khatfull

Well, my good () friends Scottryder and Collin2424, especially the latter, have been after me to do something other than a Fuji for some time now. I have to say the thought has been intriguing and Collin finally found something that pushed me over the edge.

Since the frameset has been delivered to my facilitator in the Denver area I'm comfortable posting it. I'm the proud new owner of a 1974 Italvega Super Speciale. Of course, this is a Ben Lawee design, produced in Italy before Lawee moved production of his frames to Japan and changed the name of his brand to Univega.

The seller of the frameset is the original owner. He bought it, rode it briefly, then moved the original Nuovo Record group to a Colnago frame that he raced in crits. The Italvega has hung ever since. Of note, he told me that he rode it in an epic one day, 14 hour Denver to Aspen ride. Wow.

The frameset is in phenomenal condition, the only flaws pretty much where stuff was clamped, shifters, cable guides, etc. I had plans to hang an early Japanese group on it but the more I think about it the more I feel that if I'm going to have a non-Fuji I might as well go in deep and hang NR back on it. So, here real soon, I'll start looking for the proper NR components...slowly as I can trade, snipe, etc. good deals. I'm not going to try to get date proper bits....if a nice 83 NR RD comes along so be it. Nor do I want to drop the coin for dead NOS stuff. Nice overall condition components will be fine. If ya got anything...aside from the already installed record headset I'm a blank slate (again?!)

Construction is evidently Columbus SP/SL double butted and the frame has the old, square Columbus decal. Fun things like hand drilled and finished dropouts, and the seatpost binder NOT being Campy as was mentioned by the reviewer of the '73 also make the frame intriguing.

Anyway, here are some pics as they came from the seller. It should get shipped sometime this coming week and I'll post some more pics.

Ok, so is the Earth turning on a different axis? It almost feels like it.













Specs of the '73 model from a Bicycling review of the bike:



And the catalog page of the '76:



And if you're interested, here's a link to that '73 review:

https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=14057

RFC

Good choice. Very, very nice.

Chris Chicago

pretty! what is the purpose of the drilled drops?

DRietz

Cool factor. And possibly more friction. Mostly the cool factor.

khatfull

Thanks. 70's weight weenieism I'm sure Actually, just to indicate a quality/handmade frame I'm quite sure. Maybe a skewer will grab a a tad better?

mapleleafs-13 

it saves weight , was this frame in the era where people were drilling everything cause they were obsessed with weight?

Alan Edwards

One of a kind. You are vary lucky, I hope it rides nice for you.

khatfull

The frame is a '74...

I hope so too...and although I've never ridden a Campy bike I'm excited to put the group together and give 'er a whirl.

Wildwood 

Goregeous & a unique find. Congrats. How long did you scour for it?

I think you will enjoy the feeling of riding a frame/bike from another region of the world.

khatfull

Actually, Collin2424 found it and pointed it out to me. He said that if I didn't want it he'd pursue it. I knew that he REALLY didn't want to build another bike right now so I saved him from the decision and went ahead and got it. To answer your question it was on Denver CL for couple weeks (shockingly) before he found it and I got the deal done in a couple of days. Another forum member handled the facilitation for me this afternoon.

And yes, I'm anxious to compare it to my Fujis...although I'll refrain from comparing it to my Touring Series V. BUT, comparing it to the '72 Newest will be VERY interesting.

RFC

Khat, from what little I know of this frame, I think you are basically getting a hot Italian Crit bike, which is my geometry of choice. Do you have any geometry charts? If not, when ST>TT, you are talking sharper angles = Crit Bike.

TheOtherGuy

A great frame, made by Torpado. Yours looks to be in exceptional shape!
I have the "SuperLight" version of that same bike, and an earlier version of the SuperSpeciale. Your component search will be pretty straight forward, but if I can help with any pics or detail info, let me know. BTW - the drilled drop-outs were just for the cool factor. Not too many factory bikes had 'em then.

khatfull

I'll measure it up when it gets here. The OO thought it was a tad more relaxed, which is why he got his Colnago frame oh so long ago and swapped the components over to it.

It is in exceptional shape, according to the OO and the facilitator the only flaws are where stuff clamped on. In the one pic you can see just the teeniest tics on the DS chainstay, extremely minimal. I'm very lucky. I know the component search will be "straightforward" I just hope it doesn't engender too much "sticker shock" I'm used to working with the easy Japanese stuff...

WNG

Excellent find and so well preserved. Looking forward to your progress on this one. Interesting chainstay bridge.

knoregs

Good luck

~kn

khatfull

Yeah, I know...I guess I'm just looking to minimize the "damage"

gomango

Two ways to minimize $$$$ damage for older Campy parts.

1) Donor bike

2) Donor bike

ScottRyder 

Keith, nice find.

I know I was part of the plan for you to start riding down the slippery slope of other brands but think of it this way, sometimes when you visit the Wizard you'll truly find there's no place like home and the Fuji's will remain on top of your list.

As far as sticker shock goes, you've been building with some pretty nice components already and they haven't been cheap. I think you'll have better luck finding affordable Nuovo Record than you would be finding good condition first generation Superbe. The Japanese component prices seem to be on the up swing ..

Scott

Bianchigirll 

great looking frame. so your on the hunt for Nuovo Rec. bits?

auchencrow

A worthy addition to your stable Khatfull. I am sure it will be a knock-out bike when you're through building it.

rootboy 

Beautiful frame. Nice details. Love that color.

khatfull

Have one in mind?? I would think in our market though anything with any Campy on it is at a premium. I have a few places to check though.

Thanks, but Collin deserves the credit. Hopefully he'll still speak to me since I bought it an didn't let it pass to him

It's the ruby slipper part I'm having trouble with

Yeah, but I've been very lucky with the Japanese stuff. Trades, co-op finds, etc. But I don't see the NR being a "co-op find" anytime soon.

Yeah, no time like the present.

Thanks Auchen...I hope so. Hopefully I'll be as good as the frameset is

Yeah, I do too. Very simple and understated. I'm very anxious to see it in person!

tugrul

If I may quote someone...

ScottRyder 

Keith is learning the one can not live on just sushi .. a balanced diet is always better.

Scott

khatfull

Blast you and your memory and your search function! ROTFLMAO!!

We'll see...I am violating my one overriding C&V rule, which was to stick to one manufacturer to prevent N + 1 from going completely crazy.

Anyone have a can of anti-slippery slope spray?