Modern Vespa

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/d/vespa-1958/6459869070.html

I saw this on CL and the owner didn't post any pictures there so I asked him to send some. From what he sent me it looks okay until I see the Glove box in the picture of the rear. Was that an option? I can see it was painted so not original color. He says it had some badly done bodywork. He wants $1200 for it that could be high depending on the engine number. I will check the numbers on it. From what I read the Vin should start 1VBB, should the engine number match? If not what should that number be? I am suspicious but will give him the benefit and go look at it or should I not waste my time. Sorry the pictures are sideways.

Is this 1962 VBB150 a bodge?

Glovebox
Chrome bits bolted on
PX center mat
10" wheels
wrong horn

Textbook SEAbodge

It looks like this poor guy got screwed and is maybe trying to repair things. That's not your problem though. Run away.

Thank you, that was big help. I think I want a vintage scoot but not a bodge. I will start educating myself and read all 73 pages of this thread. I may go see it anyway and see what it really is and take more pictures. Worse case he has some real parts that can be sold. But I won't pay $1200.

A friend went to look at a car and found this. He called it a '65 Vespa. That is all I know. It looks pretty suspicious to me but I told him I'd throw it on here and see where it lands and let him know what I learned.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32050582@N03/sets/72157662915841137

Run Forest, run!!!

That is what I told him. What's up with the weird front mudguard ? Does it look stamped or painted ?

So I decided to save a trip and make an offer and sent him this email:

"After I got home last night and was able to see your pictures on my computer and did a little research I discovered your scooter isn't a Vespa VBB or not a true one. It has had some alterations done that would severely decrease the value of it. I'm sure that you are an honest individual that was taken by the previous owner and not a Craigslist scammer, but this is not the rare scooter that you think it is. First it has been painted they only came in metallic blue. Second they only came with 8"wheels, it is possible to get 10" wheels on one but it involves cutting up the fork or using one from a P model. Third they did not come with glove boxes and yours has one. Four the leg shield trim is all wrong it is one piece with no break in the middle. What you have looks very much like the scooters that have been imported from Vietnam and passed off as Vespa VBB's and are a hodgepodge of parts thrown together.

All of that said if the rest one the parts are there and in good condition the best I would pay for them is $300, or $400 if it has a good title and I don't need to get a bonded one. This price is based on the fact that after I did the work and bought what parts it needs I would probably only get $1200 selling it. That would barely pay for my time and trouble. If you still want to show it to me knowing that's my best offer let me know."

Of course his reply was:

"No offense, but I think your research is incorrect. Of course the scooter has been painted, but I don't recall indicating that it was original paint. But, rest assured, I'm not trying to scam anyone. The VIN is correct for a VBB as are features. As you may have seen in the pictures I have several Vespa restoration books. I'm fairly certain that it is what I say it is. I have significantly more than my asking price invested into it, so there's absolutely no way I would come down to anywhere near that level. I think if you do a little bit more research you'll realize that the VBB vespas are the only ones to come with the curved fenders (other than the rare GS models) and they did in fact have glove boxes. Further, these aren't 10" wheels. They are 8". Regardless, it seems like you have your doubts so no hard feelings here if you don't want to look at it."

I think he is an honest guy that is just not informed. It probably was a VBB frame and motor but to return it would be more work than $1200 dictates. He made a mistake and won't admit it. I could continue by sending him many links but why bother. Let him figure it out on his own.

Thank you all for your help with this and I will continue to read and learn what to look for. My taste of a vintage shifty is in my mouth now I just need to find the right one.

Sadly, many people are not informed about the bodge stuff. You can't expect the guy bought that "thing" for 4-5k and sell for 300-400 =).

Even if this was legit, is a disassembled VBB with mismatched parts and a respray even worth $400? I could have bought that honest and running VNB three months ago for $600 (that one was a deal). I think you dodged a bullet, my friend.

I really just wanted it to play with. I like 2 strokes and I like Italian scoots so a 150 2 stroke with gears would have been fun to work on, but not at $1200. I'll put the money into a BV250 I'm rebuilding and call it a day.

