1987 Atala - the restoration begins (now complete)

otherself

GT Fan
Raleigh Fan
Feedback
View
Another new year, another new project...

Go back in time to 1987: otherself was 9 years old and suffered a near-fatal asthma attack, Rick Astley was topping the charts with 'Never Gonna Give You Up', Timothy Dalton made his debut as James Bond in the Living Daylights and in Padova, Italy, Atala made a frame from a lump of iron ore that would find its way into to my hands 25 years later. :)

I scored this sorry frame off ebay for £40 from a Slovenian seller. Shipping was an extra £30 from Slovenia. It was my size and is made of strong plain gauge --but not that heavy-- Columbus Aelle tubes - what I was looking for to lace to my lovely period-correct 1987 Suntour Sprint groupset. I've identified the model as an Atala Corsa GS. I will build it into a Time Trial bike as i don't have one in my fleet. It was clear it needs a new respray; there's a good 9 inches of surface rust under the top tube and the decals are peeling in places, so its off to be sand blasted and powdercoated this week or next. I'm thinking of having it done in a mint green / pastel green (RAL 6019) with replica period-correct Atala decals in black.

8335963233_7db2dd5e56_z.jpg


8335966529_c518397b43_z.jpg


8337018060_6abb723c97_z.jpg


8335962149_6ea3b31da7_z.jpg


8335960727_c9886d729f_z.jpg


8337020736_01e4a54d30_z.jpg


8335968115_33d76c0302_z.jpg


8335960013_6d706d8f2b_z.jpg


8335959241_38b1490ae8_z.jpg


8335970655_35c0a94efc_z.jpg


I have had this nice Suntour Sprint group for a while now. It's light, nicely finished, looks great and was only 1 step below the top of the range 'Superbe Pro' of the time. I'm only missing the headset (rare) and the pedals, which have popped up on ebay but at prices I can't justify/afford. I won't bother with the Sprint hubs or period-correct wheels & cassette. The photos I took of this group appear on the Suntour Wikipedia page - I was kindly asked to supply them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suntour

7365551906_b8ee1ac680_z.jpg


7365174546_bbc9430500_z.jpg


7179882819_dac9e8234d_z.jpg


7179884937_1ae4fd9b2d_z.jpg


7368818516_555239b640_z.jpg


Similar models from the 1987 Atala brochure found on the web:

8337020922_d4f14ac805_b.jpg
 
Nice

Very nice frame! and a bargain price as well.
The original paint scheme would have been lovely when it was new, but agree its a bit beyond it now.
The mint green sounds nice but I would go with white decals myself, but hey, its your frame not mine ;) I'm sure either would look good.
Keep us updated
Jamie
 
Re: 1987 Atala - the restoration begins

Frame is back now from being professionally bead blasted and powder coated. Cost was 55 pounds total. The bead blasters masked the chrome chainstay with 3 layers of duct tape. I'm happy with the results. I actually wanted it powder coated in RAL 6019 (mint pastel green) but they didn't have this in stock, so i had it done in RAL 6021 'pale green' with clear coat instead. The colour has grown on me and I actually prefer it now to the 6019. ;)

8646076095_64c266d7a6_c.jpg


8647170556_902924ca71_c.jpg


8646075739_c6ed25fdea_c.jpg


8647172278_4ced72b6b9_c.jpg


8647173020_c860b0bc25_c.jpg


Period-correct Columbus Aelle decal sourced.

8646076825_ab751bcb15_c.jpg


----
Just waiting now for the Atala decals in black to arrive from America. I have also ordered a Selle San Marco Concor saddle introduced in 1989. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320982729534
 
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Re: 1987 Atala - the restoration begins

Im lovin' that colour. Great finish.
 
Re:

Now done. Pretty happy with it apart from the fact it would not take allen key brakes! (old nutted style). I had the front fork drilled to allow this, but the rear could not be drilled for allen key fit brake as it would weaken the bridge. I ended up not installing a rear brake. Not ridden fixed since 1989 as a kid on a gold Mongoose BMX.... so it's taking some time to get used to after 25 years.

14018959074_59e42f3c58_c.jpg


13995407526_0f37a9e2c6_c.jpg


14018483775_d98991307a_c.jpg


13995386866_d563cd9d91_c.jpg


13995419076_26c8cd8156_c.jpg


14015349922_b70717c384_c.jpg


14015311482_a479448203_c.jpg


Spec

- 1987 Atala Corsa GS Columbus Aelle frame & fork 56cm c-t (1987)
- Suntour 'Sprint' cranks (1987)
- Tektro dual pivot 'R520' front brake
- 'Strong' of Japan seatpost 26.4mm (date stamped 1987)
- Kalloy quill stem, silver, 100mm (date stamped 1991)
- Unbranded bullhorns 25.4mm, silver, 40cm (modern)
- Bar tape: Deda cork 'Jaguar green' (modern)
- Cane Creek '200tt' time trial brake levers (modern)
- Neco alloy 1 inch threaded headset, black, ISO fit (modern)
- San Marco 'Concor' saddle, black, replica (modern but introduced 1989)
- Stronglight 'JP400' bottom bracket, 110mm, Italian thread (modern)
- Stronglight chainring 42t (parts bin, modern)
- MKS 'Sylvan' pedals with 'Rapid' toeclips and leather straps (modern)
- Rigida 'Chrina' rims, silver, 36h (modern)
- System X track hubs, high flange, 36h, 'flip flop' rear, silver (modern)
- Budget Schwalbe 'Blizzard' tyres, all black (parts bin, modern)
- Taya 3/32" chain (NOS 1990's)
- Fixed Cog 15t 'Formula' brand (modern)
- Freewheel: 16t 'Dicta' (modern)
 
Back
Top