Rescued: Right place, right time – Vespa 150 recommissioned | FEATURE

Barn finds, shed finds, garage clearouts. There’s a lot of luck involved with being on the receiving end of somebody else’s clear-out. 

I was lucky enough to get my hands on one a few years ago, that was a tired-looking but cute little Vespa 152 L2. We ran a four-part series on the recommissioning of that one – sadly ending with me accidentally setting it on fire in Germany. It will rise from the ashes soon though so don’t panic. The subject of this particular story though is the Vespa 150 pictured above, sat alongside the owner’s 1959 RT kitted Li125.

It just goes to show that being in the right place at the right time can turn up some neglected treasure and there are still plenty of them out there. SLUK reader, Peter Lee was asked to take a look at this Vespa whilst taking part in a charity ride with his scooter club earlier this year. We’ll let him take up the story…

Charity day

This purchase happened purely by chance. Our scooter club (Hairdryer Riding Arseholes) were supporting the Mayor of Huntingdon’s charity day event at The Montagu Club in the town centre in March this year. We had ridden around the ring road and stopped at the Magpas Office (Air Ambulance) for the staff there to take photographs. 

Charles Tyrrell (grandson of the scooter’s original owner, Jean) approached the Mayor (David Landon Cole) and asked who he might speak to about scooters. David passed him on to me and we chatted about what his mother may have inherited from her parents. I agreed to go and take a look one evening that week.

Making an offer

Myself and Kevin Mowbray (HRA club member and friend) went over to the house off Milton Road in Cambridge on Tuesday 14^th March 2023 and took a look, as best we could, as it was in a metal shed. There followed a conversation about the value and an offer was made, allowing for the re-commissioning costs. Charles’ mother wanted time to think about it so Kev and I left.

Not always the highest bidder

The HRA meet every Wednesday at The Abbott Elm pub in Abbotts Ripton. On the 18^th of March while at the meeting, Charles called me to tell me that he had visited Cambridge Lambretta Workshop in St Ives and told them of my offer and that they had offered slightly more. However, due to the conversations with his mother about my plans for the scooter, she would rather I had it, so it was agreed I’d collect it on the Friday.

Restoration, I thought, would be a way off yet as I had too many commitments this year but after having a chat with local legend and Vespa magician, Darren Martin, he agreed to take it on for me in just a few weeks.

Quick turnaround

I delivered the scooter to Darren on 20^th May to start the breakdown and recommissioning.

Almost all parts for the rebuild were purchased from VespaJets (thanks Tony) with the only hold up being the piston and coil. Importation issues I’m sure will be blamed on Brexit.

I collected the fully running and rideable scoot from Darren on 09/07/2023.

Works timeline May

• May 21^st: First batch of pictures was sent to me and a video of just how bad the fuel tank gunk was
• May 26^th: Lots more pictures and engine out of scooter
• May 28^th: More pics and engine dismantled
• May 31^st: Agreed that we would not modify the engine after chat with Vespa Jets and Darren. Too little gain for so much money. Maybe a PX engine in the future?

Works timeline June

• June 4^th: Rear wheel and brake plus pics
• June 5^th: Front wheel and brake plus pics
• June 7^th: Picture of casing etc. before and after cleaning
• June 8^th: Pics of parts delivery from Vespa Jets and bearings into casings
• June 9^th: Casings back together after new bearings, oil seals and gaskets (waiting on new piston from SIP)
• June 12^th: New carb ordered as old one too much time and effort to get back to working order
• June 26^th: Scoot would be ready if it wasn’t for the outstanding piston and coil on order
• July 9^th: Collected scooter from Darren’s at 12 p.m.
• July 10^th: Added to insurance

History of VER 858

• The scooter was first purchased by Jean Barbara Want around the 4^th of December 1959 from Hallen’s of Cambridge, 56/60 Hills Road. It came with the original logbook (G106017) and was registered at 153 Kendal Way, Cambridge
• The scooter had its first service at Hallen’s at 1217 miles on 03/07/1961
• The address was updated on the logbook and name changed (to Haslop) when Jean got married in December 1965
• It was ridden between 1959 and 1966, until I believe, Jean may have become pregnant
• It looks like it was then put away until 1984 when the logbook was reapplied for so as to maintain ownership of the registration number
• The current mileage is 2,299 miles.
• I purchased the scooter from the husband’s estate on Friday 17^th March 2023
• The scooter came with the original log book, Vespa service book and handbook, 1960s MOTs and insurance certificates, DVLA letter from 1984 regarding retention on the registration and 1984 V5C
• It also came with the original battery and spark plug, plus the tool kit etc.

Provenance

We all love a classic scooter with some history and this one had plenty, it’s much nicer than buying some random project from abroad. One of the main things though is that it came with the original number plate, which allows VER 858 to be legally ridden once again. That’s something that Peter is already doing. He was lucky that the scooter had been dry-stored over the years and the rubber floor mats had actually helped to protect the scooter’s floor, so the frame was in pretty good condition.

With the original paintwork cleaned up and preserved, a rebuilt engine, brakes overhauled and everything working and running as it should he can just enjoy the scooter now. It’ll be owned and ridden by a scooter enthusiast, rather than sold to a number plate collector. Just how it should be, I’m sure Jean’s family will be happy to see it back on the road after 57 years languishing in the shed.

Iggy