The Vespa is kind of presumably the only most fashionable type of two-wheeled Italian transportation on this planet. You see Vespas in movies akin to Roman Vacation, in adverts each classic and present, and there all the time appears to be an air of romance round them.

That is fascinating as a result of when the Vespa was launched it was designed to be a simple to construct, cheap, post-war transportation to switch a automotive. A luxurious few might afford in a really poor reconstruction period Italy. Being an Italian design, although, it was not solely easy to trip and dependable, but additionally very fashionable. The model of the Vespa was so sturdy that homeowners, after transferring as much as automobiles, nonetheless saved their Vespas as a enjoyable mode of leisure transportation. This was mirrored within the adverts of the Vespa in the course of the Nineteen Fifties and Nineteen Sixties which exhibits the Vespa in a romantic and under no circumstances utilitarian mild.

Once I was a university pupil again within the Eighties, I noticed these previous adverts and utterly purchased into what Vespa was promoting. I had various Vespa scooters that I used as daily transportation yr spherical. The primary of those was a 1980 P125 that I paid $300 for. I didn’t realize it on the time however my Vespa buy coincided completely with the “Mod” revival happening throughout the U.S with younger folks on the time. Scooters within the mid Eighties had been seen as very cool, they usually had been the right transportation for another leaning faculty pupil within the 80s. It didn’t damage that each one the good ladies cherished Vespas. I rode my Vespa on rallies, late evening post-studying weeknight rides into the mountains of Arizona, to numerous music exhibits and even forwards and backwards between Tucson and Phoenix greater than as soon as, often with a girlfriend on the again.

Through the years it appeared as if folks misplaced their love of the Vespa however not too long ago these Italian styled mechanical marvels have appeared to be a focus for a complete new technology.

My Choose of the Day is one in every of these basic and iconic autos, a 1961 Vespa 150 VBB situated in Houston, Texas.

The vendor describes this Vespa 150 as a improbable instance of a legendary cruiser that’s enjoyable to zip round on and luxuriate in. They add that it’s outfitted with a buddy seat over the carryall, it additionally has a spare tire.

Sadly they don’t add far more detailed info past a protracted description of the historical past of the Vespa, which is attention-grabbing and value a learn, however doesn’t help with figuring out the situation of this specific Vespa 150.

I do know fairly a bit about these scooters, and after wanting on the images in the advert this instance seems to be like a really good restored instance of a Vespa VBB 150. This specific bike nonetheless has its right 8″ wheels. Sure 10″ wheels are a bit extra steady however all VBBs got here with 8″ wheels. Many convert them to the bigger wheel measurement however that is incorrect.

The seat and buddy pillon are of the proper sort with an accurate copy seat cowl.

Importantly the physique seems to be to be in wonderful situation with no dents, creases, rust, or another points. As well as the general high quality of the purple paint on this scooter seems to be clear and with out points.

The speedometer has both been rebuilt or changed with an accurate model Veglia unit and appears model new. The levers for the clutch and the brake are in wonderful situation, and the gray Vespa grips are the proper color and style for a 1961 VBB. All of those particulars lead me to imagine that that is probably an excellent restoration. The one vital query I might ask the vendor is the place this Vespa was restored. If it was restored in Vietnam, run don’t stroll away. I don’t see any indications that it’s a Vietnamese restoration although, as these are often outfitted with every kind of non-compulsory and aftermarket accent and trim items, none of which this bike has. I do love that the restorer of this bike added the proper stickers for working within the engine and for gasoline sort after it was painted.

General this seems to be like one I might purchase, had been I out there for a Vespa once more. Positive you will get a Vespa VBB in rideable situation for round $3,000-4000, however to then take that scooter and make it as good as this one would value far more than the $7,500 asking value of this one.

In case you have all the time thought it could be neat to personal a classic Vespa, the VBB as a mannequin is a good place to begin and this seems to be to be a pleasant instance. In the event you do purchase this bike and it exhibits up with out an ignition key, don’t be involved as it isn’t lacking, the Vespa VBB by no means got here with an ignition key, solely a kill change to show the engine off.

My spouse would by no means in one million years need to trip on an previous Vespa as we speak, however these late mild rides with just a few mates on their Vespas is perhaps one thing I must rediscover.

Click on right here for this ClassicCars.com Choose of the Day.