Modern Vespa

This bike ended up in the possession of my good friend and we were told the back story was that it was painted in Northern California and Hot Rod Al built the motor.

I've tried to contact Al to see if I can get some specs on the motor but he doesn't seem too interested.

Hasn't been run/started in a few years but it started up first kick.

I'm just going through it to make sure it's road worth and tidy up a few things.

Wondering if anyone has actual specs on the motor. I'm assuming it's an ss180 barrel that's been bored out with a p200 piston but it would be nice to know for sure to be able to pass the info along to my friend. I've no intentions to crack open the motor unless he blows it up at some point haha.

Anyways, if anyones got any info I'd appreciate it.

I seem to remember this bike running around the mid cal scene some years back. I want to say ROM for sure, maybe kings classic and maybe some LA area rally's

it was clean and tidy but I can't remember much else about it besides that.

Looks like a Mark Wilson paint job. Josh Snow and Josh St. John come to mind also. You might be able to look down the carb with a flashlight and see if it looks like the piston window has been welded up. That'd be a 200 Piston conversion. Awesome scooter BTW

my thoughts exactly. if not them, then maybe Joel from hammer and dolly

Thanks for the replies.

I'll take a peek down the carb.

Was told that mark Wilson did the paint.

I think Chris at Fullerton Vintage was doing the 200 conversions at the time. Al did his heads I believe.

"...ended up in the possession of..."

Sounds like a story to be told there.

story I've witnessed and heard too many times.

I actually used to work for Chris at FV (quite a while before it all went upside down)

Not much of a story. The previous owner was a long time friend of the current owner. Previous owner wanted to sell a few scoots and buy a Harley.

The current owner has never owned a scooter but wanted one so he just showed up at my house the other day and said can you get it back on the road.

Figured it would be nice to actually tell him what he's got.

The po bought it, rode it once and there it sat for a few years. He's a lambretta guy and if you saw his other scoots you'd know why this one just kinda sat haha.

Whatever the engine specs, I love the paint. That's a great scooter.

Lovely machine. Its nice to see another cool scoot out of storage and making its way back to the road. I think the only way to know for sure what you have there, is to break it open and have a peak. One of the the downsides of a vespa case....gotta split it to see whats there. Looking down the intake to see the piston is a good starting point. Or pull the head and measure the piston. Its possible it could have SS gears, crank and cyl; or a 200 piston conversion. Maybe worth a look to check the cruciform as well. Whatever route you go, good luck! I hope to see this at a rally at some point

WideAWAKE-sent you a PM. I think that was Marks personal bike, which is good B/C he probably put a little extra effort in. You should ask him.

Thanks everyone for all the help.

Got some good info and some leads.

It'll be back on the road soon.

Runs and rides like a champ as is. Just needs some tightening/tiding up here and there to make it a rider again.

very cool! we look forward to the ride report!

I came across this scooter yesterday while visiting in CA and snapped a couple of pics of it. I've heard of the Grimstead Hurricane SS180 but not GS160. After a quick google search I came upon this thread. Cool scooter and cool story. Small world we live in.

A link about Eddy Grimstead
https://www.ourbow.com/remember-eddy-grimstead/

"Early on in the 1960s he produced his Lambretta Imperial dealer special, but it was probably the 'Grimstead Hurricane' Vespa that became based on the SS180 when that was launched in 1965, which was the most well-known."


Bored out to a 200cc, fitted with an (optimistic but impressive!) 100mph speedometer and finished in a unique two-tone paint scheme, this was a necessary part of being a scooter dealer at the time. Sales were dropping but, like any good businessman, Eddy adapted by selling Honda scooters and mopeds and later on diversifying into the car market too.

"By the late 1960s the Mods had moved on – so naturally, Eddy did too. As can be seen from this advert of his from 1967, he made the decision to try the hippy market, albeit I presume he was aiming at the usual fashion bandwagon jumpers who will buy anything with next season's colours rather than the penny-less students hitching a lift from one free music festival to another!"

He doesn't look like a hippy to me. Let's see his clogs.

Bottom advert , the scoot is psychedelic paint theme