Had to drag myself away from a sweet '72 Vespa in Elizabeth St today!!馃檨
If anyone is interested it is outside the big motor bike and scooter shop.
Excellent condition (sorry didn't have my camera馃檨) Black and some very nice chrome on it. Really cool chrome foot plates馃檪
It runs well but unregistered. Honestly it was in such good shape. I love old Vespas Price $1999.
I am so tempted so someone please buy it. Honestly it looked the best:kiss
[Edited on 11-12-2002 by jenz58]
vdub2c 路
i luv the old vespas....
but everytime i goto buy one it's... ok
$2000 for a vespa, or $2000 into getting new goodies and putting them on my beetle.... So as i don't already have a vespa...
The beetle is always victorious!
But yeah, Vespa = Good 馃榾
jenz58 路
I know, but I almost turned!!:o
If I had of been living inner city definitely I would have grabbed it.
Oh, I love my VW's but this was just sooooo sweet. Hey yes I could buy bits for Bel too but this Vespa had such sweet bits, such good nick....
I'm not turning just appreciating another old style of ride which was just so 馃槑
decked dubby 路
I am restoring a 1953 Vespa at the moment. A surprize xmas present from my wife a couple of years back.:kiss
vdub2c 路
i think we'll have to keep a close eye on you young lady! :alien
nah just jokes, i reckon the love of the vw's isn't just cos they're vw's it was the era in which they were born and brought up.. the whole nostalgia that surrounds them that's the interestig part... and the fact they're so damned seczy! :kiss
jenz58 路
LOL
Definitely nostalgia but hey a lifestyle!!馃檪
I remember staying in the Plaka area of Athens and people riding their Vespas. Hmmm, I could have lived there so easily. Sitting on a crate in the corner shop, talking to the owner and drinking Ouzo, very relaxed, friendly place.
Lot's of old scooters in India as well!!!
Lot's of good memories attached 馃檪
aussiebug 路
Sorry, but you can keep your Vespa.
If you are talking "classic" two wheels - my choice would have to a later 40s-early 50s Matchless 500.
Lovely thump-thump sound of the big single, mixed in with a little valve clatter, and the classic upright enigne shape. I go watch the Bay to Birdwood classic car rally just for those (and the other) bikes.
And for "interesting" engines - it's hard to beat the exposed, watercooled V twin JAP in the Morgan three wheelers. Two forward gears via a dog-clutch and twin chain drive (different sized sprockets). That engine came in several angles from about 57 degrees to about 65 degrees. The 1927 Morgan here in Adelaide has a top speed of over 100 mph (that's miles - not Km) and a sphincter factor of 10 according to the owner!
Menangler 路
The Vespa nuts are coming out of the clossett.
I have a '66 Vespa sprint that I bought years ago from a push bike shop for $90.00, I road it to work for 2 years. Its now under the house waiting for its restoration day.
jenz58 路
There must be a connection between the two, beetles and old Vespas?!馃檪
Grey 57 路
I'm like aussibug, when it comes to two wheels gimme some power. BSA or Matchless would be nice. Long fork California Triumph would be OK too.
jenz58 路
No!馃檨 and didn't have one of those funny basin type helmets either!!
See a scooter is my pace, like I don't drive a baja etc. Now our two wheel leanings are coming through
Hey I need somewhere to put my basket of goodies I bought at the deli, cheese, bread, olives.....馃榾:sandrine
david 路
it must be something about the 2 i have a 56 oval a 60 bus i am restoring and a 71 metallic pink vespa ,so if your ever in albury come take a spin
dave:o:o
Che Castro 路
hah! there must be a connection, i adore vespas, i want one real bad except it has to come down to beetle or vespa...
decked dubby 路
1953
Grey 57 路
Wow, thats an oldie. Does it still run?
jenz58 路
I was sitting outside before and remembering when I was 18, living in Carlton and nursing at the RMH. I went to the same shop in Elizabeth St and was ready to buy a red Vespa and the guy told me I needed a letter from my parents before he could sell me one!:o
That was back in the dark ages. My parents wouldn't give their permission!! No Vespa馃檨
Honestly this black one is so sweet:kiss
Woozy 路
If 2 wheels is the attraction you could always find a way to drive the vw on 2 wheels 馃檪
馃檪馃榾馃檪
jenz58 路
Love that '53 and the saddle seat, nice birthday present you got馃槑
What have you done so far?
Grey 57 路
14yo you can't go bashing padocks on a classic Vespa mate.
Now Vespa + XR500 engine you could really bash the paddocks on.
