Classic Vespas

Steps for Vespa Scooter Restoration

Each Vespa is restored and reconditioned to original specifications and is finished to an extremely high quality standard using many new parts you will read about below. All units are stripped down to their bare metal frame, re-aligned, then painted in a 4 +1 (metallic) step process (rust preventive, primer, main color and clear coat) with Japanese Kansai Paint, then re-wired & re-cabled. Before final assembly the engine is completely stripped, rebuilt and tested with a burn in due to the new parts used.

View entire Parts List

NEW PARTS (used during restoration process): 

Bearings (all engine and shaft bearings), cylinder, piston, rings, whole carburetor (Dell'Orto), condenser, contact breaker assembly, fuel tap assembly, tap lever, gear selector box and cover, flywheel cover (stainless steel), spark plug, kick starter pedal, clutch plates and drum, connection rod, air filter, brake shoes, generator coil, ignition coil, points, exhaust system, air intake hose, rear suspension (shock), front damper, gear selector, cruciform, tires, tubes, odometer (in kilometers), seats, leg fender shield trim, floor strips, horn, seat carrier, all lights assemblies, all electrical wires, all rubber parts, all cables, seals, gaskets, central chrome stand, emblems, logo, front end shock mount cover (stainless steel), aluminum clutch and front brake levers, left side compartment lock, light switches assembly, all brackets and almost 98% of all bolts, washers and nuts are replaced with new ones. 

REBUILT PARTS (sandblasted, cleaned and kept during re-build):

Only good original output shaft and transmission gears, crankshaft case, cylinder head, brake drums, steering lock (VBB only), flywheel. 

Almost 95% of the parts in each scooter are replaced. What is really left?? Well the Frame, Engine castings, some gears, shafts and some minor parts.

 “Quality has no price and it is priceless.”

We consulted with a group of Electrical and Mechanical engineers that graduated from Polytechnic University of New York to develop our Testing Methods, Specifications and Procedures for all restoration parts. Our team’s combined experience helped us to restore a real quality product for you to have a trouble free scooter. We maintain original configurations and specifications as close to factory original as possible. The Italians invented and designed these great scooters. No modifications are suggested such add-on starters, modified dampers and so on. We think such add-ons or modifications are not proven, and they may cause more problems later on. Anyhow, those changes would affect the true meaning of a “Vintage” restored classic Vespa Scooter.

Lemons are cheap. Don’t spend money for a lemon scooter;

get a “Quality Vintage Scooter from Classic Vespas”.

Our recondition factory is overseas due to the source availability of our products and to the lower labor costs we find there. We guarantee our product to be as good or better than the original. Because of this process we can offer a much lower cost to you and still maintain a high quality product for you our Customer. Our entire staff is trained to our quality standards and specifications that ensure that these Classic Vespas are reconditioned to the manufacturers original specifications and quality.

 “Don’t risk your life on the road by purchasing a cheap chop shop scooter.”

  • High Tech Equipment: We pride ourselves in using the latest hi-tech equipment and in keeping our facilities modernized and up to date.

  • Paint and Oven room: A dust-free environment that allows a much more reliable and much cleaner paint lay down on a scooter. We cure all paint jobs in our special heating ovens that we designed. Our computer controlled process allows the paint to dry much quicker and thus avoid surface damage.

  • Sand blasting /cleaning equipment: This equipment consistently cleans in every corner, socket, and bolt holes. This air-sand operation cleans all parts that are normally hard to access during a restoration process.

  • Air powered hand tools:  All tools are air-powered and torque controlled. This allows us to set the appropriate torque for each nut and bolt, maintaining the original factory specifications. This process adds strength and helps to avoid over stressing your "like new" scooter.

Restoration process:

  • All scooters are stripped down to bare metal. All rubber, plastic, leather, aged aluminum trim cover, electrical wires and harness are usually just thrown away.

  • Body frames are sent to body shop to be inspected. After sanding down to bare metal we inspect them with a magnifier for cracks, welding material and other abnormalities before the alignment step. After inspecting we apply a primer coat then finish with final color paint.

  • Engine castings are cleaned using a sand blaster and then checking for any cracks, stripped threads, bearing surface tolerances, and cylinder walls. We reassemble and replace, Piston, Rings, Carburetor, Crankshaft, all Bearings (crankshaft bearings, gear bearings and main shaft bearing), Clutch, Rebuild all gears and engine block (if damaged), cylinder and cylinder head, exhaust system and all aged parts.

  • We replace all rubber hoses, brakes shoes, shocks, spring, seats, tires, tubes, cables, electrical wiring, odometer, leg fender shield trim, and floor strips.

    NOTE: The special stainless steel that we use is more expensive but last forever.

Pictures of Restoration Steps

(Click on images to enlarge)

Bare Frame Parts at Classic Vespas Painted Parts at Classic Vespas
Body Parts (bare metal) Body Parts (painted)
New parts used for reconditioned Vespas More new parts used to restore a vespa scooter
New Parts Used More new Parts used
Internal cavity (fuel tank area) of Vespa Scooter body being inspected - ready to paint Side view of the main body core after stripping and sanding

Body Bare Metal Cavity (fuel tank area)

Bare Metal Body (side view)
Underside of Vespa body - during final body inspection - prior to painting Stripped bare metal Vespa main core - ready for final inspection then painting

Body Bare Metal Underside

Body in Bare Metal (front view)
Vespa Body Alignment is very important part before painting Painted Vespa body during the baking process - "Is it done yet?"

Full Body Alignment

Paint then Bake 45 minutes
Vespa "Pre-Assembly" area prior to adding engine Vespa engine during their "burn in" runs

Pre-Assembly (before Engine Added)

Engine Testing
Vespa in their final assembly Vespa Scooter shown in a running bench test before final packing for shipment

Final Assembly

Running Bench Test before packing
Vespa being wrapped and crated for shipment

Pack for Shipment

Vespa Scooter in it's final shipping crate awaiting delivery to the docks

Old style all wood crates

New Steel & Fiberboard Shipping Crate (soon to be on it's way to you)

 

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Last Updated: Thursday, 08 May 2008