• spike

    It’s an Atala Gran Sport. The sole US importer was Stuyvesant Bicycle of New York City, and there are still lots of old Atalas on the streets of NYC. They also imported Bottecchia, and along with Frejus and Legnano, imported by Thomas Avenia in NYC, these were for a long time the only commonly available Italian bicycles in the US. When the bike boom hit the East coast in the early 70s, they had trouble keeping up with demand. It was a very old-fashioned factory, and their attempt to modernize their products took a long time. The new models introduced in 1980 were not a success and faced overwhelming competition from Japanese imports.

    • Davey

      I just picked up an Atala. Trying to figure out model and year. It has a different paint job than the original and definitely not all the original parts. Same headbadge as the above pictured. I can’t seem to find anywhere online that can give me any real answers. Anywhere I can find out info about serial number?

      • spike

        Post a pic and I can give you a rough date; I used to work at Stuyvesant Bicycle in New York.

        • Dave

          Hi Spike, was reading this thread with inteest, I have an unidentified Atala as well. Not sure if I am in the right crowd here though, mine is an “Atala twista 5 speed”. No high end components here, but still… curvy italian style and lots of chrome. I am guessing mid sixties vintage, from the large shift lever and the plastic body simplex derailleur. New here, just getting my bearings. Maybe I should start a new thread…but its just a five speed!?!

          • Spike

            Atalas are tough to date because the basic bikes didn’t change very much. Often the Simplex derailleur has a date on the back of the pulley cage. Other clues can be reflectors in the wheels and pedals, these were not mandated until the mid-70s or so.

        • mike sierra

          I just bought an used bike Atala record competition bike with a 10 speeds hub by campagnolo written on all important parts its dated 1974 the date is written in one of the pedal arm. I m trying to see what price they sell for since I pay 275. for it.

  • sprinks

    Spike,
    Thanks for the info! I’ll definitely have to remember that. I’m actually going to NYC in a few months and will have to look for more of them.

  • john baughman

    I bought a new Atala Competition in 1974. It had exactly the same appearance as the one in the photo: red/white with chrome on the fork and stays. It also had a Stronglite crank, and came new with a Campy Gran Turismo rear derailleur, or as I called it – a Grand Gizmo, since it didn’t work. Nearly all of the Gran Tursimo’s were replaced by the bike shops, either before delivery, or shortly after the customer tried to shift it. They were constructed with Columbus double butted tubing and had a welded seam in the bottom of the bottom bracket. The top model, the Record, had a seamless b/b.