Modern Vespa

I recently bid on this speedometer gasket on eBay. It is nos, so that's something to consider. I stopped at $35.00.

The seller is very reputable who doesn't pull weird shit, so that means the final bid was most likely legitimate.

What's unbelievable to me is that it went for…wait for it….US$202.50! Is that part in that condition so rare that it warrants someone paying that much? I know I have, on occasion, paid a lot for a part I really needed, but that seems out of this world to pay that much for a rubber gasket. I don't even think it's ridiculous, but instead fascinating with regards to supply and demand of certain Vespa parts.

Seeing whole bodge scooters sell for $5,000 or even $8,000 doesn't surprise me, but events like this still do surprise me.

Only an id-iot could possibly pay $202 for a gasket like that. I have no gasket on mine at the time. You can make a template very easily if things comes to worse case scenario. I wouldn't mind even putting RTV if it comes to it. my .2c

Jesus. I mean, if it's the ONE thing you need to finish up an absolutely bajillion point resto? sure, I guess.

meanwhile I'm over here trying to sell stuff at reasonable prices and all I'm getting is nickel dick time wasters.

Yes, right before it goes into the Futurism Museum.

VW seems to stamp a part number on even the ittiest bittiest little part and there are people who must have them.

I'm starting to feel more sympathetic toward them though because more and more aftermarket parts just don't fit without hours of bullshit arts and crafts. Even the most anvil simple un-fuck-upable parts.

And I guess I'm guilty of this too hunting down 70's Kolbenschmidt piston and cylinder sets made from melted down bucket helmets and kubelwagons. The ones made from Chinese bed frames and radiators just wouldn't do for my precious.

I would say don't get me started, but I guess it's too late.

There were six total bidders, so at least a couple of them were crazy fanatics. I'm a fanatic, but not crazy.

I guess that must it. Maybe someone who needs that final nos bit at any cost.

I bet you could get Clauss Studios to make those. It's really simple. Just flat rubber and a die.

I just looked, and was surprised they don't have them.

Well, it's just not the same as nos, however, what's rather shocking is that someone out there in the world paid over $200 for it.

It's amazing what they're able to do!

I could make 6 of those gaskets for $60, with that photo and the width in mm.
Shipping to Siam at cost.

No offense, but stupid stuff like this have derailed the NOS market. For god's sake, it's just a freaking gasket. Even the $35 is an absurd amount of money. Who really cares what's under the speedo…

But, that's just me…

Yes, it's weird.

Fortunately, many of the nos parts I have found on ebay auctions have been reasonable, but every now and then this happens. I think that people get caught up in the moment and lose rational thought.
Conversely, I recently bid on five nos small frame brass clutch plungers from a seller in Sweden. I bid .99 cents. No one bid on them, so I paid grand total of about $10 bucks. A super deal.

Ouch!

Isn't that this same item at 8 euros?
https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/gasket-speedometer-handlebar_12614000?q=speedometer%20gasket

Once you get it from the original package and fit on your Vespa, I guess they are pretty much undistinguishable and the nos get cnp (common new part)

It's not a part you can even see, is it?

Agreed. Who is going to care or even look at the origin of a rubber gasket under the speedo? Quality, correct colour and fit & finish is what really matters here, and it's highly probable that 21st century rubber is better than something that's been collecting dust and possibly deteriorating since 1967.

A NOS shell speedo for an SS180 would be a different matter of course (also carb, side cowl, horn etc.), but the speedo gasket is surely a case of extreme OCD

Who wants to buy an NFT of an image of my SS180? I'll start the bidding US$150,000. Anybody? I'll even throw in a nice original copy of the Italian key fob that goes with the actual bike that will remain in my garage, and not your garage, of course.