Modern Vespa

Hey everyone,

So I picked up a Sprint basket case yesterday.

I bought it off an old mod who had the engine rebuilt and the bike painted. With good intentions, he planned to re-assemble it, but instead it had sat on his shelf for years.

He and I became friends overtime since he is a member on my club's facebook page. (Niagara Region Vespa Club). We chatted a few times and finally he offered me to buy the bike. After some negotiations, I bought it....knowing that it will be a complete nut and bolt chassis restoration.

The story is: he bought it off a guy who imported scooters from Italy, got them running and registered and then sold them off.

The bike is registered as a '71 sprint. I ran the vin in the Vespa vin decoder on line and it states it is a '65. There is no vin on the chassis itself (must have gotten lost during the paint job)

I ran the vin on the engine cases and the vin decoder states its a '77 Veloce.

The bike itself came with Veloce grips, badging, rear tail light, and 20mm carb.

My question is this: how do I proceed with restoration:

restore it to a 60s sprint, or a 70s veloce? or put it back together as it was supposed to?

Any suggestions? I know it's "my bike, do as I want" but would love to hear how you would tackle this.


For me, gut instincts are to either restore it as a 70s Veloce (black grips, silver levers, grey cowl trim chrome legshield trim and the emblems that came with the scooter) or restore it as it came (black trim. black levers. black horn. black grips).


Open to discussion if you are so inclined.

Cheers.

N

Pictures?

I don't have anything pre paint job.

This is the only one I took.

Actually here is another.

They messed up the hole placement for the legshield badge and didn't plug up the holes for the front rack (to display the mod mirrors)

That is the later Vespa badge. Don't sweat the leg shield holes, the rest looks pretty good. Are you sure you are looking in the right place for the VIN? It may be just covered up good with paint. Put up more pics when you can.

Later as in still appropriate for a sprint. Just later in Year, correct?

Around 1970 they went to the block letters instead of the script. It may have started with the Veloce change.

since it's bitza, I'd put it together as generic 70's sprint with whatever mods/upgrades I saw fit.

it's nicely painted, and I could see how a 60's bike could get a 70's engine so that's not a terrible way to go either.

I'd say what headset it's got would weigh heavily on the direction I'd take.

Euro-bodge. Hahaha.

It has a round headset. I found the vin but it's well covered in paint. So I'm going to have to figure out how to delicately remove the paint to expose the vin.

I've done masking tape in a neat rectangle around it, then paint remover carefully applied w/ small artist brush. Lightly wire brush/sand for good legibility if needed, then a light coat of anti-rust primer or clear coat, done!

I'd follow greasy's advice. Black trim and rubber would look great with that paint. Good find!

Following

Yes. That's what came with the bike. I'm a bit partial to the grey trim as I look at pictures for
Examples.

Might do grey trim, 70s black grips and 70s silver levers.

I have a restored p2 and it's red with black trim so I wouldn't mind having something different.

Decisions decisions.

Keep the veloce badging.

My '68 Sprint came w/ the usual one piece crimped on polished aluminum trim. SS180s & Rallys came w/ 2 piece SS trim held on by slotted set screws, but did any Vespas come w/ chrome? I suggest using the aluminum trim even though it is a PIA.





1974 Italian Veloce

FWIW, re: trim.... There were some very early sprints with sport trim. I don't know the specifics, but maybe the 65/66 era? I have seen two examples over the years and it was also noted elsewhere on the Legshield trim thread. But, by the 70's it was for sure crimped aluminum.

If it's got a Veloce engine, it deserves a Veloce badge

that's like brown shoes with a black belt, man. don't be that guy.

I vote for grey on grey, and if it's got the euro headset keep it 70's veloce. small headset, go script badge.

Hahaha. This.

Wow!!! Hahahaha. Classic!!

Small headset? Are they different sizes as opposed to shapes?

I thought they just came in round or square?

Alright. Scrubbed the paint off the vin.

Confirmed 1965. Round head light.

Should I restore it to a 1965 (with a secret veloce engine?

Or restore to veloce specs?

Input?

Hahahaha

yuss. euro headset.

so, I'd veer into 70's veloce land.

yeah... it's a 60's frame but....

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eCbe9cB-sjo

70s veloce land----so you vote for grey cowl rubber, grey grips, silver levers, block veloce badges, and silver legshield trim?

They've grown in size over the years. For example the VNA headlight is 105mm and the VBB is 110, P series is 130.

my bad.

i would install the aluminum enforced plastic trim as legshield trim.

yes, such a pain in the ass.