Modern Vespa

My friend Panos, with the Ivory smallie ( One more smallie in the works... ) found a 1957 Motobécane AV79 in a junkyard and thankfully decided to save it. He has already registered it as a historic vehicle and he's now in the process of bringing back to life. I haven't seen it from up close yet, but from the pic he sent me, I told him to not dare touch the paint. As for the engine, since it was a "solid chunk" he ordered a whole new "kit" and today I started working on it. A bit of port matching needed on the cases, intake and cylinder and the small "funny" engine is ready...

Few pics...

Very cool project!

The guy who shares workshop space with me has a Mongomery Wards "Riverside" moped, which is just a re-badged Motobecane AV88 with the leg shields. He's been ambivalent about it for some time, but now that I'm working on the Compact, he's gotten interested in rebuilding his.

COOL!

You'll likely hate me for saying this, but I had one of those motors hanging on the wall on my garage for years. It was part of the "Wall of Shame", all the stuff I'd ripped off destroyed cars and bikes while repairing them over the years.

A kid had the bike and was riding it up and down the street with his friend on the back. The machine had no muffler and my Dad was working night shift, so it was ruining his sleep and pissing me off as a result.

I knew the kid had found it in the trash (???!!!... there's just too much money in this area) and didn't care about it, so I flagged him down and offered him $20 bucks for it. He gladly accepted the money and I ripped the motor off the bike before throwing the chassis back in the garbage, thus shutting the kid up and assuring my Dad some well earned sleep.

that was back in my cafe racing youth, nowadays I'd happily fix one of those up and ride it around myself.

with a muffler.

Cool old vehicle!
Nice looking work as well Safis.
Paint and body are remarkable given the story.

That's about my speed, and good call on that durable paint still in perfectly serviceable condition and such a cute little Frenchy motor too...



I think I am falling in LOVE! A perfect city ride in any perfectly civilized city.

Beware, sir. They're a whole new rabbit hole...

That said, I have a couple of Puchs, a JC Penny (Kromag), a few Ciaos and a Solex 4600.

A little beauty ! I am surprised that you can still find the parts .

Very cool to see the shut-off valve engaged by cable, I seen it so many times in European 49 cc 2t scooters. Nice ride.