Back in October Voodoo pointed out pointed out an this add for another smallframe Vespa on the internet. They were never sold in Aus, but the attraction is that they're super cheap to register (as a sub 50cc bike), and they're gorgeous (and should be great for nipping/ripping around traffic.) The one advertised had two serious problems:
1: It was disassembled and being sold as incomplete/parts
2: It was on another continent, 8182 miles away.
But it was super cheap, and while a little beaten up, it was crying out to become a RatRod. I really like the idea of a 50 Special, but hated the square plastic horncasts. This is a US spec 50 Special, so it has the nice curvy look on the front, and the 2 door rear. Nice...
So after lots of emails, a flurry of paperwork to get an import permit, and a whopping great big fedex bill, I've got another project to do. Sometime down the track...
The seller, an awesome bloke called Keith, didn't blink about helping me export it to Aus, and agreed to "box it up for Fedex".
Which he did. (This sounds simple, but it wasn't. Keith was bloody fantastic)
He also plowed his 1200 yard driveway so Fedex could get through this
Apparently it's a touch colder in Buffalo Minnesota than here in Melbourne Australia at the moment..
Today it arrived.
Upside down.
Thanks Fedex.

Fortunately, Keith had packed it well, so out came my new toys.

The rust looks only surface, and the dents will punch out.

Pretty solid really.

It was a very full box.

Pretty much everything I need for US$320, plus "some" shipping. Thanks for the tipoff Voodoo!!!

Admitting you have a problem is the first step.
This should be fun.