Scooter wars hhmmmm
jenz58 路
LOL
I wonder if it's still there?馃檪
Hey you'll have a long way to come to excercise it!!馃榾
decked dubby 路
It runs fantastic
I have stripped it and sandblasted it. It it ready for paint now. Its one of the oldest in Aus.
jenz58 路
Are you keeping the colour?
The chrome do you have it all? This one today, hmmmm, those stone guards and foot plates...
last celtic warrior 路
Now seriously... If you wanted to combine VWs and motorbikes, a VW powered trike is the obvious solution...
type82e 路
scooters are big in europe
theres an english magazine called "scootering something?"
they do some mad things to them
they turn them in to choppers, race them with big bore kits etc (maybe thats where the vw link comes from?)
it s a good read even if you arnt into scooters
I too had one for a little while a few years ago
marcel
kombi_kid 路
i really want one!!!!!!!!! anyone got one??????? when i was in europe thats what they all ride!!!!!!!!!!! parkied everywhere. 馃檨 i want one
cheers
rhys
decked dubby 路
No, changing the colour, not sure what but. This one is very basic, headlight is on the front wheel cover and it has no gauges.馃槈
jenz58 路
My goodness, I've started something here!!馃檪
We're all coming out of the closet 馃榾
Any one know of the Aussie travel writer Peter Moore? New book out 'Swahili for the Broken Hearted'. He's done another trip since Africa and on a Vespa. Here's part of an email he sent me
Re: The next one. You're kind of close. I bought an old '62 Vespa (as old as me!) and rode it around Italy. I had a fantastic time and got to see a side of the place most people miss. Great trip and I got a fantastic old bike out of it as well.
He's brought it back to Oz馃檪
He's probably has or had VW's as well, seems the type:thumb
karmannghia60 路
Me too, me too
It was a rust heap when I got it. Engine ceased, missing parts, etc. Stripped it myself. Got it sand blasted and painted (in the Orange ad colours) and reconditioned the engine myself. Now has all new cables, etc. Nothings is old on it. So far cost me under $2k. But I must have done something wrong with the clutch because its not releasing. Gotta pull it out and check. Haven't scanned the pics yet but I will soon (before and after) but it looks nearly identical to the one below (except mine has orange & white seats to match the paint work)
Pat 路
Vespa's are becoming very popular, you see them everywhere in Melbourne, espescially in the trendy inner suburbs. They're heaps more practical than a car if you live in the city.
jenz58 路
Definitely:thumb
If I'd been living inner city I would have bought it definitely. Used to always ride my bike or walk when I lived in Carlton, a whole different lifestyle.
david 路
if i get thid to work here is my one
jenz58 路
I swear there's a correlation between old Vespas and old VW beetles for me馃檪
They are both so beautiful and oh so sweet!!
Nice '71:thumb
Hmmm, I'm in the city tomorrow. I think I'll take my camera馃檪
[Edited on 12-12-2002 by jenz58]
david 路
definately true ,its good to be a little different my friends think i,m mad for having a bunch of vws and this is my 3rd vespa ,i rode one from bali to bangkok and this one i got in kuala lumpur and road it around malaysia then had it shipped home ,will be riding it around tassie next year ,if you buy the 72 i will be looking for co trippers any one else interested
dave:o:o
jenz58 路
Oh my goodness!!! How great!!!馃檪馃檪馃檪:bounce:bounce:bounce:bounce
Love the history of your Vespa, very much like Peter bringing his back from Italy. What excellent memories馃槑
70AutoStik 路
It all depends how much you like Vespa. If it stretches to mopeds, my old Vespa Piaggio Ciao (I rode way back when I was at college and Uni - a true 50mpg,) is under offer for $50 in Glen Waverley (Melbourne.) It's 99% complete (broken casting for the throttle/brake,) and ran last time it was started - and the guy who made the $50 offer doesn't seem to have come back...
Bugged Again 路
Have to put my hand up as being another vespa lover on the forum. First car was a fiat so have tha tbit of italian blood in me.
Don't know much about them though, what motor is standard and do you need a bike licsence to ride them?
XXX-1.8T 路
I love vespas too, in Greece all my cousins had them and we used to ride all together to school.
They did crazy things to them (like dubs) bore them out and put crazy exhaust systems, the funniest was when we saw a family of four on a vespa with their shopping:o
kombi_kid 路
hey 70autostick
are you serious you have one ??????? cause im after one what year model is it?
cheers
rhys
jenz58 路
Millions of scooters in India, particulary in major cities, they are shooting around everywhere usually with multiple passengers:o Transport in India is crazy anyway.
