Modern Vespa

my vespa has numbers on the motor: VIN 033467 and under the left side compartment: VN12T 031396. can someone tell me the exact year. when i imput the VIN on the "vespa motor number search page", it comes up '48-'50, just wanted to know for sure before i register with d.m.v. thanks

try this site - there is a vin check thing on it.

http://www.scooterhelp.com/

You have a 1955 Vespa 125 motor

i've looked high and low on many sites, but the VN12T portion of the i.d. never comes up. i've found vn1t and vn2t, but never the vn12t combination. where were you able to find the numbers?

Picture might be help
I guess that's not vn12t but vnl2t... Vespa 50' not located vin number under the left side compartment...

yea a photo would be helpful as well.

my first rat...and i'm loving it!

yea, them's the goods.

well... that's likely 1961 VNB2
check the engine number on the swingarm

Should be a '61 or '62, given that it's got the Cushman badge. Very nice, those Cushman Vespas are relatively rare.

033467

Ok, so forget the engine number. Cushman Vespas are only '61/'62 because that's when they imported them. The model year of the Vespa is always determined by the frame number, not the engine.
Now, you may have a '61 frame w/ a '55 engine. You can pull the engine cowl off and show us some pics of the engine. VNB/VBBs were the first of the rotary inducted engines and came out in '57/'58; a '55 engine would be piston ported. You can tell by looking at the cylinder/carb placement. That scoot is most def a VNB/VBB. If the 125cc displacement is correct, then it's a VNB.
But then again, the '55 motor would be a wideframe motor, which wouldn't be a straight swap into a VNB/VBB.

Agreed!

Also regarding the numbers. On both the frame and the engine there is a prefix then there will be a star, then the number, and one more star.

when identifying the bike the prefix is more important than the number. The prefix will narrow it down to a few years. The prefix + number will give you the specific year. But the number alone is meaningless.

Given that the bike is a largeframe puts it at '59 or later. The choke is next to the fuel meaning it's not a VNA. Judging from the front drum, front fender, and vespa badge it's a 125 and not a 150, add the cushman badge brings it to '61-'62. The prefix you gave "VN12T" looks right except for the 3rd digit and 50 years of dirt can easily make a B look like a 1.

So you should find the following prefix and number on the frame and engine.
Frame: VNB2T *031396*
Engine: VNB2M *033467*

It's a good idea to include the prefix with the DMV to avoid them saying "031396 is registered in Nevada and is a chriscraft boat, not a vespa."

So your VIN would be entered as "VNB2T031396"
And the motor number (assuming your state uses it) would be "VNB2M033467"

Forget this bit of info. There's nothing to support it.

The split headset was on Vespas and Allstates in '58 and '59 also. It's definitely a bit of a unique scoot you've got. Not necessarily worth more money than other VNBs but with the Cushman badge, some think they're worth a bit more than others.

yep. thats wrong. sorry.

so are you in agreement with the earlier post...'61 or '62?

Yes. Oops is one of the very best on this forum. You can trust him.

Btw...this is not a 250cc. Likely a 125.