Vespa Barn Rescue

Joe Dirt · 12-07-2005, 05:12 PM

My parents moved from the city to the country in 1977 and this Vespa was loaded into a barn where it remained until Thanksgiving 2005. I helped with both moves. Now I think I'm ready to help the Vespa make its way back to the open road. Here is where the project begins. Any advice, comments, or help would be greatly appreciated.

As much as I think it needs a paint job.....these little treasures make me think twice.....

Now the bad news....looks like the VIN plate is missing. Any ideas?

Photog · 12-07-2005, 06:04 PM

I'd say 63 160 GL, but the trapezoidal headlight is throwing me a curve.

My scooter books are packed...I'll see what I can dig up.

ErrinV · 12-07-2005, 07:08 PM

Don't repaint it. Those stickers keep the character of the bike. How about a wash and then a clay bar? Clay bars can do wonders on old paint.

Aren't the VIN numbers stamped into the frame underneath the glovebox side cowl? Not visible inside the glovebox, but under it.

GL's are very cool. Great find.

Errin

johnjen · 12-08-2005, 12:06 AM

You have the ability to delete your 2nd post yourself...

JJ

VespaFitz · 12-08-2005, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Dirt

Now the bad news....looks like the VIN plate is missing. Any ideas?

That's not the VIN plate.

Under the left hand cowl (the one with the glove box lid) there's a VIN stamped in the body. You may have a tough time seeing it, but it's there.

I think a '63 GL is about right. They were imported from '62 to '65 in the US.
Frame numbers should start wjth a VLA1T prefix.

Fuck not painting it. You could clay bar that thing 'til the cows came home and it'd still look like shit. Painted or unpainted, it's never gonna be worth more than a few grand. If you're that interested in saving the inspection sticker, mask it off and paint around it.

The GL is basically the replacement for the VBB. It's a two-port 150, meaning you're never going to see great performance out of it. Fun to ride, though.

VespaFitz · 12-08-2005, 05:47 AM

Good frame number locator:

http://scooterhelp.com/serial/vespa.serial.locator.html

Scroll down to the pre-1970 largeframe bikes

Joe Dirt · 12-08-2005, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VespaFitz

Good frame number locator:

http://scooterhelp.com/serial/vespa.serial.locator.html

Scroll down to the pre-1970 largeframe bikes

That helps a ton! I got that advice over the phone from Scooterworks but I think I was looking in the wrong place after viewing the picture.

I'm not interested in restoring the scoot for sale. It's a momento with some sentamental overtones but the project is far more motivated by 20+ years of wondering if I could return the scoot to the street. I typically take on a project for the winter and this year it is the Vespa. Performance isn't really a concern either. If it can haul my wife and I to the park and back reliably I'll be thrilled.

Photog · 12-08-2005, 07:48 AM

Hey Vespa -- looking at the passenger bars/cowl protector on that bike, should there be one on the right side, or was this one of those "side saddle" designs for the lady passenger (of course) to sit daintily with her skirted legs supported on the left?

I've seen the flip-out floorboard on the left side for that purpose. Just wondering if a piece was missing, or if this is a neato piece of jpassenger-hauling history.

VespaFitz · 12-08-2005, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photog

Hey Vespa -- looking at the passenger bars/cowl protector on that bike, should there be one on the right side, or was this one of those "side saddle" designs for the lady passenger (of course) to sit daintily with her skirted legs supported on the left?

I've seen the flip-out floorboard on the left side for that purpose. Just wondering if a piece was missing, or if this is a neato piece of jpassenger-hauling history.

No, I think it's just missing.

VespaFitz · 12-08-2005, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Dirt

the project is far more motivated by 20+ years of wondering if I could return the scoot to the street.

Nothing wrong with that. And a bike in that condition can be returned to the street in a long weekend if you're not going to paint it.

All it takes is money.

Photog · 12-08-2005, 08:29 AM

Mmmmm....paint.

Joe Dirt · 12-08-2005, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VespaFitz

No, I think it's just missing.

I agree. The mounts at the rear of the scoot and floorboards suggest there was once a right side piece. It all looks pretty hoaky to me.

Whadya think my chances of financing a paint job by selling the left side on EBay are!?!?!

Photog · 12-08-2005, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Dirt

I agree. The mounts at the rear of the scoot and floorboards suggest there was once a right side piece. It all looks pretty hoaky to me.

