'59 Vespa 150 project - it's bad!

[bryno]

Thinking I'd not got enough on my plate with my Lambretta restoration I acquired this at the weekend .. it's in a sorry state for sure.




It was found in the garden of a house being renovated and rescued by a mate of mine, seems to have been in pretty ok shape before the accident, the paint seems pretty original in the factory finish of metallic bluey grey.. wiring is original, still has the sticker on the filler cap, clock only has a few miles on it, explained by the lack of a speedo cable!

Those diddi 8" rims look so comical, seats are good and will clean up, headset and even the grips are in good shape, apart from the front & rear lights it's complete..



It's been dated as a 1959 150, engine matches and believe it or not after cleaning the points and putting some fuel in, it started up! even the exhaust is gas tight - quality!
It is on the DVLA system, so I need to apply for a V5 and bobs your...



Sadly it needs a new frame as it is very bent, possibly the forks, panels are pretty rough one may be salvagable..



Need to track down a donor VBA or VBB frame to get the project started, so far I have found a restored VBB frame a snip at £600 so any assistance in locating something suitable welcome! I picked up a Super frame earlier today, but there are to many differences to make this a goer, so it needs to be the earlier model..

It really is beyond economical repair, but seems a shame not to have a go and save the old girl... ;D

[dunworking]

Well that's going to keep you busy for a while ;D Got to be worth trying to save though - best of luck!

[bryno]

It is gonna be a looooooooong project!

Realistically I think I'm looking at a £1,500 budget to get it sorted, so really it's not worth it..

..but that's not the point is it! ;D

Going to apply for the V5 first, if I manage to get one issued, game on!

[alanw]

I am sure i have seen somewhere a place that has vespa jig for Straitening frames
at the moment cant think where i saw it

[bryno]

Yep, it's at a place in Cumbria, I am looking into that as an option.. ;D

[Spence]

I think Mike Phoenix in Manchester might do it too. Devo's been there, he might be able to confirm.

[bryno]

Cheers, I'll try them..

Bit of a set back, phoned DVLA the no. plate on it is actually from a car so the scoot is not on the system at all .. means I've got to get a dating cert and apply for registration, bit of a pain and more ££'s..

Chassis number is a bit odd, it's not been messed with but it goes 'BAXXXXX' not 'VBA1TXXXXX' as I'm told it should do.

It is a VBA model though, '58 - '60, frame number is fairly early so I still say it's a '59.

Engine number is a VBA, which is nice!

More research required ;D.

[Fred]

alanw said:

I am sure i have seen somewhere a place that has vespa jig for Straitening frames
at the moment cant think where i saw it

www.vespaframejig.piczo.com/



10% discount for VCB members

[Devo McDuff]

Yes, I'd have thought Mike Phoenix would be able to do it.

The right sides of my mudguard, glovebox and legshield were bent in reasonably badly (though not as bad as your legshield) and he got them looking spot on.

Might be a bit of a mission for you though if you are based down the silly end of the country

PS Just noticed that you mentioned a place in Cumbria, so I suppose Denton wouldn't be that big of a mission after all! ;D

[dave1967]

Hi Mate
I have a VNA2t with a very similar chassis number, its a re-work factory frame been stauffed many moons ago.

Dave

[bryno]

Cheers guys, chassis is now confirmed as a '59 VBA, I've spoken with the frame jig chaps who say it's certainly worth a look, I can get it up to Cumbria FOC, so that's the plan.

Here are some more frame pics, you can see how bad it is twisted..

Personally I'm not holding out much hope..

On the up side, I think I have got hold of a donor VBB which will give me all the trim bits, side panels etc I need and worst scenario is I buy a restored frame for £600.. it will be back

[bryno]

Made a bit of progress this week, frame is going up to the frame jig place hopefully next week, all stripped and ready to go, will be having a new floor fitted as well, think it will be fine

Picked up my donor VBB, so i've now got a straight set of forks and most trim to put it back together, and a shed full of spares ;D just missing headlamp glass.

Small bits & pieces like rubbers will come from Scootrs in Vietnam, rest from UK.

Have sent off for membership to VCGB and a dating certificate, spoke to DVLA again but the chassis is not on their system, so I need to apply for registration.

Thinking I may go for that classic white for the body rather than the original metallic blue

Not sure on the seats, I've not seen the twin saddle set up like this on a VBA before (seats are not the same), usually they had a single seat and a buddy seat or rack on the back. I've the twin seat from the VBB if I decide to go for a more traditional route..

[dave1967]

Hi Again

My VNA2T or 152L2 which ever you prefer had 2 seats on it like yours from original, I know that cos of the amount of rust on the bolts theres no way they had ever been out.

Cheers Dave

[bryno]

I guess it was probably an option at the time to have the rear one fitted. Looking at my seats the front one is certainly original, the back one is slightly different and possibly newer, maybe a retrofit or a period dealer fit?

Think I'm going to try the front single saddle and get a flat rack with buddy seat pad for the back

[bryno]

Bit of an update on progress..

Frame is going up to Cumbria tomorrow, so fingers crossed it can be made good.

I've stripped both the scoots and have a shed full of bits to recondition.

Got a bit of an issue with a broken rear hub stud and missing wheel nut, it's a pain as the VBA has some really tiny wheel nuts and studs unlike the later models. Hoping to find something at a parts fayre next week.

Petrol tank is also unique to the VBA so I need to de-rust the inside of it and refurb.

Joined a scooter club who have a blast cabinet at the workshop, so spent 2 happy hours blasting stuff last night

Still not got the mudguard off, seems I have to remove the lower bearing track, which looks tricky!

Most importantly I'm thinking paint colours ;D classic Vespa creamy white with white wall tyres.. hmmmm!

[mark]

Sounds good ,how about tan or burgundy seats as well . Great project good luck with it.