As you may know, one of our bugaboos here at Scooterlounge has been the influx of crap Asian "restoration" Vespas and Lambrettas to the US. They are a trap for those new to the vintage scooter world, and can easily turn someone who would join our ranks as a vintage scooterist into someone who hates the thought of a scooter because they were burned. The unscrupulous people who sell these things should be prosecuted.
Where I live, in the San Fransicso area, we have a lively scooter scene, and a lively internet culture... the two often meet on Craigslist classifieds. There is a general internet culture here of policing Craigslist, and pointing out egregious scammers.
A case in point, there was recently an ad on Craigslist for a Vespa that was clearly a Viet-deathtrap. There are times when the sellers will be honest about what they are selling. In that case, I'm ok with it. You couldn't pay me to take one off your hands, but if you are upfront about what it is, fine. However, this particular seller was clearly hiding the provenance of his crapmobile. Enter, the Craigslist scooter flamers!
Below the jump - the original ad, and the take downs...
Just from the photos of this monstrosity, it checks all the boxes for Vietnam disaster. Let me point out just a few... 60's style body with a 50's style handlebar, 50's style headlight on the front fender (not used on Vespas since the mid-50's), chrome P-style centerstand complete with yellow booties, typical Nam chrome crashbars, typical strangely shaped seat, and last but not least, it still has the Vietnam license plate on it!
Note that the seller is asking an insane price of $4500... much more than you would pay for a nice non-Nam VBB. Here is the text of the original ad:
I have a rare 1964 Vespa straight from Italy never even registered in the US till now. Im right in Hayes Valley (Hayes and Laguna). check out what the guys at Piaggio did with the light placement and the spare tire and the rack placement on this model. All the hoses and plugs are new. It starts right up and runs strong. the paint needs some help and the chrome needs to be redone. With some TLC this bike will be a serious classic. This scooter has been in the basement since I bought it from an Opera singer in the city.
Call me if you have any questions: (415) 235 9982.
Thanks, Puran.
Come and check it out. I will not ship or entertain any out of state offers.
This one was just too much for the scooter community in the SF Bay Area to take. The subsequent take-downs came fast.
This was the first big one:
Jesus Christ what a scam.
"straight from Italy" my ASS......this thing just SCREAMS "Vietnam". There are so many obvious, cliche, Vietnam hackjob "customizations" to this thing.
NO model in 1964 (or EVER, frankly) looked like that. It is a Frankenstein of about four different models.
So I guess the fictional "opera singer" he purchased this from never registered the bike and kept the FOREIGN LICENSE PLATE (see photo)?
..
The fact that the guy has to LIE about it's origins is all you need to know about this thing.
Then this one:
Wait, I remember this scooter. It was owned by a guy name Luigi, or Guiseppe who used to ride it from the Leaning Tower to the Canals of Venice between opera gigs. He had this custom made by the "Guys of Piaggio" who attached the one-of-a-kind front rack, and rarely seen spare tire holder. Also, I think the Pope himself commisioned the unique placement of the headlight (and blessed this scoot, personally).
Then finally the coup d'grace:
"Rare" 1964 Vespa? Buddy....looking at this hodgepodge assembly of 1956 through 1964 Vespa parts not to mention the possibility there might be sections of a 1960 Schwinn involved I'd say you don't know too much about Vespas. For one 1964 didn't have a handlebar model nor one with a fenderlite appendage but you believe what yuo want, after all you had to pick a year.
"Vespa straight from Italy"??? Sure it was. Straight from Italy into Vietnam. From the looks of the digs this was pictured in it might still BE there and what's with the plate? Listen Einstein...if you're going to bullshit someone at least be smart. Hide the plate for starters genius and hope you've got a sucker with no idea Vespas don't have Budweiser cans as components of the engine.
You're in Hayes Valley? Beautiful. I'm in Sacramento. And from God damn Sacramento I can see this is a Vietnam Vespa.
And who are the "guys at Piaggio"? Are they there in the third picture here?
All the hoses and plugs are new? Wonderful. Too bad the bike itself looks more worn than a 68 year old toothless hooker hanging out at Earl's Pool Hall. That and coupled with the fact this shine job is from Asia with love wouldn't make me trust it for a gravity ride down a steep hill.
With some TLC this bike will be a classic? -Brother, that thing is akin to putting together a Corvette using items from 1967 through 1984 only to stand beside that Frankenstein you manufactured and lay out the claim you've got something Barrett Jackson auctioneers would love to handle. And the price....Geeeesus buddy....you're asking for a number only a real Vespa fixed up and signed by Elvis with a Sharpie would bring in so put away the idea yuo're going to sell that thing for $4,500.
Call you if I have any questions? - I've got all SORTS of questions....like just how stupid do you think we are by selling an obvious Vietnam bodge job claiming it was owned by an opera singer and driven to make spaghetti runs in Venice before you lovingly had it shipped to America?
Come and check it out? More like come and check you out. I wouldn't mind looking at the lop headed fool who is trying to pull the wool over our eyes in selling this thing.
Thank you Craigslist scooter community, thank you for restoring my faith in humanity... and for a good laugh!