Modern Vespa

So the subject says it all... I'm new here and looking to buy a (Douglas) Vespa GS 160 Mark 1 thats over in the U.K.

I've done lots of searching but hard to see what the value of these things are these days in the USA. I'm not looking to resale, but just curious what others have dealt with. This particular one has a SRU (Service Replacement Unit) frame in very good shape, original color and original engine. I thought the frame being an SRU was a bad thing, but seems to be quite the opposite as they were basically NOS frames from the mid 60s. So the real thing for sure.

Anyone in the same boat? Purchased a 1962 GS 160 lately?

Thanks for any help!

Hey Welcome.

Someone posted about GS values recently. I think they were selling? IDK its been a few months. On top of an expensive purchase price... shipping is gonna be another nut.

Price varies soooo much based on condition, provenance, etc etc.
and man... GS160 is HIGHLY collectible.

Total Spitball: If it's really OG and ready to ride? 8 or 9k to 18k depending on the market you are in.

Ask for a ton of pics, video, etc. Otherwise, you could end up with a VBB repainted GS white with some GS emblems slapped on there. eeek

One of my clubmates just bought (spring 2024) a running GS 160 with OG paint for a little over 8k, and that's not even coastal prices.

The ones I'm looking to purchase are the following VIN's both Douglas Vespa

GS 160 MK1 1962
VIN: SRU1736
Engine #: VSB1M0015702
(Service replacement Unit in the original white GS160 paint color)

GS 160 MK1 1962
VIN: VSB1T006707
Engine #: VSB1M0018784
(Painted 2 tone at some time during its life white and green)

That seems like quite a good deal!

It's running, so all complete, but most people would probably consider it a project bike. Unless you really like patina. It won "Best Vespa" at WKRP this year, though, so obviously not too ratty.

The tail glovebox was locked with no key, but I picked it for him and we found some of the original paperwork inside! That was very cool.

Very Cool, does he want to sell it?

LOL!

Also: pretty sure that's a nope.

I dont blame him.

Is this a good forum for vintage Vespa's or is there something more geared towards the old ones? I see this is mostly modern Vespas.

For sure no.

Seriously, this subforum is solid while the main board is all modern stuff.

Yup. Like most vintage scooterists, we're a sketchy bunch. NSM is like an endless Internet scooter rally, only with less obvious drunkenness.

Most of the various vintage scooter forums have died off over the years, either subsumed by Facebook or just...gone, but MV/NSM are still going strong.

Around here, we have a consistent community of hardcore wrenchers, lots of people coming learn and ask specific questions, and a reasonable amount of shitposting thrown in to keep it amusing.

My favorite quote to describe NSM was from someone up in Modern Land, who said (as best I can paraphrase), "I just took a look over in Not-so-Modern and those guys play ROUGH!"

It's tough love though

Solid group here