Modern Vespa

OK so my 76 Super ("Brownie") is getting a little long in the tooth. I'm thinking it's time for a little cosmetic rehab.

It was no beauty to begin with, but after multiple road trips, being ridden hard, falling off the hauler, getting knocked over a few times, etc. it has all kinds of dings, scrapes, chips, scuffs, plus a couple of minor rust spots.

Still runs strong, but it's starting to jump out of gear and getting a little hard to shift. Also needs new mounts. So the plan is to pull the engine, deal with the mechanical stuff, and while the engine's out, pretty it up a little. I'll start with the bodywork in a few weeks.

Meanwhile it was suggested that I put the color up for a vote on the forum. It's currently Marrone Metalizzato. Not the original paint, but a genuine Piaggio color.

Here are the voting choices:

1. Metallic brown's cool. Keep it.

2. Seriously? No, anything but brown.

Thx

I'd say anything "softer" more toward a pastel shade of whatever color you like would go nicely with that vintage.

I dig the brown.

I'd ride it in a UPS uniform.

I'm not big on brown, but that shade is not bad, and it screams '76

MM1 Turbine Bronze Metallic.

sir, sir! the buffet is that way. and, sir, you need to have on pants!

I'm with Vintage 1.
How bout something like Blu medio 213? (Keeping in mind, the guy typing this has bodge orange/silver two tone...)

I like the seventies Vespa colors.

I lilke the Marrone Metallizzato. Vote for option 1.


Also a fan of Rosso Scuro if you go another color.


But I also like the dark green Verde met. 9002M

rowdyc, i too have a penchant for dark green...



(and obviously striped cats)

-g

So you're thinking something more ... cuddly? Have to think about that. Yeah, it's grown on me. Uniform might be a bit much. Does it ever. But I'm seeing a lot of brown cars these days. It might be making a comeback. Sounds interesting. Got a link? Blue's nice. I'm thinking a little edgier tho. Interesting color. Don't think I've ever seen that before.

Is that a Barracuda?


Also.
I vote keep it.
I like that Brown.

Yes. It is also green.

Good eye.

-g

T-T-T-TUUURRRBBBIIINNEEE!

DO IT.

-g

And if you go into the pastels... there is but one choice.

Laguna Seca Blue....

-g

Hey... whats up with the barracuda ?

Brown looks nice

I see this and the only thing I can think of is when it rains and the water hits some oil.

Don't get me wrong, it's sexy. Especially with the light seat (I'm a sucker for that) but to me, this isn't brown-brown. I'm into it, but when I think brown, this does not come to mind.

-g

Ehh. Some old piece of crap I've had hanging around forever.

Ironically, it needs paint too.

-g

Some sweet browns out there ...

Another...

*sigh*

*unzips*



man... dat caddy...

what's more 70's than avocado and harvest gold ?

What was the original color?

Yellow

Cool color wheel for orig colors.
Can you share link?

Have found a few sites/ spreadsheets showing orig colors but lack definitive list - haven't seen that one.

My next vespa will be brown...

BMW Marrakesh Brown for me...

Check out "Brown Sugar"
https://scooterlab.uk/brown-sugar-german-vespa-custom/

That's actually pretty close to Brownie's current color.

Although it's pretty close, BMW's color really "shines" under the sun. You have to see it up close...

I'd have to see it in person. I think the brightness might come from the color of the metal flake. Very nice.

DON'T PAINT

BUT IF YOU DO

paint it brown

For some it will always need to be Original to be "Original" so if you are going to paint it and not paint it brown it really won't matter. I say paint it what pleases you, You cant go wrong, after all, its a vintage Vespa.

That Caddy had its stateliness ruined by lowering it like that. Just my 2c.

I vote for something period correct. I've posted before, but I had a 1971 Olds Cutlass convertable (back in 2003). It was a correct (but ugly) gold color that my kids called baby poop. Not the prettiest, but it was correct, and being correct, it looked right on the car.

So my vote is to go with something that Vespa used back in that era (even if they didn't use it on this particular model), because it will look "period correct", even if it's not right for the scoot.

The blue, brown, off-white and red on that color wheel are all not bad.
The 'yellow' is hideous. I can understand why it was painted over on your scoot. Looks like baby poop.
If you do go with the brown, I think some gold metal flake thrown in will make it pop.

The current color has very, very fine gold flakes. It's quite nice up close. Maybe larger flakes?

It's not an easy color to photograph. It looks different in different light and from different angles.

Ahem...

It looks good on you though...

In all seriousness Matthew, your scoot looks good. The yellow looks yellow.
I was commenting on the dark yellow of the color wheel. To me, it's too dark and drab.

Sorry don't have a link, only the pic and can't remember exactly where I got it. Other than the Technica books, I don't know if there's a definitive list, as Piaggio seems to have made some models available in different colors in different markets. That wheel appears to be correct for the US though.

Color me old fashioned, but I am in the camp that likes the original look which means no metalflake. How about one of the many Vespa oranges from the period? Sexy and it's a high visibility color for safety as long as you're painting it anyway. Lots of different hues to choose from too.