Modern Vespa

Hello All!
I'm new to posting to the forum but I've been reading about everyone's adventures for a little while now. I was hoping to get some opinions on this small frame that is for sale not too far from me. My experience is practically nonexistent on the mechanical side but I'm ready and willing to dive into a project and learn some more. The potential project is a 1974 Vespa 50 frame with a 1973 Primavera 125cc motor. I'm planning to check it out this weekend. Let me know what you think or if there is anything I should ask the owner.
Thanks!

#1 with a bullet: what's the status on the title and the tags

#2 does it have a battery side door?

after that... I dunno? why's it in pieces? what's the history on it? where are the handlebar controls? 3spd or 4spd? does the motor match the frame? is there a big ass box with a grip of extra parts that it comes with?

the frame shows some rust, but nothing particularly alarming. although I'd like to see the underside to confirm.

all of that weighs heavily on price.

ETA: on the mechanical side of things... what's your background or skill set. that could really be the determining factor in purchasing it where this may be a situation where you're better off getting something that's not only together but running and riding.

Thanks for the reply! greasy125

The seller doesn't have any 'paperwork' for the frame or the engine. Mentioned that everything was purchased pretty much in this condition.

I don't see a battery side door in the pics but I'll certainly ask about it.

I'll certainly ask about the other q's and check out the undercarriage.

Price is $700 for it all. Should I offer less if its missing those components you mentioned?

I'm pretty confident working on small projects for my car learning via YouTube etc. I'm certainly interested in figuring out a project like this. Would be great to have something running but this is equally exciting to me.

Here is the listing if anyone is interested, https://offerup.com/item/detail/de10dc5f-78ec-32f0-9eb9-1f5d8e6c6d3d

Price isn't bad for what it is. You'd be hard pressed to find a motor and those parts for less.

But it's a tough entry to the world of vintage Vespa. Big hill to climb.

Agree with the above, that project seems to be missing so many parts...

Not impossible & that's a fair price assuming the motor is good, but what is your aim? Do you wanna wrench to learn and bring something beautiful back to life w/ the bonus of someday riding it around for fun when you succeed, or do you mostly wanna ride a vintage shifty 2 stroke Vespa and you are willing to wrench to get in cheap? If the second, consider something more ready to go or at least essentially all there.


If there's no battery side door, you may just have to do without or make your own. Severe unobtanium there, sorry.

a terrible entry into the world of Vespa and motorsports. It's not an undoable project; yes, it can be done. you will have an ass load of money into it and a bunch of time. for a beginner, this will be a tough row to hoe.

maybe a better entry for you is a turn-key, or near turn-key bike. There is a learning curve with everything and here you are starting damn near the bottom.

btw, max speed on that is probably 32 mph and takes you about 2 City blocks to get there with its current configuration. yes, you can change that outcome with money.

Thanks for the all the feedback.

I went to check it out this morning and find out a bit more. The frame was adopted from a friend of his in Pasadena a couple years ago, its actually a '76. Mostly just some surface rust on the floor boards, didn't appear to be an issue. The overall body was in good shape besides the horn cover that looks to have run into something. The engine came out of a Primavera that someone was converting to electric. The current owner was planning to combine the two for a project but doesn't have the time to put into it.

I did like it quite a bit but decided to take the advice of the forum folks and keep holding out for something that has everything together. In 1999 I got a frame/frozen motor from a Scooters Bellissimo swap in Pasadena and never got that thing off the ground. Trying not to keep up the bad habits.

v oodoo I'm more looking for bringing something back to life with with the bonus of someday riding. I'd rather be in the garage than on the road for now.

Again much appreciate all the advice from everyone. There is a Veloce in Compton I've been eyeballing for half a year that I'll be asking everyone about when I go check it out.

You can turn it into something like these but it will need lots of money and work. Hard work.
My vote for skip this one and find something in better condition.

Wow, based on the stickers it seems to be a Dutch Vespa, that somehow ended up in NY, interesting.

Good luck finding your dream Vespa, this one needs a complete rebuild, not advised for a beginner in the vintage Vespa world.

That won't be Dutch. Euro bikes of that age didn't have indicators and reflectors on the mudguard, they look US style.

Frame looks twerked too.

Hmm, could be, I thought US spec ones always had a battery door on the left side. Blinkers do look strange with the stands and not directly attached to the frame.

this one does have a battery door

It has a battery door opening at least

Earnadroj, I think you made the right choice. Some times what seems like a good deal can be a money hole. This would be a good project for someone well versed in the small frame world who knows the tricks and can access exactly what it needs. I picked up a small frame years ago for an incredible cheap price. The engine side cowl had been severely modified to accommodate a large frame engine while only a 90, three speed was included in the deal. Shortly after acquisition, things went a little south and I realized it would take so much time to restore, not to mention the money involved. I restored a couple large frames before this, but in the end, I figured it wasn't going to happen anytime soon. I gave it away to a local. It is still sitting in his garage all these years later.