The sari is still the popular choice of dress for women and so they pillion side saddle.
Hmmm, I can hear the tooting of Indian traffic and see the confusion right now馃檪
That moped sounds a bargain! I'm off into the city and have to pass the bike shop. My camera is ready. Will the '72 Vespa still be there?
kombi_kid 路
theres heaps in malaysia!!!!!! with multiple passangers aswell!
cheers
rhys
Spook 路
I learned to ride on my fathers 56 many many years ago. After that I had one that turned up in the shed of a farm my uncle bought.
In the early 80s I fixed one up that I got from a garage sale. Made a tidy profit on that one.
I do have a soft spot for the little scooters.
But, having said that, they are probably the most dangerous machine ever to be allowed on Australian roads.
Totally gutless, handle like a hairy goat & 8" wheels don't mix well with even the most minor pothole.
They do have one thing in common with a VW.
Because of the renewed popularity, the prices have become unrealistic for what they are.
The_Bronze. 路
I'm with you Grey - I hope that one day I can afford the song of an old Triumph or Norton. The Matchless is an old favourite to as I used to have a big single thumper but unfortunately it was a Kawasaki KLR650. Not as much character.
The a well vented Ducati usually stops me midsentence for a perv as well but it has to be old. Haven't got any time for the new ones as my dreams are dollar conscious as well.
I could really get into Harleys if I was a fat bastard, with bad manners and uncontrollable facial hair and ripper farts but I to young to have any of those attributes. Any one else riding a Harley just looks like a fairy trying to look scary.
Vespas - I could get into them as they are nippy and parking isn't a problem but I'd rather shake the earth than save a few bucks in fuel. Motorcycling should be exciting - dodging on coming traffic on one or the NSW's potholes should suffice I reckon.
Grey 57 路
Jen , saw a nice old blue one in St Kilda last night. Sitting on the foot path just up from the George Hotel. It had two of the saddle type seats on it and appeared to be a similar vintage to the one in the one in decked dubbies pic.
[Edited on 13-12-2002 by Grey 57]
jenz58 路
They are about!! I always stop and have a look at a nice one if I walking past it.
馃檨馃檨馃檨馃檨 the '72 was sold when I eventually got to the shop Friday/yest. @ 5pm
The shop was already packed up for the day, bikes and scooters in and doors closed. I was standing there with my nose against the window trying to see it when two guys came around the corner. I thought they were like me, too late, but one of them was the owner of the shop, they where talking outside. He told me he has another early '70's one for sale and that it would be outside on Monday.
I didn't see this second one Wednesday so have no idea what it looks like.
I don't think it will be as nice as the black one with all it's chrome trims.:jesus
but I'll look. Hmmmm, may even go today馃榾
jenz58 路
It was sold too!!馃檨
Well Bel does need a coat of paint this year, so it is probably a good thing:thumb
Phil74Camper 路
Vespas? Scooters? Pah!
For a REAL motorcycle, check out the mighty Amazonas:
Now that the subject has been raised, I've been wanting an Amazonas for some time, so if anyone spots one for sale at a reasonable price, please let me know! 馃檪
kombi_kid 路
an add that caught my eye in the sydney morning herald! scooting on up
a 1957 vespa motor scooter realised more then a mercedes benz and a jafuar at this weeks Shannons vintage and classic vehicle auction in melbourne.The restored but unregistered scootert went for $3800; a 73 mecedes 280E went for $3200 and a 67 jaguar 420G sedan $3500
cheers
rhys
Mr Bubble Head 路
Its good to see that people can aprisiate (spelling?) this method of transport
I had to give away two NSU Quickleys which I never got around to restoring just before I came over here
They were both 1944 models and one was used for parts but both had there war registration plates on.
Still they went to a good home!!!!!!
nick:thumb
decked dubby 路
Reposting a shot of my 53. (under 50kb now馃槈):kiss
decked dubby 路
I love my vespa heaps, but its also good to ride my MONSTER. Italian bikes have a certain style.:kiss
jenz58 路
Hmmm, stuck in city traffic today and had a couple of sweet Vespas scoot past me.
Maybe I can turn Bel ionto a transformer, - sweet old beetle into sweet old Vespa? Hope she didn't hear that!!!:o
Really I was happy to sit there in her馃檪馃檪馃檪
Phil74Camper 路
At least two Amazonas bikes were brought to Australia in the early 1980s, as I remember reading a road test in one of the local bike magazines.
What a bike - 60hp 1600 VW engine, a 1750mm wheelbase, 45-litre fuel tank and 385kg of it !
And it looks like you can still buy brand new ones in Brazil: