Modern Vespa

Makes me drool.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-Vespa-Only-30-Miles-UNRESTORED-ORIGINAL-Rat-Rod-/120613327746?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Scooters_Mopeds&hash=item1c151d5382#ht_1098wt_1167

Text from listing: 1966 Sears Vespa Sprint 150cc Motor Scooter with Only 30 actual Miles!

Original 1966 Sears Vespa Sprint with only 30 actual miles. The scooter is all original, and in excellent condition. No paint work or restoration has been done. This scooter is VERY ORIGINAL! it is virtually untouched and exactly the way it was in 1966.

The scooter has had a new petcock and carburetor put on it due to age and storage. We wanted to see/hear if it would run so these replaced instead of rebuilding them. The original carb and petcock do go with the bike.

Nothing else has ever been done to this wonderful little scooter.

The scooter comes with ALL of the original paperwork including... the original Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, the envelope in which that came in, the original application for Missouri title (but was never turned in), the original sales receipt, Sears motor scooter unpacking & assembly instructions, along assembly, operating instructions & parts list.

The scooter does have a valid, up to date Illinois title that was issued in 2009.

The scooter does run and ride and is complete with no dents, dings, rust etc... This is a once in a life time find. The bike was bought an placed in a warehouse only to be found a few years ago. I would venture to say this 1966 Vespa is one of the most complete and original 1966 Vespa in the country. And with only 30 miles most likely the lowest millage.

The bike is in as found condition. I think with a little cleaning and waxing it will look like it did when it was a brand new in 1966.

If you have any questions or want more photos please contact me before bidding and I will try and answer any or all concerns you may have 573-406-7573.

The Scooter is being sold as is, where is.

I will not end the auction early, bid what you think it's worth.

Delivery to the Davenport, Iowa Bike Swap Meet may be possible.

That's a nice looking bike there. All original and a relatively scarce model. A blue badge vespa with the mickey tail in that condition is quite the find. Whoever gets it will be pretty happy.

I love the original paperwork especially the sheet with the uncrating diagrams. Fascinating.

I'm trying to convince someone in my scooter club to give it a home. I would even let him use my van and go with him to get it, if (of course) I could take it for a spin. No bids yet.

Amazing

Any guesses on what it will sell for?

Yeah, I was just looking at that too. If I was in the US I would totally find some way to buy that. I have a thing for silver original paint bikes.

Doubt we'll see someting like this again anytime soon.

Wonder why he calls it a Rat Rod?
Nice bike, reserve is at $2500.

What are these bikes like?

I wondered the same thing.

I would go as high as $5000. if I could see it first hand .But I live to far oh well. Did you rebuild the whole carb or just stick a Spaco in ? Also it's a two port yea?

but would you dare ride it ..... i know a guy that found a unregistered pk ... bought it ... registered it and gave it to his son .. knowing that this thing was hens teeth
now its got thousands of miles on its kitted and scraped ... probably worth what any pk is now

he even lent it to me in its unkitted state while he had mine in the garage [he owns psn scooters] it was slooowwwwwww

Boy has this guy got this mis labled. He's going to lose bidders who don't bother looking assuming it's been trashed. Great looking scooter- Paint is still way shiny. This must have been kept indoors in a showroom or something to stay that clean. wow!

I was wondering why he would label it as a rat rod, but since I know nothing about vintage, I didn't ask. I hope a MVer swoops in an gets a good deal. Like I said, I know nothing about vintage. All I know is that this is beautiful and I am in love. I wish my house didn't need a new furnace and air conditioner ...this would be mine.

Hmm, he claims it has no rust but the front wheel and suspension is rusty, unless I am mistaken.

Starting bid is $2500 - Reserve could be higher; probably is....

Beautiful scooter, tho'!

Who would you be saving it for? I'd ride it.

Must. Not. Bid.

Must...

Anyone concerned about this? (sorry for quoting myself)

i would only worry if i was considering buying. but meh...how can a bike that old not have at least a little rust?

