1982 - KTM Formula SL

KTM has a long history in the bike industry, its earliest creations having emerged from its Austrian factory as far back as 1964 with the brand’s full name – Kronreif, Trunkenpolz, Mattighofen – indicating the surnames of founders Ernst Kronreif and Hans Trunkenpolz as well as the Austrian town of Mattighofen, where Hans Trunkenpolz was based and KTM started it´s production.

Soon they went into sports, racing and sponsoring of austrian champions. Well known are the successes of Walter Obersberger becoming austrias champion in 1971, 1976 and 1978 or Walter Bronca winning the 1977 austrian tour. Moreover the rivalry with the other major austrian player Puch might still be remembered by some.

At the start of the eighties KTM provided their top class material not only to the teams and riders they sponsored but alos to their customers. That was the start of several iterations of frames build with Columbus SL tubing and equipped with Shimano Dura Ace parts of that time and those famous Formula SL models.

Those aren´t seen quite often nowadays. Thus I´m happy to found one

That´s the parts list that´s planned to be used for the re-build and setup so far

Bottom Braket: Shimano Dura Ace EX
Headset: Shimano Dura Ace EX
Crankset: Shimano Dura Ace EX
Front Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace EX
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace EX
Shift Levers: Shimano Dura Ace EX
Brake Lever: Shimano Dura Ace EX
Brakes: Shimano Dura Ace EX
Wheelset: Shimano Dura Ace EX with MAVIC MA-40 rims
Saddle: Selle Italia Turbo
Seatpost: Shimano Dura Ace EX
Stem: 3ttt KTM pantographed
Handlebar: 3ttt
Pedals: Shimano Dura Ace EX

Frame tubing: Columbus SL
Fork tubing: Columbus SL

1982 - the Austrian Stallion Austro-Daimler/ Puch Vent Noir II

Johann Puch was a well-known bicycle manufacturer in Austria-Hungary at the end of the 19th century. In 1906 he formed Johann Puch Erste Steiermarkische Fahrrad-Fabriks-Aktiengesellschaft in Graz, Austria. 

The company produced bicycles, motorcycles and small automobiles. 

In 1914 the name was simplified to "Puchwerke AG". Puch merged with Austro Daimler in 1925. 

Puch car production ended back then, though Austro Daimler continued making cars until merger with Steyr in 1934, forming Steyr-Daimler-Puch. Steyr carried on with cars until 1977, when the last license-built FIATs rolled off the line. Since 1979 the Mercedes G-Modell runs on the lines of Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz.

Production of bicycles was closed in Graz in 1987 by selling this part to Bianchi group. More details on Puch history can be founde here.

In the Seventies and Eighties Austro-Daimler and Puch followed the bike boom to the american marked and wereknown for their famous models Super Leicht, Ultima, Mistra EL and Vent Noir. 

In Austria the RC ARBÖ ASKÖ RAPSO Knittelfeld with Rudolf Mitteregger, Harald Maier, Hans Lienhart and Leo Karner claimed many victories on Puch leightweights since 1978.

That was the podium Puch and Austro-Daimler needed in order to introduce and proof the famous models and frames beeing rock solid and fast.

In 2011 the austrian Faber GmbH let the brand name Puch raise again by selling fixies and eBikes with chinese componetns to hippsters and to the masses; something like a real mess in comparision with the quality Austro-Daimler/ Puch leightweights were known for in the past.

In 1975 Austro-Daimler/ Puch launched the black smoke chromed Vent Noir, which was Campagnolo equipped first and Shimano Dura Ace 1. Generation black equipped at 1976.

In 1981 the model Vent Noir II was the smoke chromed successor of the Vent Noir; equipped with Shimano Dura Ace EX.

Please stay tuned ... pictures of mine Vent Noir II will follow.