Modern Vespa

Hello everyone,

Very happy to finally join this forum after months of lurking. I would be lying if I said that I have always been into scooters, I haven't. I've always loved Classic Vespa's but the prospect of owning one was not something I ever took seriously until I was finally in Italy for the first time in my life for a meeting.
It was love at first sight and I was sure I wanted one after a fantastic evening around Matera.

After coming back home I was on the hunt for a VBA, the earliest known series of import in my country, India where the VBA was imported as a CBU. I finally managed to acquire a 58' VBA and love it.

It still has quite a few original Piaggio components from the factory and the frame/body is solid as it can be with all the numbers matching and intact. It was restored probably a few times along it's history and currently does need a full reconditioning as per my requirements.

I would like to use this thread as help for historical, technical and general help and would appreciate the expertise and help of the members here to get my VBA back to as original condition as I possibly can along with time correct modifications to make the entire experience as perfect as possible.

Thanks,
Aumkar

My first query is relation to Carburetion, my VBA luckily still has the original Dell'orto SI 20/17 C installed in it and hasn't been replaced with a modern Carb.
I'm currently facing an issue - When I give it full throttle or even accelerate a little high, the engine just dies soon after that stint. Almost as if the fuel isn't siphoning enough.

I will of course go through the cleaning process for the jets but wanted to ask what other suitable alternatives are available for a brand new Carb?
I'd like to retire the Dell'orto and preserve it, it might not be a big deal elsewhere but having original parts here in India is a big deal and I would like to have a modern carb in duty and not have to worry.

Also have a question regarding the seats. My VBA from the factory like all VBA/VBBs I'm assuming came in a dual seat layout. I have never loved the dual seat layout and prefer the single-seat Aquilia style seating.

My question is can I mount this seat (Aquilia recreation) on my VBA? https://www.scooter-center.com/en/seat-made-in-italy-vespa-ss180-vsc1t-7673754

Also would appreciate some historical context on Aquilia seats as I don't have much knowledge about them and couldn't find much on the history either.

Hi and welcome. Clean and use the OG carb. It'll do you fine. And it sounds like jetting is your issue and/or just the basic set up of the idle screw and mix screw etc.

Aquilla was one of the main supplier of seats for Vespa's over the years.
IDK if that bench seat will fit a VBA, but I suspect it will and I believe Aquillia was supplying Piaggio in 58 so it should be period correct, if not model correct to the anoraks.

Again welcome and congrats on your VBA.

As far as I'm aware all the large frame seats will fit on a VBA. I currently have a bench seat on my VNA and it fits perfectly. According to SIP it fits all the large frame bikes from 58-P series

You'll want to change out your fuel line probably as well. They get hard and brittle fast.

Let's see tons more pictures though!

Hi and welcome. Lovely scoot, great story. We've all been bitten by the Vespa bug.

Is this one of the early piston-ported VBA's by chance? More pictures would be nice.

If it's a 58 it should be so long as the engine is original.
They didn't move over to rotary till late 59?

Got it, thank you very much!

Thank you! I doubt mine is a early '58 but do let me know how to check if it's a piston-ported VBA? My Chassis Number is VBA1T252485 and my engine number is VBA1M50300.

It's difficult to even confirm if my VBA is indeed a '58 or not because I have no original documentation for the Scooter, here in our country the RTO(DMV) started taking back all the original Registration paperwork when any vintage vehicle is going through a re-passing for road use and my VBA luckily was always registered throughout it's over 60 year plus life. The only hint I have is that these were imported in my country and in late 1958 and started being registered in late 1959, early 1960.

To further get some clarity I have contacted Mr. Rajiv Bajaj who was my Mom's classmate, I've requested him to help with the exact time when Piaggio and Bajaj started production in India which would help greatly in the historical context of these scooters. I'll keep this page updated as soon as I get a reply.

That's a great looking bike, you were lucky to find one is such good condition. I like your plans for it. I know it wouldn't be cheap, so do I dare ask what you had to pay?

I think the usual 20/17 carb says yours is the newer rotary valve style motor, so it will be easier to get parts and upgrade if you choose to. Most piston ported motors have a weird little carb mounted directly on the cylinder.

Subscribed.

https://scooterhelp.com/serial/ves.serial.numbers.html

Your frame # doesnt come up.

Engine number comes up as a 1959 model.

Like Voodoo said, with a 20/17 it is not piston ported (unless it has a weird, non original manifold connector of some sort.)

