saddle...




To that add a nice old leather saddle bag and a couple of (soon to be disposed of) alloy tire levers...


The original Campy hf Record hubs laced to Fiamme tubular rims are gone, being replaced with a new 27" clincher set. SUZE hubs complete the package. The front hub needs a new cone but the wheels work just fine for now...


This old Italian steed is, pretty much, a junk bike that rides like a dream. I love the appearance and hope that I can resist the urge to eliminate the wonderful patina that this old Italian bike started earning back in the mid-sixties. The original owner, riding, or should I say racing, his Torpado Professional back then...

mech986 

Excellent Randy, do you have a pic of the BB with serial number and possible frame size stampings? Is the frame SP or other? What is the seat post and size?

Too bad about the fork but considering the racing heritage, wouldn't surprise the bike was in a scrape or crash or two. I have the same problem with an Italvega Super Speciale frame (in my size too!) that was missing its fork and also had an all chrome replacement. I bought a couple of Italvega Nuovo Record frames to get the same Davis style sloped chrome fork crown with root beer or cola brown color and chrome sock but only stamped dropouts / probable Falck tubing rather than Columbus/Campagnolo dropouts.

juvela

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Randy,

the replacement fork on the bicycle looks like the one sold by Raleigh dealers as a RAMPAR replacement fork. actual maker appears to be AKISU. when you repack HS/replace fork you may find a red and white paper label on the steerer which reads something like "RALEIGH RAMPAR, MADE IN JAPAN."


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randyjawa 

Serial number and frame size (any information gleaned from the serial number would be appreciated)...


Columbus tubing decal...


Seat post size? Not sure until I get home and leaving for my summer cottage in a couple of days but the Brooks saddle is of 1960 vintage...

styggno1

I have posted this Champion Strada here earlier and told the story about how a Torpado ended up re-branded in Sweden. It can be seen and read here:
Champion Strada 1971-72 (Torpado)

Yesterday I totally dismantled it to have a thorough look before starting to touch up the frame.

As I am not versed in Torpado models - am I right in believing this is a Torpado Superlight? The year has been established as a 1973.





The front fork ends are drilled in the same fashion as the rear.

It certainly is no heavyweight at a 58 cm c/c size

juvela

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Do not recall seeing one previously with a plate style chainstay bridge. Was this a standard feature for some models at this time?

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Came across this lapel pin the other day. It shows a crest had not before seen. Did Torresini ever employ this design for a head emblem?



It is listed for sale upon the embaymenture -

https://www.ebay.it/itm/TORPADO-CICL...UAAOSwTrZept7i

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T-Mar has written that Torresini was acquired by Agrati in 1983. Does anyone know what they did with it? Were cycles produced under other names at the Torresini facility or did they only keep the Torpado marque going?

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styggno1

This 1973 Torpado built Italvega Superlight has a plate style chainstay bridge:
https://www.speedbicycles.ch/velo/44...ight_1973.html

Also found this at Italvega at classic rendezvous - plate style
Italvega Registry

It seems like my frame is a Torpado Superlight with plate style chainstay bridge...

tNuvolari

I have a Torpado Beta, purchased new around 1985 in Nashville. During covid I thought I would start riding it more around LA due to the empty roads and one thing led to another and I decided to upgrade it to index shifting. I went with Campy 10 speed and finally finished it today. In the 90's, I had already upgraded the brakes from the OEM Universal (which were the worst part of the bike) to Campy Athena, the seat post from SR (I think) to Campy Chorus, and the crank/BB from Ofmega to Campy Chorus. I also had a Campy Omega 32h aero rear wheel and a FSA 20h front wheel from more recent times. The original wheels were Ambrosio 36h.

In the last couple months I've pretty much replaced all the other components. I didn't worry about keeping it period correct as I just wanted a great bike to ride so whatever was better/prettier/lighter and affordable is what governed my choices. I'm very happy with it now and it's great to ride, especially with the new, quick shifting. And it's slightly lighter at about 22 lbs so that's nice too. I think most of the weight came from the new Astute saddle which is also so much more comfortable than the old Selle San Marco. The other weight savings came from Campy Vento G3 wheels although I think my old front FSA is actually lighter than the Vento but the rear Vento is much lighter than the older wheel.

