Claud Butler Super Torino - c.1967
Owned by: Tim Williams
| Frame |
Claud Butler Super Torino frame No: 14935;
c.1967;
The frame is a restored (by Mercian)
22½" seat tube.
531DB throughout with Campag ends, Prugnat type 1 spearpoint lugs and
RGF bottom bracket shell. Wrap over-seat stays and curved bridge.
Partially chromed stays and fork (fork re-chromed). Original braze-ons
included cable guides for bar-end shifters, divers helmets and
centre-pull hanger. As a result of a crack, the downtube has been
replaced, adding a pip rather than guides (a period option). Original
colour was purple and gold but this was changed to Italia colour scheme
matching the image in the CB catalogue of 1967. |
| Wheels |
Campag Nuovo-Tipo hubs 32 – 40 laced to Mavic G40 rims (temporary). I have various period hubs and rims including Weinman wood insert sprint rims, but I’m damned if I can commit to a combination that makes sense. |
| Chainset | TA 5pin with Criterium 52-44 rings. Stronglight
BB and TDC lock-ring |
| Pedals | Atom quill with button dust caps. GB professional
SS toe clips (original locking nuts) with Christophe (zefal) straps. |
| Gears | Campag Nuovo Record ‘patent
only’ derailleur and large body cable stop front mech. Regina
block. |
| Brakes | Mafac Dural Forge |
| Stem/Bars | 3 ttt Record and Ambrosio S41 (temp). I
have a Cinelli badged stem that needs new chrome and would like to find
a suitable set of bars. |
| Headset | This is a combination of Brampton TDC new parts that add up to be an excellent abomination. To make things worse, it has a lock-nut of unknown origin. Anyway, TDC Italia in the re-chrome box. |
| Saddle | New Brooks
B17 Champion Special in green (how could I resist) and Lambert
twin-bolt. |
| Extra details | Silca Impero
pump and Blumels All-Rounder mudguards. |
There are discrepancies in calling this a ‘Super’ in that it does not have re-enforced bridge or integral sloping crown. However, the advertised upgrade from Torino to Super Torino emphasises chrome, bar-end shifters option and brazed hanger as well as sloping crown and stronger bridge. My inclination is to believe that this is a very early Super. As many of you will know, this is a clone of the Holdsworth Super Mistral, also to be seen on this site. The bike was bought by my Father in the mid 70s and my brother managed to crack it on its first outing to a local ten. It hung in a shed for 3 decades before I rescued it. I was also born in 1967.
 |
 Above: Super Torino characteristics: Prugnat seat lug' C/P brake bridge and decals Left: Another view showing the distictive 'Super Torino' paint job matching that in advert below |
Original colour scheme before respray
Detail of crack in down tube which was replaced by Mercian