WOW, wasn't aware of this tool and this certainly clears a few things.
You're right, the engine number shows up as 1959 and I went and took clearer (not that great, I know) photos of the chassis and it seems to be the same as the Engine number, i.e VBA1T and then I can see a 5 (So, assuming that the chassis also shows up as a '59). So, my registration card has the wrong chassis number printed on it. I don't know how that happened along it's ownership but, I have attached some pictures of the chassis stampings.

Would appreciate if you think everything is as it should be or not.

*I have also changed the title to '59 from '58 to avoid confusion for future reference.

Thank you Sir! It will take a while for me to import all the time correct parts before I finally strip it down and begin the restoration, also have a few of my bikes in line first who are also due for full reconditioning.

I paid around 1600 USD for this VBA which has clean papers and tax paid upto 2027. Having a road legal machine was a priority, finding VBAs in India is very hard, VBBs on the other hand are quite easy to find cheap, even cheaper if it has no papers. I have no idea about the prices worldwide but, I reckon they might be more. Don't worry to much if you think we get one for good prices. We also get destroyed almost for all other bikes/cars due to heavy import fees. Currently in the process of hopefully importing a CBX1000 for my collection and it's a fine line to think about splurging for already imported and duties paid machines vs importing one's in the desired condition and just get destroyed in duties!

Here are some photos of the engine and carb.

1600 in this condition w/ good papers paid up til 2027?

Yeah, that would be top grade Deal of the Day over here. You done real good! Looking forward to more.

Always appreciate folks who take time to document. Looks awesome.

Thanks for the pics and good sorting on the frame number.
Those serials are close in production and indicate a nice original machine.

Looking forward to see your progress when you get to restoring this one.

Is it worth XXXing out your engine and frame numbers. Youve got photos of your numbers and your reg plate.

Lovely scooter, what are you doing for the restoration? the paint looks good so are you just doing mechanicals?

Hello Everyone,

I apologize for not updating for some time. I was caught up in another purchase of a very historically significant motorcycle for my collection and then unfortunately ended up quite sick and spent the better part of the last few weeks recovering.

Some parts did arrive for my VBA which have significantly enhanced the useability of my scooter. Of course like many I do like the look of these scooters without the mirrors but, it's suicide in today's world and especially for me in India, it's testing fate riding around without mirrors. Initially I had a lot of struggle finding the best option to mount the mirrors, I've seen some people use the clamp-on styles which I personally dislike, I've also seen some people mount mirrors directly into the screw where the levers are attached. I still don't know how to do that and that arrangement is a problem for LHD countries, not so much for me but I never figured out how it was done.

I finally resorted to Scooter Mercato and ordered the mirror bracket, the long bolt + hardware to accommodate the bracket and a nice classic chrome mirror.

The installation was fairly easy and aligning the steering wasn't too much trouble afterwards. The bracket fits with enough clearance and does a great job, the position is almost perfect and works beautifully. I'm very happy with how it turned out and can finally enjoy the scooter safely!

Mechanically the scooter is basically perfect, the Carbs are the only component that needs attention, I've currently swapped them out for a Spaco replacement and the VBA is running like a peach. The Original carbs will be re-built and vapor blasted at the time of the strip down restoration and re-installed but currently they are not running right and the original filter also needs a re-build.

My intention with this VBA is correcting all the wrong parts, for example the original Borletti Speedometer will have to be sourced at some point, I'm still furious at the imbecile who thought it was a good idea to replace the beautifully patinated meter and replace it with a clone. The switches are wrong, the SIEM headlight is missing. This is just a small list, I have to sit down one day and make a proper list and order these parts.

Hello everyone, I hope you're all doing well.

I would appreciate some help regarding this ignition system by Vape/SIP I came across - https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/ignition-sip-performance-by-vape-road_510061RA?q=vape%20ignition%20VB

I do like keeping things original but the lack of lighting power-output with VBA at tick-over is quite dangerous in traffic. I can do with the lighting but the lack of output from the horn gets silly every now and then.

This kit is expensive but, I wouldn't mind paying it for the added lighting power, reliability and never have to worry about the timing once set.

My question is, has anyone used this with the VBA?

Thanks again!

I have it on my VNA that has a px engine in and currently installed it in my VNB. Works well and have no complaints.

These ignitions seem universally appreciated on this board. I put the Sport on my VMA2 to convert to 12 volt and though I am still dialing in everything after a rebuild and other upgrades, I am happy with it.