Modern Vespa

Long-time Vespa admirer. Owner of two. First-time posting. The burnt orange is a 1962 VBB and the silver is a 1977 Sprint 150 VLB.

handsome machines

Greetings:

The '77 (44 years old!) is impressive enough, but the '62 is unbelievable for being 59! 8" rims? Could you maybe clean 'em up a little though?

I fear asking this, but you fellows seem to have a good grasp of "authentic" and I'd love to solicit thoughts on these two vehicles (and I'm happy to send more pics of certain areas of the bikes that could inform opinions if you needed them)...

I was posted to the US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, and while there purchased and shipped these two home to the USA. It was a very small shop (that I visited frequently) in-town with very small production, catering to the European and western diplomatic staffs posted there. The shop completed a bike or two a month with a staff of 5-6 guys (most had worked at the Piaggio plant in Pakistan before it closed a decade or two before) and they restored two bikes a month (with each project taking them 2-3 months per bike).

So... decent quality and workmanship and holding to classic Vespa standards? Or full-on "bodge" with these two? What are the tell-tale (or vice versa) of "bodge" work that I should be paying attention to?

Welcome any and all thoughtful comments... Thanks!

Hi, and welcome!

If you are interested in expert review of these vintage machines, I would suggest introducing yourself in the NSM ("Not So Modern") section of this forum... you will find all the vintage specialists there!