Modern Vespa

Hi all,

First post here and I'll jump right in. I've been learning a lot about vintage Vespas over the past few months since purchasing a 1965 Vespa SS180 from a gentleman in California.

The goal of this scooter for me was to bring it back to running and riding condition as well as making legal to drive. The bike was already registered and titled in California, and I have gone through the process of transferring before with two Honda CT90's. It was a simple process that only required visual verification of the VIN by the DMV.

So here's the issue...The original frame VIN on this Vespa was painted over, so I researched the location where the VIN should be (the the right of engine cowl hole) and got it back down to metal to find...Only the first part of the VIN visible? I also have no idea what the numbers above the VIN signify "3797 OM", but I'm a bit lost here I where to look next and don't want to grind away anymore paint than I need to.

I've attached a photo of the California title with the registered VIN and some photos of my work on the Vespa. Let me know if anyone has any ideas of where I should go from here...

Thanks for any help.

Did you get that from a guy named Adam with a really fancy helmet
(Ignore that... joke for the old guard.)

IIRC, VIN should appear to the right of the VSC1T... in one photo it looks like there is a 7…? that would/should be part of the vin.

The number above is just a part number. Not unique. So, disregard.

Mucho Bondo! Lower maybe?

Ha! Yes I'm a massive FLCL fan and plan on taking this to some conventions once I've got it ready! I just went lower and still no dice unfortunately

There's a chance this was a replacement frame and the serial number wasn't restamped. You can get the star and number set from SIP to do it yourself...

Just looked up the set and thought oh $15 isn't too bad! But then it's another $45 for just the Star

If this is my last option then I'll go for it, I'll ask the guy I purchased from if he knows if the frame was replaced. I find it hard to believe though that he had it titled with an accurate VIN, and then decided to replace the frame lol. I can't imagine finding another frame was easy either.

Below. Duh. I haven't had my meds.

Any chance he used the motor vin on the title instead of the frame vin?

The California title has both numbers on it which I find odd, FL only uses VIN on the frame from my experience.

The original SS180 engine was replaced with a 1980 P200E engine which is on the bike now, but he gave me the original engine in a tote as well and it has the correct VIN on it as the California title.

Not sure if it's worth it to swap engines and maybe the FL DMV would see the matching engine numbers is enough? At that point though punching the VIN onto the frame seems like less effort...

Yes, yes, better to stamp that frame than swap in the original engine. (I'm sure you could sell that engine for a pretty penny if you wanted to.)

Five bucks

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32962603888.html