I betcha that in real life that scoot doesn't look anywhere near as nice as one would expect with only 30 miles on it. Look closely at the pix, this thing is shop worn and has NOT been stored correctly or very well.

Yeah, I'm anal.....so sue me. The seller has made some critical errors in how he's listed it, as others have already mentioned he included "rat rod" for some unknown reason. Also his starting price is way too high which not only costs him more in eBay fees but also turns off a lot of prospective bidders...the high initial price (which they may very well be willing to pay) eliminates the "chance" (in the bidder's mind) at getting a bargain. I've been in the auction game so I have a certain insight into the psychology at play here.

No bids until a day before the end bears out what I say here.

The reserve price protects the seller so he might as well have started the auction at a single dollar.

Well it's sitting at $2850 and not yet at reserve, so it's started to get some activity. I'll be interested to see what it finally goes for or if it hits reserve.

The muffler is rusted and so is the kickstart quadrant. That being said, it still looks really nice for it's age. I would feel bad about buying it because I would want to add to the odometer.

What I was trying to convey regarding the starting price is what we would call the "feeding frenzy" that would happen when the price was low enough that it attracted a large number of bidders initially.

They'd all get caught up in the fervor of bidding and would go kinda crazy, bidding faster and higher than they would've under "normal" conditions.

Doesn't make a lot of sense but it is a typical occurrence in auctions

Regarding the rust... it looks more like oxidization than rust (possibly slight surface rust...)

Seeing as this is from Illinois - chances are that over the years, there has been some form of condensation that the bike has come into contact with... but honestly, this scoot is beautiful.

With probably a very limited amount of work, this could be in near perfect showroom condition.

I hope one of us (Jess? ) picks it up!

I'll be the sourpuss here...
The thing is the seller claims it is rust free, yet we can clearly see rust. It may or may not be an issue, but it makes one pause for a moment as to his other claims re. the bike's condition.

At least you are further away than I am. I'm only 400 miles away. I can make that haul in a day. I too... MUST. NOT. BID. But it's so tempting and shiny...don't look directly into the badge...

That is a beautiful scoot.

Pics are low quality... but as mentioned that looks like really superficial surface rust. Scotch-bright pads and elbow grease and you're back to a shine.

If I had cash I'd bid on that in a heartbeat... (and drive 2 days to get it w/o blinking too.)

OG Minty Bluebadge! R U kidding?!? If your gonna rock a Sprint that is THE Sprint to have. Wow.

Bidding is at $3003, reserve not met..

that's just silly... as mr t would say... pitty the fool.

How so? Seriously.

I wouldn't get too concerned about the surface rust. I had the exact rust on my 65 ss180 when I picked it up. It only had 2200 on the odometer because it had sat under a cover in a building for 40 years. The surface rust was in the same spots as this blue badge - the fork, gearbox cover, center stand, muffler etc. The only thing I can figure is that moisture can collect near the bottom of a scoot even in storage.

Once again, don't let the rust fool you. That scoot is the real deal.

+1

I was the first bidder and hoping to be the last if I can remember to be there at the end this time!

Best,
SDG

Just increase your max bid to, say, $10,000 and you should be golden.

I presume this is because you will be bidding it $9900?

SDG

Nah, I'm not in this one. I have a problem in that I like to see what I am buying in the flesh so to speak.

Curious to see what the reserve is set at...

Over 3K and reserve has yet to be met? It'll be interesting to watch today.

Sweet, I hope you get it. I would love to see that bike become local.

You guys believe in this one? I am leaning towards "yes" for me.

Thanks,
SDG

Absolutely. We'd buy it for sure if we had the cash available. This is a one-of-a-kind find.

Hope someone on here gets it, that's a damn cool ride.

One hour and counting Mister Bond

I'm a pastry chef and I usually go to bed super early so I can be at my shop by 4am. For this, I am staying up way past my bedtime to see how it plays out. The only things keeping me from bidding are the people on this board who really want it and know how to maintain it. I'm a modern gal and learning how to treat a vintage should not be done on this one - too precious.