Picked this up for $30 the other day. Only photo in the listing was a blurry drive side shot but I could make out the campy logo on the crank. Purchased solely based on the crank. Looks like I may have scored some additional older campy components as well. How’d I do?
Also, any info on the frame? Older than what I’m normally used to and it seems pretty beat up (paint mostly gone in places). Thinking about stripping down to the chrome.
Open to suggestions on what to do with this!
by kcardey
10 Comments
Jackpot for $30 !
Looks like a nice 1970s bike with ’80s crank. Seatpost looks unsafely high.
A very decent race bike with the front qr skewer in backwards.
Torpados are great. My first race bike in the early 90’s and I just set it up with campy 9 speed again after years of hanging as a frame in my garage. I love that bike and it fits perfect. Yours is nicer with those chrome lugs. My fork is all chrome.
Very nice, a great catch. Like finding an old dusty Porsche under a dirty tarp in an abandoned barn. Cherish it. I remember the brand from my teenage years back in the early 70s.
What a beauty! I personally like some patina on my bike, and I like to have the original decals and the tubing logo (I’m guessing Columbus SL). Particularly on something like this from a make you don’t see too often.
You do you, and I’m sure it will look great if you repaint, but the original finish and decals tell a wonderful story.
meanwhile in my neck of the woods people are trying to sell Huffys they bought at walmart for $200
Rear derailleur looks like early to mid 1960s cuz it’s chrome-plated bronze and has the no-teeth pulleys. That seems consistent with the older, longer-slotted dropouts. Torpado wasn’t seen in the U.S. as much as other Italian brands. Tended to have lots of middle price points with second-tier parts in the 1970s-80s.
Proper vintage Italian ride. Don’t strip it, you won’t find chrome underneath. And find some Campag calipers to match up the groupset
Late 70’s Italian frame on Campy groupset and wheels, unfortunately the cranks and front derailleur were replaced with a Shimano Arabesque and Campagnolo 80’s cranks. Looking at the rust on the rear derailleur, this bike has spent a lot of time outside. Cables, saddle and bartape were replaced recently, probably before selling it. You need to take it completely apart and make sure all the rust is removed. Also those spokes/nipples need to be checked/cleaned. It’s a good deal for 30$ but it needs a lot of care.