For shifting I have a Record 10 speed FD, Chorus RD, Veloce 10 speed chain, 11-25 cassette, Record Ergo levers, and I also changed out the bars and stem to an ITM The Bar and Cinelli Bianca stem with an Ebay cheapo threadless adapter which is pretty and very light @ 155 grams.
I have a thread about a ll the new parts here:

80's Italian Bike but want to upgrade to Campy Index Shifting

And some pics:

Dan Chase

Introducing my `53 Torpado Gran sport - had a more detailed build thread on the forum, but for anyone who missed it its an original early `50`s Gran Sport which needed a thorough restoration - chrome, paint, rebuild of all parts, came out pretty well - the campy derailiers work increadibly well, the ride is genuinly outstanding, brakes are shocking but probably due to new pads being too hard. Pain was inhouse by me - my regular frame painter did not want to be doing with the stripes and masking detailing - can`t blame him, was a real hassle but well worth it.

Thanks, Dan.

oneclick 

serial 2578 - May 72?
other numbers:
bb 70mm 36x1
seatpost 25.8-ish cm
seat-tube c-c 51cm
frame weighs 2.36 kg
fork weighs .68 kg (this is surprisingly light)
pics:








and aside from the headset and a nasty plastic saddle attached to a nasty steel post and a fixed cup that's all there is - now.

plan:
oxalic acid bath
frame check and fix anything
cleancleanclean
polish where appropriate
rattle-can clearcoat rustpaint, warts and all

then add components - theme is all italian no campy:
need a nice classic headset
have Universal centre-pulls & levers
have ttt bars and stem
Not sure of derailleurs, have Galli front, Roto rear
have Ofmega Competzione crankset
bb I don't know, can make up a cup-and-cone set, but a non-campy italian cartridge would tempt me
need some appropriate pedals - almost have a set of Ofmega quills, just missing the end-caps
not sure of seatpost, there might a suitable 25.8 in the bins
somewhere have a set of Gipiemme hubs laced to I'll-have-to-go-look rims, might be an Everest freewheel on them
need a nice italian seat - or I could rip the cover off the nasty thing it came with and drill holes through the shell like we did because they were so,um, unforgiving...

SurferRosa

Finished this '72 Torpado today. Purchased from the original owner. He said he switched out the brakeset and crankset. I replaced the wheelset (it had tubulars on Nuovo Tipo hubs), Record rear mech, seatpost, barcons, and Suntour 5-speed. I spread it a tiny bit and took it to a 6-speed.

It's stamped "56," which is the seat tube measurement, c-c. The top tube is a half inch shorter. The steerer has the helical ridges. The seatpost is 27mm.

If you have any insight to share about the model or serial, please do. I'm so surprised how smooth it rides. Just amazing.








528683642

A couple more pics

T-Mar

The serial number appears to be hand engraved after application of paint. Both would be atypical for a serial number. It's also very long for a serial number, Given the nine characters, I'm wondering if this might be the owner's social security number, which was common tracing method used by some owners. It should be easy enough to verify, since you bought it from the original owner. The answer is only a phone call way.

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying your new acquisition.

SurferRosa

Good call. Thanks. He got back to me and said he added it. I'm real ok with leaving it.

oneclick 

Um, I'm giving up on the plan. I had another Torpado in the shop, same year. This:





Now looks like this:




And there are few more pics and details in the rattle-can chromovelato thread.

So Torpado #2 will be the same - only reversed colours.

randyjawa 

Torpado number nine, for me. A good friend gave this old Torpado to me a few hours ago. Great! Now have a winter project...


]A nice set of Gaslo handlebar end caps are still there...


The chrome on these old Torpados is (usually) pretty darn good and, often times, cleans up well...


What's wrong with this entry level Campy transmission..?


If the oxidation is too bad, I am fortunate enough to have an identical set tucked away...


Gonna start fooling with the bike tomorrow.