Vespa On A Vindaloo (And A Few Beers, Too)!

Over time my sanity has been tested by Vespas, including the PX125,PX150, LML150, a T5, a T5 Classic and PX200.

All had personalities, grin factors and fun; some brought despair, head-in hand moments and many spanner-throwing tantrums! As a rule of thumb I’ve targeted new or low mileage scooters which have been reliable, economical and have basically done what they were asked of (usually)!

For those who’ve read my previous Classic Scooterist articles (Issue 72: LML Star – an enthusiasts view; Issue 89: Vespa PX – return of the Django; and Issue 101: Journeys End – to find the real Bobby Dazzler), it was only a matter of time before I was going to toss out the whole ‘Oh… and another thing!’ moment. So yes, I’ve scribbled about this and rambled on about that, but it’s what I’ve witnessed that still amazes me – everything from beautiful nut and bolt restorations to the mere humble chap riding his battered ‘ole faithful’ with gaffer taped side panels. With that said, I’ve also witnessed the odd ‘game show-sized spend’ on a mid-life crisis scooter – but hey, it’s the scooter scene, so who are we to judge?

I'M OFF SHOPPING

Moving on, this project is what I’d best describe as being totally outside my comfort zone. No new toy or low mileage thing here, more of a ‘pocket money’ restoration on a somewhat loose budget! This idea was always going to be a bit ‘daring and scaring’, but hopefully it will show just what can be done by utilising the skills of a good friend, some hard work, late night research and, of course, the challenge of a slim wallet.