Modern Vespa

Well, I've been looking for a vintage Vespa for my wife for a while and through some trading, aquired a 1952 Allstate. Now that I have done some research, I have come to the realization that this is not a good first commuter scooter for her. I'd rather have a later model with a 4 speed, 10" wheels, brake lights, turn signals, and maybe even electric start.

My problem is, I don't know what to do with this Allstate. The previous owner took the scooter a part many years ago and painted it but never put it back together.

The sheet metal on the Allstate is in excellent condition. It has new tires and wheels are nice, all of the aluminum floor rails are there, the original seat is decent, overall it's a nice old scooter project. The bad part is the engine was dissasembled. From what I can tell, everything is in good shape. It's missing a few parts like the headlight lens, horn, and the carburetor/air box.

My questions is: what should I do with this thing? I'm not really interested in trying to put it back together and get it running so would I be better off trying to sell it as a whole or parting it out since it's already taken apart?

you should give it to me

If you're serious about not wanting it then I would ask yourself how much it cost you and sell it for 10% less.

That way its out of your hands.

Think of it as a 10% re-stocking fee.

scoot.net can be a good resource for selling a scooter.

the good part about it being disassembled, is that makes it easier to ship if someone across the country wants it.

Can you put up some nice pics, please?

Might be doing yourself & somebody else here a favor.

I'm going to try to get it mocked together today and get some pics of it to give you guys an idea of what I'm working with. Thanks.

If your seriouseni would love to buy it. Please let me know how much your looking for. Thanks

Ok, here's what I have.

If that is what I think it is, it is a really rare scooter. I believe that it is the Vespa Allstate 788.100 since there are holes for the badge under the light. The 788.101's and later had the badge on the legshield. Take a look at the # on the engine case. It probably will say VA30M. If you are looking to sell, put it up on Ebay and I bet that you would fetch a high price ($4000+). I wouldn't give it away.

I'm pretty sure it has holes in the center and off to the side. The engine number is VA32M so I'm pretty sure it's a 1952 Model.

Open the carb door and look at the number stamped on the top lip of the frame. If there is blue paint you will have to remove it. I have heard that some of the later 100's have the VA32M motor. The 100's are stamped VA1T. The 101's are VA2T. I have a 101 and there are no holes on the horncast under the light.

Mine says VA2T 1256. Maybe it came with both emblems?

So, not that you guys can see what I have, what should I do with it? Ebay it complete? part it out on ebay? Sell it on a scooter forum complete? Part it out on a scooter forum?

I've looked around and couldn't really find a comparable scooter to determine what I should ask for it, and I couldn't really find a lot of parts for sale to determine what I should ask for the parts if I part it out.

That is really strange. Yours is a low production # so maybe they used the older horncast? Hmmmm. Maybe someone else knows if there was an overlap. It is possible. Regardless it is still a great scooter and worth quite a bit.

if i were near you i will trade it with what ever vespa that ur wife want from my fleet opposite from ur wife, my wife dream to have that frame with a px engine inside

its a sweet bike

good luck with the bike and cheer mate

Thanks! I've got it on eBay now with no reserve and a $100 starting bid so I guess we'll see the true value instead of these inflated asking prices and low ball offers we usually see. Wish me luck.

wow...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1952-Vespa-Allstate-Scooter-Handlebar-Wide-Frame-VERY-RARE-NO-RESERVE-/190754023604?pt=Scooters_Mopeds&hash=item2c69d368b4#ht_500wt_1182

is right!

good goin' man!

No shit. It will go for about $3000. You can get a proper Lambretta for $3000. Why be like everyone else? Get a LAMBRETTA.

I think a Vespa P series might actually better fit your needs. It's a real Vespa too.

Wow good for you, I could never figure out guys that bid on ebay, not that I go there often but when I do I ussualy wait for the last 30 seconds and put my highest bid. I hope the price goes up alot higher for you.

Yeah, it looks like its going to bring a pretty decent number. I think the current high bidder is from Belgium so it might be going on a long trip soon.

It rolled right past my estimate.

thatll get you a running scoot

It's definitely doing better than I expected!

It's a nice scoot, it should get it. I just hope the high bidder doesn't back out, like that OG college-daughter lammy that was up a couple of times. Check the bidders' feedback, and don't be afraid to cancel bids if someone looks like a douche.

Hopefully the transaction will go smoothly. I sold a truck on eBay a while back and the high bidder backed out. I had to relist the truck and it brought $1300 more the second time so in the end, it worked out pretty well.

wow almost 4K now

3 days left.

if you where on here a few years ago everyone would be saying money pit 200bucks naa


it is a money pit but i like it

I've never seen one for sale and can think of only 3 i've seen pictures of. Im gonna guess and say it will go to the $6k mark if not more! And the winning bidder will not be from the U.S. Us Americans refuse to pay more then $1000 for a Allstate in any condition.

Well, from what I can tell, there aren't any Americans bidding on it. And I hope you're right about it going for $6000. 😀

So, you gonna tell us what you traded for it when the auctions up?

I got it off a Craigslist ad with "make an offer" as a price. He had it listed as a 1952 Allstate and even had pictures of it but he didn't have "Vespa" anywhere in the ad so that's probably why no one jumped on it. It was on there for a week or two and I had emailed back an forth a few times and I made an offer but kind of put it on the back burner when I didn't hear back. Then I got an email a week later saying he was tired of hauling it around in the back of his truck and come get it ASAP. I'm embarrassed to say how much I have in it but I can honestly say that I had no idea it would bring this much.

If this thing does sell to an overseas buyer, what do you guys think I should charge for building a crate?

Don't go too easy on them, if they can afford a $4500 basket case, they can afford to pay you to build a nice crate.

Well, I was thinking $100. Is that too high? Too low?

I would guess 100 labor for it, plus materials. Wood is not cheap.

From my "been there done that (and won't do it again)file", Big heavy many parted items are best left to the professionals. Not that it is hard to build a box, but if there is any damage, any problems, any reason the ebay buyer will have a automatic out or reason to complain and ask for some reduction or refund in price. After several tries I learned to just give the names of several shippers and have the buyer work out the shipping themselfs. If there is a problem it then is between the buyer and the shipper not the buyer, shipper and seller.

Just my experience, my vent for the day.

$4550, good haul, have fun shopping for a scoot that better fits your needs.

Well that's about $4000 more than I was expecting! The high bidder is from Belgium so it looks like its about to go on a long trip.