Modern Vespa

That looks like it's probably legit. It has the split headset, and the VIN should tell you if it's a Douglas Vespa.

that looks about right.

See attached photo, I'm clearly no expert but that doesn't look good right?

Although they fooked up the floor and the stand mounts, the rest looks legit for a Douglas...

Jkr22 that cream Vespa is a Douglas Vespa 152l2 model. Correct seat and choke under the seat, taillight is wrong, these can be bought. Most spares cross with VBA/VBB, but some are particularly to this scooter, particularly the engine which is piston ported, spares are pretty difficult. 3k even if running is probably a bit much I would say if you can get it for under 2.5k running and driving then it's not a bad price. But I wouldn't recommend this to a beginner.

Do you think the underside is anything to be concerned about? It's clearly had a repair job but is it likely hiding something more sinister? It's long way to go and see so don't really want a wasted journey if it's a bodge job. He's open to offers so who knows?

From the photos it doesn't look too bad, but it's difficult to tell exactly what the underside is really like without looking really closely. One thing I can tell you it the stand has been replaced with a larger one. 152L2/VNA has only one hole each side and the stand brackets are unique to this model. This has been replaced with a later stand and brackets with 2 holes each side. Worst case scenerio the underside requires work or a complete replacement this is very costly.

Where is the scooter located?

Thanks for all the info Timthemod. The scooter is in Bournemouth.

Seller sent me some more photos, comments/advice most welcome. I haven't asked what the spare engine is from.

All of the brown vinyl Indian-made dual saddle seats in the world should put into a giant crusher and turned into roofing insulation.

From what I've read on this site (so much info btw!!) and elsewhere, you're dead right that £3k is a bit steep. If you guys are happy this is probably not a bodge I'm considering making a cheeky offer.

When you say you wouldn't recommend to a beginner is that because parts are hard to source or are there just easier models to work on/drive?

This concerns me a lot. Seems like a lot of shoddy welding. Makes me think it isn't just the stand underneath, but that the entire floorboard and center has been re-welded.

I did wonder about that but thanks for confirming. Also, does this look like filler to you?

It's hard to say just looking at the pictures. Could be, or it's just a really big sloppy bead. Take this with a grain of salt, but - based on the pics it might be that the floorboard and center were completely shot with rust. Too much rust to simply repair, so those parts were cut out and new(er) parts welded on. That would explain what we're looking at, but could only be verified in person.

Thanks everyone for all your input. I'm not going to be able to view so think I'll walk away from this one and continue the search. I will no doubt be back for more advice in the future.

Before you spend that kind of dough, you might say that you really need to carefully pull the gas tank and have a peek inside the frame. If there's nothing to hide and you're flashing cash, why would they say no?


And tip the bike over some to get a good look at this mud and water trap mess. I'd even ask to pull that off to see behind, probably only the four centerstand bolts.

What do you guys think of this one, bodge or not? Frame number starts vbb2t and engine vbb2m.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/vespa-motorbikes/vespa-vbb-150/1389645718

Looks legit!

Not all original, but not seeing any obvious red flags on this one.

Cowl trim looks suspicious

This ad has been near where I live for awhile, now:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/674790013128632?ref=search&referral_code=undefined

I am a little confused; it shows Italian language paperwork, but the 2-tone paint and I am sure the tail light are wrong? And the price, of course, seems way out of line for it.

Opinions from the experts?

Why is the Italian paperwork confusing?? Where do you think it was made? That's the import sheet from Piaggio to Sears. Paint - yeah, they only came in solids and the tail light is correct for a blue badge AFAIK. Blue badge small frames had the Mickey Mouse tail ight Front fender looks strange. The rims are on backwards. Price - probably should be lower for sure.

I believe this one checks every box there is...

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/1969-Vespa-SPRINT-150-S-5014972686

Yes, yes, it does....

12k huh? I hope no one pays that or even close to that.