Whadya think my chances of financing a paint job by selling the left side on EBay are!?!?!

New, they're about $80-$100 for the cowl protectors including the front footrest section.

Joe Dirt · 12-08-2005, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photog

New, they're about $80-$100 for the cowl protectors including the front footrest section.

Yeah, yeah, but does that price include vintage touches such as light rust and barn dirt!?!?! C'mon.

Photog · 12-08-2005, 09:02 AM

If you're ever up near Richmond, check out Scomo. Small shop, but they had plenty of bikes for sale and quite a few in the back in queue for restoration. I got a buncha parts from there a while back, including a neato GS rallye seat that I'm gonna build up to get rid of the darned buckboard Stella seat.

www.scomo.net

12-07-2005, 05:12 PM	#1
Joe Dirt ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Oddometer: 234	Vespa Barn Rescue My parents moved from the city to the country in 1977 and this Vespa was loaded into a barn where it remained until Thanksgiving 2005. I helped with both moves. Now I think I'm ready to help the Vespa make its way back to the open road. Here is where the project begins. Any advice, comments, or help would be greatly appreciated. As much as I think it needs a paint job.....these little treasures make me think twice..... Now the bad news....looks like the VIN plate is missing. Any ideas? __________________ 2007 KTM 990 Adventure Average Joes View Of The World

12-07-2005, 06:04 PM	#2
Photog Charismatic Megafauna Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Cackalacky Oddometer: 46,044	I'd say 63 160 GL, but the trapezoidal headlight is throwing me a curve. My scooter books are packed...I'll see what I can dig up. __________________ Only an XR1200 owner knows why Cthulhu hangs its head out a car window. Like I like. Yep.

12-07-2005, 07:08 PM	#3
ErrinV D Boon! Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Alhambra, CA Oddometer: 2,291	Don't repaint it. Those stickers keep the character of the bike. How about a wash and then a clay bar? Clay bars can do wonders on old paint. Aren't the VIN numbers stamped into the frame underneath the glovebox side cowl? Not visible inside the glovebox, but under it. GL's are very cool. Great find. Errin __________________ Thunderbird 1 - '07 KTM 990 "Love comes in spurts!"--Richard Hell

12-08-2005, 12:06 AM	#4
johnjen Mod-U-Later Joined: Nov 2001 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 13,515	You have the ability to delete your 2nd post yourself... JJ __________________ QUOTE from vermin I lie to myself because I am the only one who continues to believe me.

12-08-2005, 05:47 AM	#6
VespaFitz No-good-son-of-a-bitch Joined: May 2003 Location: BooBerry Holler Oddometer: 41,051	Good frame number locator: http://scooterhelp.com/serial/vespa.serial.locator.html Scroll down to the pre-1970 largeframe bikes __________________ My other car was crushed by the Feds AKA "Ham Steak" - Bumfucked Hillbillies MC

12-08-2005, 07:48 AM	#8
Photog Charismatic Megafauna Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Cackalacky Oddometer: 46,044	Hey Vespa -- looking at the passenger bars/cowl protector on that bike, should there be one on the right side, or was this one of those "side saddle" designs for the lady passenger (of course) to sit daintily with her skirted legs supported on the left? I've seen the flip-out floorboard on the left side for that purpose. Just wondering if a piece was missing, or if this is a neato piece of jpassenger-hauling history. __________________ Only an XR1200 owner knows why Cthulhu hangs its head out a car window. Like I like. Yep.

12-08-2005, 08:29 AM	#11
Photog Charismatic Megafauna Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Cackalacky Oddometer: 46,044	Mmmmm....paint. __________________ Only an XR1200 owner knows why Cthulhu hangs its head out a car window. Like I like. Yep.

12-08-2005, 09:02 AM	#15
Photog Charismatic Megafauna Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Cackalacky Oddometer: 46,044	If you're ever up near Richmond, check out Scomo. Small shop, but they had plenty of bikes for sale and quite a few in the back in queue for restoration. I got a buncha parts from there a while back, including a neato GS rallye seat that I'm gonna build up to get rid of the darned buckboard Stella seat. www.scomo.net __________________ Only an XR1200 owner knows why Cthulhu hangs its head out a car window. Like I like. Yep.

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