New: a 1967 Vespa 180 SS

It's been a while since I updated this blog. Partly because I was taken ill for while. Actually so bad that I missed the scooter premiere here in Stockholm about a week ago.
Now I'm feeling better! Especially since my "new" Vespa has arrived. I heard about this one a couple of weeks ago. The seller didn't know much except that it had a trapezoidal head lamp. Could be a 150 cc Sprint - or preferably a 180 Super Sport...
It was the latter, hooray!
Well, not in a super condition, but not bad either. Everything seems to be there and the engine is not seized. The guy I bought it from claims that an earlier owner had the engine overhauled. Although it in some areas seems untouched, someone has been fiddling with it. For example has the tank been out, and hopefully cleaned, but not reinstalled properly. The gears seems to work, as the throttle and brakes. The electrics has to be sorted though. There is some damage on the handlebar, but it's restorable.
As you can see from the pictures the original paint (Monza red?) is a bit faded. There is also a lot of period stickers, mainly from Finland, which appeals to me.
The plan is to just clean and polish it, and making it work well mechanically.

An old Vespa Club member

I got some pictures from an old member of the Vespa Club Sverige (Sweden). Pictures of his membership cards, from 1965 to 1972. First he lived in the centre of Sweden and then he moved up north to the town of Umeå.
The photo below is from a trip he made to Germany in 1966, when he was 17 years old, on his 1961 Vespa 125 Popolino (VNS2), a special model for Sweden for 16-year olds and under 75 kg (the Vespa...).
He travelled with a friend and the poor scooter had a heavy load; tools, tent, sleeping bags, kitchen utensils, spare tanks for petrol and oil, spare wheel etc.
He claims it reached 80 kph with no wind, 90 kph slipstreaming after a lorry. He traveled like this through Europe during two summers.

Street legal faro basso

07.45 this morning my 1953 Vespa 125, faro basso, passed it's MoT! Happy days!

Husqvarna Glider - got one?

Life is full of surprises, la vita è piena di sorprese!
This is a Swedish scooter from 1959 that I didn't know of until now.
It's origin is a Swedish 50 cc scooter-moped from Husqvarna, penned by the Saab-designer Sixten Sason. It had 1 hp strong Husqvarna-engine and pedals according to Swedish law.
In an attempt to conquer the US market this Husqvarna Glider was developed. The front shield was extended with floor boards, a kick pedal and a foot brake replaced the pedals. Still a 50 cc but enlarged to produce 2,5 hp.
At least a 100 of them were built and they occasionally show up for sale or in forums in the USA.
To me it's much cooler than the Husqvarna Parilla!

A sunday with my Vespas

Another sunny day here in Stockholm. I decided to try my 1953 Vespa 125 faro basso (VM1), I think it was two years since the last ride. Some new petrol and it fired up nicely. Took it for a ride in the neighbourhood, it felt alright, but small! The TV 175 is bigger! And stronger...

But I discovered some flaws on the VM1, one end cap to floor rails were missing, but I had a spare. There some orange paint on the front mudguard, I have to sort that. I also moved the pillion seat, bought at the Imola fair, from the Vespa 125 U to the VM1. It's very comfy, but I'm not sure about the colour.

Then I took the U for ride. But it didn't go as well as the VM1. I wonder if there are some carburettor issues. The revs was a bit weird, will check that later. And then there is the Lambretta 150D who refused to start today...

The VM1 needs to have an MOT, hopefully in a couple of weeks. I will concentrate on that!

I moved this pillion seat from the U to the VM1.

I discovered that an end cap was missing. Had some spare...

The 1953 Vespa 125 got a new wheel disc.

The Vespa U did have some sun as well.

One hour later it was snowing.

Pimping my Lambretta TV 175

Lots of sun today, and a tad warmth...
The Lambretta TV 175 series 1 was pimped today. The spare wheel cover with it's spinner was mounted. On a Vespa bracket, somewhat altered...
The cover and the spinner was found some years ago at a veteran fair. I wonder if the spinner actually is a cap to gas tank? Although a hommage to the English mods!
I also mounted the exhaust deflector, looks nice.

Yes, I could clean the engine...

Almost 30 years apart, Lambretta from 1958, Vespa from 1987.

Non-running Swedish scooter

I had a go at this one as well during Easter. But I gave up. The petrol was gushing through the petrol tap. Maybe just a dry gasket, but I remember that the tap was leaking when I last rode about two years ago. Have to search for a new tap, which shouldn't be that difficult.