Padova, Italy

Updated 10.6.2011                   Click on pictures to see a larger version

       Torpado is a marque which dates from1908, and was especially noteworthy during the era of Coppi & Bartali.  They were sponsors of major international teams and enjoyed the reputation commensurate with that level of involvement.

    The Torpado line was imported into the USA in the 1970's & 80's by the Agrati-Garelli Corp. in South Carolina (along with Batavus) and therefore there are reasonable numbers of these bikes in the USA.  The original Italian factory closed down not long after being bought by foreign owners in the late 1980s.

   Top-of-the-line models had beautifully crafted frames with routed out dropout faces, internal rear gear cable, shaped and engraved lugs & bottom bracket shell.  The signature/team color was what Torpado called  Celeste ....not the green "celeste" of Bianchi, but a light turquoise-inclined pearlescent blue, more true to the meaning, "Sky Blue."

   The lower priced models also had much detail work and, again, were nicer than many famous make "pro" bikes of that period. 

  In the last few years a new company has been producing Torpado branded bicycles

From an early 1980s catalog
 

Marc Schechterman's mod. Nuovo Sprint bike