I especially like the front brake spacer-ring, pop riveted onto the 8" brake hub to fit a 10" wheel; and the de-laminating white-wall tires.

Scooterworks, at least, used to sell the "white wall" conversions. My Sprint had them on it when I bought it. You can guess how long that lasted in *my* garage!

There seem to be more of these older bodges that have been sitting in people's garages since they quit working and are now showing up in the hopes that they can get turned into a little quick cash.

It's the Bodge Indicator of economic distress...

its amazing how many of them.. how many are ugly.. and how many are pink!

Now if it was a pink smallframe with a p200 engine and a massive expansion chamber, that is beautiful. But this. Pepto.

paint a hellow kitty on it put it in Sanrio and it might find another garage.

What do you think?

People want to know.

I'm thinking it has issues. Too many logos, wrong wheels... my guess it might even be hard to register with that non OEM ID plate.


https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1965-vespa-vbb-150/


Cheers, I still have my project, I get distracted easily. Working on a Yamaha Baby stage grand piano, driving my Miata, gardening, playing with my dog, trying to make a living.

[quote="indiana VBB"]What do you think?

People want to know.

I'm thinking it has issues. Too many logos, wrong wheels... my guess it might even be hard to register with that non OEM ID plate.


https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1965-vespa-vbb-150/


Cheers, I still have my project, I get distracted easily. Working on a Yamaha Baby stage grand piano, driving my Miata, gardening, playing with my dog, trying to make a living.[/quote


Don't bring a trailer.

I see what you did there.

I think I'm slow on my project because I really don't see myself as a motorcyclist, although my neighbor hung up his Harley for a Porsche, and gave me his helmet, so I'm ready.

Be well.

that is all.

-g

Why the tag like that for the VIN? Are the original numbers gone? Just curious, I have a custom motorcycle that had the neck replaced with a state issued VIN.

Even worse, that picture implies there are, at a minimum, 8,394 other similar hunks of garbage out there.

hell if i know. i didn't look and i don't care. i was tasked with shifter cables and a new selector box. drained the tank and went thru the carb real fast. it started and ran. i drove it around in my driveway and shipped it.

i know that the dude spent a boat load on it before, but i didn't see any paperwork. also, not my jam. i'm a mercenary. is broke, i fix. bye.

all of the classical wheels bikes i've ever worked on have tags like this. i've never looked to see if they have numbers. personally, i think the tag is bullshit just some made up nonsense.

anyway, a simple cable job turned into a three hour tour on this one. cuz... well... yeah....

-g

i think, or at least i'd like to hope that their numbering system is, ummm... flawed? or, maybe, like random? who the hell knows.

i've seen two big handfuls of them here in socal and each and every single one was fucked out and special in its own way.

-g

A buddy had a bodge engine that was "seized" and never ran, so thought I'd take it apart and share some finds...

The flywheel would not budge, impact, heat. Thought maybe the crank/piston was seized, confirmed the piston had expanded and seized in jug. The piston was not a piaggio piston and had some weird markings on it, but through the process of unsticking it, the markings came off. Found they had rigged up a head gasket and still had some Vietnamese script.



The back side was revealing, under the clutch cover, it appears some genius felt that JB welding the clutch side seal .



So the crank wasn't going anywhere and I was starting to suspect the flywheel may be similarly bonded.



Never have I seen rust inside a solid piece of metal like that.



Gave up on splitting the cases the proper way and just had to get a look inside, no oil, dry as a bone, cush drive plate came off with slight pressure from a flathead, all the gears had signficant wear and hairline cracks, and there was more rust.

You should have called me. I would have loved to sledgehammer that mofo apart.

Tannerite, 5 gallon propane tank, a thunder stick, and 4 video cameras would have been my fallback plan.

That's a perfectly fine engine that the people at Bring a Trailer would pay several hundred dollars for. 8)

trophies and engine toss for the Hill Country Classic VI in Austin