Textbook bodge. I was wondering about the mudguard, too. I have a Sprint (which is what's hiding under all that paint and chrome), and that mudguard is... oddly Deco. It looks stamped.

https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1948-vintage-vespa-piaggio/6484315876.html

Interesting bike. If I was ever gonna be tempted to get a bodge this might be the one, but maybe $500, not $5000. Or $3000, which is it? Oh well, pass either way.



awesome speedometer, I've never seen that one before

i rode one built the same way, it had a kitted vbc engine , the engine was rebuilt in wa . polini of course



mike you remember? it won best vintage vespa racer at perth nr. dry joke i think



bloke who now owns it is a twathead

https://newyork.craigslist.org/que/mcy/d/1960s-vespa/6487662589.html

Not a bodge. Not a deal o' the day either.

Here is a good one.

https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Italian-1965-Vintage-Vespa-150-Super-2-Seater-Scooter-Low-Kms-All-/132415672051?rmvSB=true&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F705-53470-19255-0%2F1%3Fcampid%3D5337996411%26customid%3DBucket2%26toolid%3D10049%26mpre%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com.au%252Fitm%252FItalian-1965-Vintage-Vespa-150-Super-2-Seater-Scooter-Low-Kms-All-%20%252F132415672051%253Fhash%253Ditem1ed496cef3%253Ag%253A6t8AAOSwUn9aCNY4%26srcrot%3D705-53470-19255-0%26rvr_id%3D1437478635779&_mwBanner=1

This is a 7.7 liter.

bloke who now owns it is a twathead

Most of th Perth bunch are! Plus they have far too much $$$$$$$ to throw at them to make them go fast... Yet can't ride for shite!

here are more pictures of the bodge i took apart and scraped

#2

#3

no lock washer on engine mount bolts

two bodies sliced together

added metal pieces

more bondo

Regarding the first two photos...that would have been nice if Piaggio (from the factory) had installed large reinforcement plates in between the centerstand brackets and the floorboards to keep the floor from bending.

Following me on Instagram

Why is it always the bodge junk are in the 4-5k price range while the solid US market scoot is like half of the price?

because it doesnt have shinny paint, yellow boot, "s"chrome accessories?

I don't get it either. My guess is that newbie buyers may not take the time to "find" the bike of their dreams much less understand pricing. The bodgers offer instant gratification. They buyers figure all restored, no issues, maybe even "custom" touches.

Then they put garbage like this on their websites

Vespa Authenticity
We only seek out and restore Piaggio Italian made Vespas imported into Vietnam from Italy during the 60's - 70's. All our Vespas engine and chassis numbers match and are checked off against Piaggio's original factory lists. The Vespas we restorre are 100% genuine items and that's why they are a good investment. There are many websites that can be used to authenticate Vespas by entering the matching engine + frame numbers. The search will then reveal the year of manufacture and models details. See link below.

http://www.scooterhelp.com/serial/ves.serial.numbers.html


With Planet Vespa you can feel confident in knowing you are purchasing a genuine Italian made scooter that will increase in value.



It's pretty hard for a VBB to gain value when it's already being sold at double the market value. Much less a VBB from Vietnam. Even IF it were actually a quality rebuild. Most knowledgeable buyers would steer clear of any bike suspected of being a "Nammer". Much less pay even close to what an unrestored bike of the same model (or models, depending on how many they welded together to make that one bike).

Any opinion on this

https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/mcy/d/1968-vespa-sprint/6494836049.html

some of them were good mates


anyway, saw this and thought of you https://www.ehow.com/13709117/how-to-make-edible-underwear

My opinion is that it is not a bodge import but it is possible - hard to tell from 3 pics so this is guesswork. No Deal of the Day either, it looks to be what the seller says, maybe repainted at some point years ago and the tail light & some of the floor rails were 'updated' or bodged if you like.

If you're interested, just call these guys. Ad says they service it annually https://www.scooterbottega.com/ .

Steady on Callum, i'm moving over there. Don't depress me

Bodge? He wants $6k!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/145306296150628

Bodge and the rear straps are also bodge

another shinnyyyyyy one.

floormat

Well, it was metistically done, so that has to amount to something I'm sure the resulting handling will seem autistic, and the ensuing accidents will be metastatic

Not sure why two tone colors are the trend for the SEA scoot. Trying to be creative?