[Cooltronics]

one from my family. 1963, single owner Vespa 150. It also has the original Invoice and other original documents from 1963 onward.
We have also put it up for Sale as my uncle passed away

[schakravarthy]

Spotted at a garage

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by schakravarthy

Spotted at a garage

This would be a Belgaum number, incidentally, if I'm not wrong.

[schakravarthy]

Spotted yesterday,

[schakravarthy]

Spotted yesterday.

[schakravarthy]

Spotted yesterday

[anjan_c2007]

Pictures from a recent (January 2014) Cent Ind Vintage Automobile Association (CIVAA) display at Nagpur.

[Stanher]

Well, I've finally joined the vespa fraternity; despite being a die-hard Lambretta aficionado, I have had an eye for the early vespa 150s (upto 1965) which still had some resemblance to their Italian predecessors! I'd even tried for one a few years ago but couldn't succeed and eventually lost interest. Only to retry this year - and succeeded in getting a fairly decent '64 vespa! With timely guidance from my friend Balaji (chanu on tbhp).
The number dates to 1970, the scooter having previously been Delhi-registered. However, the poor thing's lacked much TLC - as is the case with most of these scooters- and the tinworm's started taking its toll on the bodywork! I've temporarily arrested this by smearing some phosphoric acid on the rusty areas as far as possible. Collected the scooter last Sunday with a friend's help again and tis now at his place until I get it sorted out mechanically. Currently, the horn and lights (except for brake light) do not work so wiring needs to be looked at. Sorted out the brakes.Then will look at fixing the corrosion on body. Plus replacing the tyres and maybe suspension as the ride is rather hard.
Now, uncanny as this may sound, I do NOT intend to 'restore' this scooter as long as I can help it! Lately, I've infact taken to what is termed the 'rat look'- dull paint with an age-induced patina and surface rust on the outside but mechanically and legally all fit for the road! Also wish to prove- with no offence intended - that a scooter atleast doesn't have to always be restored 'nut and bolt'with shiny new paint in 'bright' colours or two tones (which vespas never came in to begin with) to look appealing or feel enjoyable!
I plan to preserve the existing paint, post the patchwork, with a semi matte clear coat. That said, I might repaint only the wheels as they take the worst hit when it comes to corrosion. What colour did Vespa 150 wheels originally come in? Body colour? Most of the ones I've seen (in India) are light grey like in this case.



Compare these two pics of the scooter before and after the phosphoric acid treatment:





Note: I actually like the spare tyre being fitted this way, inside the legshield, so will retain it- though plan to fit a sturdier bracket.



The now obsolete annual licence or tax disc! Just retaining it as a novelty on the scooter.



Also today, got most of the original cosmetics that were missing - these will go on step by step.









Also looking for the original type handlebar grips- I'm given to understand that the originals came in light grey- as did the rubber beadings? However, in one post in this thread, I also found a pic. showing those in Ivory:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-w...ml#post1630211

Couldn't get them in either shade in the local spares shop here today. They only had them in white which I frankly didn't like. So on the hunt for the ones in the right colour. I do find grey grips on ebay UK from many sellers- in Delhi!

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by schakravarthy

Spotted yesterday,

Attachment 1543672

Just noticed your pics in this post closely and I see that this vespa's mudguard has the crest in the centre. Was wondering if they were fitted to vespas in India but still decided to have one and bought one (repro but nice) in stainless steel off EBay!
Now looking at your pics confirms that these were indeeed fitted on vespas in India but in Hyderabad, scooters used to have the front numberplate fitted vertical on the centre of the mudguard so the vespas must've had their mudguard crests removed to fit the numberplate!
And a couple of stickers arrived today, from eBay again, to go on to my vespa- more to come!
Also further to my mention of the 'rat look'with scooters, below is a pic someone shared with me in a facebook group - more or less the way I want my scooter to look (paintwise that is)- same colour too!

Aside, I need help on locating the correct position for the 'Vespa 150' badge on the legshield! Mine has lost the original holes ( maybe under the paint, but twill need to be scratched off to find out!) and seems to have had a non-original badge of some kind fitted on for a while.
Any help in this regard appreciated! Thanks!

[schakravarthy]

Originally Posted by Stanher

Lately, I've infact taken to what is termed the 'rat look'- dull paint with an age-induced patina and surface rust on the outside but mechanically and legally all fit for the road!
I plan to preserve the existing paint, post the patchwork, with a semi matte clear coat.

Congratulations, Shyam!

"Patina".. "rat look".. Would love to hear the conversation between the Inspector & you when you take the scooter to get the FC done. Lol

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by schakravarthy

Congratulations
"Patina".. "rat look".. Would love to hear the conversation between the Inspector & you when you take the scooter to get the FC done. Lol

Thanks! Well, from my experience at one of the local RTOs here (Secunderabad), nobody has really bothered about the paintwork- or even mechanical aspects like lights, brakes etc. (though I intend to keep all my vehicles functional) - main thing they seem concerned about is if the chassis and engine numbers match! I've kept my 1960 Lambretta with the same rat look exterior and successfully got the FC done on it in September! The inspector hardly even looked at it!
But even otherwise, I'm ready to challenge- through a mechanic or even a mechanical engineer- what paintwork has to do with the mechanical fitness of a vehicle (unless maybe you go by RaGa's logic! ), and as if all the vehicles currently running on the road don't have even a scratch on them! I do know where you're coming from though, and I've heard such things about RTOs in Bangalore particularly, and frankly I think tis absolutely ludicrous on their part! Might as well take a non-running piece of junk and simply paint it up/chrome it on the outside and take it to them, asking them to pass it then?

[schakravarthy]

Flowers and a Vespa at the Mysore Palace Flower Show.

[schakravarthy]

Spotted at a garage..

[schakravarthy]

Spotted by a friend

[r_nairtvm]

Originally Posted by schakravarthy

Spotted by a friend

I think its a Lamby MAC and hence possibly in the wrong thread

Experts please clarify

Best Regards & Ride Safe

Ram