This thing is a long time coming. Ten years ago I learned that a co-worker had a Vespa 400 shell sitting under tree. He laid it in the dirt in 1986 or so as a source for body panels for the one he restored. That car hasn't seen the light of day since 1995 so the need for sheet metal evaporated. After bothering him weekly for almost a decade I finally gave up.....And then this landed in my garage.
An early Suzuki GSX-R600 motor. 106hp with a 6 speed gearbox. Only 4000 miles on it.
So I inquired about the car again and this time he said "I should probably bring it in for you, there isn't much left of it though" I was shocked! He finally said yes! Another week went by with him telling me it wasn't worth fixing and was totally gone. I told him that I didn't care and all I wanted were the bits that made it look like a Vespa. After learning that it still had all its paperwork and he would deliver it to me we settled on a $75 price.
And here is the little rusty mess.
Because the 850 is just too big, right?
Interesting factoid about the oh so italian Vespa
This is OK actually. I was just gonna cut those out anyway
I am actually delighted with what I recieved. It really is almost everything I needed and very little I don't. The sheet metal that counts is in suprisingly good nick.
I will be co-building this with my good friend Ransom. We will be prepping this car to take part in the Grassroots motorsports 20XX challenge and to be a weekend toy/autocross weapon. Unfortunately Ransom lives 150 miles north of me so updates will be sporadic and at first will be a lot of big ideas and very little metal work.
Our budget is $2012 dollars and there is a lot left to buy/fabricate. This means salvage and creative repurposing will be high on the list of skills needed.
The plan you ask? Tube chassis, mid engined, vespa skinned 2 seater. Looking for a curb weight of around 1000lbs.
Now I am off to attempt to teach myself Google Sketchup so we can throw ideas back and forth via email.
An early Suzuki GSX-R600 motor. 106hp with a 6 speed gearbox. Only 4000 miles on it.
So I inquired about the car again and this time he said "I should probably bring it in for you, there isn't much left of it though" I was shocked! He finally said yes! Another week went by with him telling me it wasn't worth fixing and was totally gone. I told him that I didn't care and all I wanted were the bits that made it look like a Vespa. After learning that it still had all its paperwork and he would deliver it to me we settled on a $75 price.
And here is the little rusty mess.
Because the 850 is just too big, right?
Interesting factoid about the oh so italian Vespa
This is OK actually. I was just gonna cut those out anyway
I am actually delighted with what I recieved. It really is almost everything I needed and very little I don't. The sheet metal that counts is in suprisingly good nick.
I will be co-building this with my good friend Ransom. We will be prepping this car to take part in the Grassroots motorsports 20XX challenge and to be a weekend toy/autocross weapon. Unfortunately Ransom lives 150 miles north of me so updates will be sporadic and at first will be a lot of big ideas and very little metal work.
Our budget is $2012 dollars and there is a lot left to buy/fabricate. This means salvage and creative repurposing will be high on the list of skills needed.
The plan you ask? Tube chassis, mid engined, vespa skinned 2 seater. Looking for a curb weight of around 1000lbs.
Now I am off to attempt to teach myself Google Sketchup so we can throw ideas back and forth via email.