Modern Vespa

Although I joined MV last year, I didn't have a scooter until about two weeks ago and feel I should introduce myself and the project. I owned several scooters back at the turn of the 1980s in London, England - two 90s, a PX150 and a Lambretta so I have some background.

A year or so ago I thought I had secured a GS but the owner and I were not on the same page so I went back to looking. Because I now want a project and it fit my current budget I have recently acquired a 1965 VBB. In a shed since the late 80's, a remarkably rust free body, but really messy paintwork. I am in the process of taking it apart ahead of a repaint and overall restore.

I am already indebted to numerous MVers for brilliant advice that has guided my purchase and the work on the scooter so far. Many thanks.

Clean it up and get it running good before you think of paint. You may want to leave it alone. It is only original once.

If the paint were original I would be keeping it that way. That first picture I posted doesn't show it but the original color is blue and it has had a couple of different reds thrown on it over the years, at least one somewhat hastily. Here's another picture or two.

By the way, does anyone know what that sticker and code on the frame are?

I know winter in Wisconsin may be screaming "take me apart to restore me", but I am with Tierney.... clean it up and get it running, put on some new rubber (if needed) and run it for one season. Yeah, it'll be a bit of an eyesore, but you'll figure out what works and doesn't with this scoot, and if you're still happy with it, then you can spend a winter painting and assembling it. It also gives you a season to gather parts.

There's just too many stories of someone buying a scooter, taking it apart, and selling it 5, 10, 20 years in the future as a box of parts that used to be a scooter, runs great, just needs assembly. Don't be that guy.

That's good advice unless you're not really interested in riding it.

When you do take it apart for paint, you'll have gotten to know it a lot better and you will do a better job plus the opportunity and access to fix some things while in pieces that you didn't know needed fixing.

I'm going to to against my normal tendencies and say why not paint? It's clearly got respray on it and he's not a novice to scooters, though it's been a while.

You might try removing the respray paint to uncover the original paint to see what you have underneath. There have been some good threads on that. But if it's shot underneath and it's Wisconsin winter, I'd say have at it as long as you're sure you'll make it all the way through the project.

Nice scooter and welcome to MV NSM.

After rereading the original post, I think that's a good point. If you have the experience and lots of extra winter hours in a cozy shop, you could even be riding when the sun reappears there for a while and the snow is but a memory. Just take lots of pics and post 'em up!

Somebody told me that sticker in the frame is the paint code. I found one like it in my first Vespa, a 50S smallie.

How's the motor? Looks like nobody's been fooling with it much judging by the pristine airbox cover screw. Are planning on strictly stock or maybe a few 'enhancements'?

I am long overdue an update on this project. I continue to be indebted to members of this forum for advice, practical assistance, and guidance that has been invaluable in getting us to this point. With many turns of the road in the last couple of years, here are a few pictures of progress. After sandblasting and epoxy primer it was given a purple guidecoat before I flatted all of that, did all the repairs, and prepared it for paint. The paint finish is as close as I could get to the Polychromatic Maroon that came on the Douglas Sportique Grand Tourer version of the VBB of the same vintage. I have a P200 engine that is going in it.

part II

Wow. Flat slightly metallic aubergine? And that’s an original colour? Guess there was plenty of LSD kicking around in the 60s..? that is way too cool for a standard colour. I like it... I like it a lot. Mucho respect on the panel work. Labor of love right there - turned out amazing. It’s gonna look the business when you are done.

This is going to be a really unique scoot when you get it all reassembled. Lots of pics as you go please.

Yes, unlike Piaggio, who only offered their version of the VBB - the Vespa 150 - in one colour, Douglas sold the Sportique in a variety of colours in the 60s. They added three 'polychromatic' one-stage metallics towards the end of their run in 64 and 65 - a silver (the supreme), a gold (grand lux), and the maroon (grand tourer) that all also came with a package of accessories. I appreciated the encouragement on the panel work. From this point I will be able to weigh with advice for anyone looking to approximate this kind of finish - I found out how unforgiving satin/semi gloss can be.

You got it. Here is the 'before' version of the speedo that came out of it and is currently getting refurbished by Steve the Speedo King. Unusually, it is 70mph, but we think it came out of a GL and was switched in at a later date.

Slow progress, but a few more pictures. This is not news to anyone who has done the job, but floor rails are a bear, even with decent quality parts and the right tools. Many thanks to Yackee who loaned me the key ingredient - his rail riveter - which made a world of difference to the outcome. Thanks also to V oodoo for invaluable assistance ensuring the taillight is at least on.

Looking good!

I'm glad you're still getting after it. It's hard to keep momentum on projects when life gets in the way. I'm looking forward to seeing this baby in the light of day rolling down the road!

Coming along nicely, those rails can be a bear to manipulate. I’m thinking the darker taillite backing rubber may have been the way to go but I guess we won’t know until it’s on the cowls.

Looking REAL good and I AM falling in love with your satin paint, color is just right.

WOW that color is good reminds me of plums had a plum tree growing up hated it, one of my jobs was picking up rotten plums on the ground next to dog poo which I was also supposed to pick up but seldom did. Diggin it.

...i just subscribed!

looking good, keep up the good work!

Many thanks a for all the encouragement. Recent progress has included cowl rubbers, trim, and installation. Like others, I haven't had the best of luck ordering reproduction parts that fit, even from prominent vendors based in Europe. So an even bigger shout out to Ariete for these cowl rubbers - really pliant, hold their shape, and snug right in to the panel. I am indebted to SoCalGuy and Nomadinsiam for posts that shared their experiences with trim, as they both confirmed my skepticism about the likely quality of potential reproductions in this area, and emboldened me to painstakingly beat out the many dings, scars, and dents in the originals, and sand and polish them. Not the best 'before' picture here, but you can see the condition these trims were in from the first picture I posted on this thread, and I hope the contrast is evident between the two when I had only finished the glovebox side. Bottom line - where the original trim is made of solid aluminum I really recommend trying to coax it back into shape.

Top notch work. That satin finish is beautiful. And yes, can’t emphasize enough, original parts wherever possible.

Very well done.

Digging everything about this.