Modern Vespa

Hello all. I'm new here because I just stumbled across something that has me a little bit excited. Supposedly it's a 1963, and just needs air in the tires and a good cleaning. I don't know the mileage, history, or title status. And I only have one picture.
What is it, and what would be a reasonable offer for this bike with the sidecar?
I have owned dozens of bikes over the decades but never a Vespa (or scooter of any kind). I can fix anything but have zero knowledge regarding these Italian bikes, so any info is greatly appreciated!

Pssssshew...

"What is the meaning of life?"

^^That may be easier to answer!

So, that isn't original paint as that model didn't come in black in any market.
Is it a euro market bike? Is it a bike outta south east asia? The former is good. The latter... not so much. Find the thread called Bodgespotting for some light reading. The bike has a few signs of SEA fuckery... but it also looks kinda decent, like maybe its just an 80/90's scooterboy resto? Need more pics to know.

Sidecars are like driving a drunk, belligerent go-cart. (I am repeating myself from another thread there, but it's true). Will be slow as a sloth on promethazine, will suck going up hills, and the braking/breaking will require.. ahhh... effort. It is a good looking sidecar though!

Anyway, if it isn't SEA in origin 3500 to 4500 depending on many, many variables.

If it's an SEA scoot, offer 1500 mostly just for the sidecar if its not rusted out.

YMMV

Oh... and Welcome to NSM!!!

This bike is from Asia.

If you get it for free and set a spending limit for XXX amount that you are comfortable with pissing away, go for it. This bike will give you endless amount of problems and it's just tough to see good money thrown at bad.

Otherwise, no.

Oh wow, I have so much to learn!

Yeah I'd guess that's a SEA bike.

Just coming into contact with a real life bodge too at this moment.

If you don't know what to look for on testing the bike without starting the engine, I'd be very cautious.

To a non scooterist, value is whatever someone is willing to pay for it to sit in their storefront window as a display...so as a purely advertising investment, $2k?

To a vintage scooterist, it's worth closer to $2.

If you were to post it on Bring A Trailer...then probably closer to $12k.

I myself would be willing to spend $200 on it, but i would do something cool and deserving to it...

- like wrap a tow strap around the front fork and drag is around through the woods in my pickup truck...while on fire, since it was doused with a gasoline/sterno mix...all while a video camera is recording...or

-put 5lbs of tannerite under its full fuel tank and send it to the moon with a 30-06. With a video camera recording of course...or

-a lit road flare duct taped to a propane tank set firmly inside the side car. The same 30.06 would be used, along with a video camera...or

-ghost ride off a cliff (most likely at the local rock quarry). Probably have to have it blow up in mid air somehow too. 3.5 ounces of toothpaste will bring down a passenger plane, so it shouldn't be too difficult to make that happen with a scooter that wasn't ever designed to fly in the first place. Of course three video cameras would be required, one on top of the cliff, one on the ground, and one onboard camera in order to get the captain's eye view.

$10 and a burrito.

the side car *might* be worth something, depending. likely the connecting apparatus is straight junk.

the rest is likely good as a store display, flower pot or a conversation piece.

I'd look at the motor and see if it's been replaced with something viable, but beyond that, it's better fit as a coffee table than the road.

Thanks everyone for the input. I hope to be able to get a better look at it in a couple weeks.
What are the obvious things that shout SEA bike?

Come on now, don't sugar coat it. Tell us how you really feel! Love it.

https://baritaliaclassics.com/___tech_08.html

Back story, I owned and rode a BMW 75/7 with a sidecar for a few years. I also owned a 75/6 at the same time, no hack, so I had a choice. If you are really keen on having a scoot with a hack, there always seems to be a couple Stellas around with the set up already. Whether they are set up right (doubtful), or even if it is running right is up in the air. What is also up will be the prices - plan on spending at least $7,000 or more. Honestly, there are many bikes to do this better on. I will tell you even with the right set up, it will not be like riding a scoot - more like driving a scoot. And you will burn your way thru front tires, brakes and clutches. Most people are intrigued with the idea and look of a sidecar until they actually own one. As for the present, the only manufacturer really pushing this is Ural. Great for riders with balance problems and the ability to possibly plow thru any questionable road conditions.

just from the pic: 10" wheels on a 8" bike, chrome guards that are typical SEA, leg shield stainless trim that runs all the way down the floorboard, seats, speedo, floor mat, trim around the glove box door and fuel tank, glovebox on the leg shield.

Thanks everyone, and especially greasy125 for the direct answer to my question.
I obviously have a lot to learn, but you kind folks have already helped so much. I now realize this bike will probably never find its way home with me (unless I can get it for a song, which I doubt). I'll keep y'all posted.

I'm guessing you have read this?

Bodgespotting

If not... read up

you will be ok here if you are ok with thr odd "direct answer"... we are good at them!
Ohh, and we like photos

yeah, we're generally a good bunch but SEA bikes bring out the porcupine tendencies around here, so apologies for the gruff introductions.

it's just that we've all seen this so, so many times and it just gets old hat.

also, it's easier to just dismiss something out of hand rather than sit and write a dissertation on the how's, why's and what-have-yous about these bikes.

I'm not one to throw the baby out with the bath water, but you can reasonably assume this to be a turd all around. the sidecar *might* have some value, and the motor *could* potentially be decent if it was replaced and not the slap ass wore out unit it probably is. but other than that, it's likely better off as a art piece.

and even if it was crazy cheap, the likely hood of problems lurking in there is nothing you want to deal with unless you're a glutton for punishment or have deep, deep pockets.

Maybe you should really be checking out the vintage designer Coach purse hanging offa the headset. Might be worth more than the scoot….

Then again, it, too, might be a bodge/fake/faux/SEA replica purse

Jk. I don't know near as much as most people on this forum, but my eyes HAVE gazed dreamily on a million authentic Vespas and also squinted painfully at many imitations on the Bodgespotting thread. My eyes say "pass" on this one.

Good luck finding another winner or alternatively digging into this mystery grab bag and safely making it your own.

And welcome to MV! It's a great place to hang out with lots of helpful people. They spared me from picking the wrong scoot when I was new. For which I'm eternally grateful.

I say go for it you only live once plus it's only money blood sweat and tears, besides you will gain a lot of experience working on it that's priceless
If you don't, guaranteed you wish you had a few years down the road.

Not with a bodge, he won't.

That thing is 99% odds overpriced garbage at damn near any price, and probably a danger on the road to boot for all the reasons listed above.

One of the great ironies of bodges is that the only people qualified to assess them and take one on as a project are the same people who will stay far away from them for the exact same reason. That alone should be a good warning to the under-informed that what they're envisioning is not what they're going to be getting.

If OP wants to get a vintage scooter, there are good options out there. Michigan/Ohio/Indiana seem to have a disproportionate share of Deals of the Day east of the great plains. That is not one of them, however.