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This site would be incomplete without details about the inspiration behind it. I bought my SS and an Italian
import in April 1999. After a little deliberation I decided that I would go for a more standard finish rather than
re-create one of the dealer specials of the sixties. Here are a few pictures of the scooter before I started the work. Click on any of the images on this page to see them larger. 
 All of the running gear had been shotblasted back to bare metal and entrusted to Matt for the respray. Most of the paintwork was returned on 14th May 99. 
17th May 99 : The first job was to feed all the cables and the wiring loom through the frame. This little job took a lot longer than you could ever imagine, if you are planning to do this may I suggest you practice your full range of swear words before proceeding. 
 24th May 99 : The forks were fitted ( you can make your life a lot easier if you fit the mudguard before the fork bearing race and dustcover ) along with the engine that I had rebuilt while the scooter was at the sprayers. Now before you say anything, I know it would have made sense to have finished building the forks before fitting them but I ran into a few problems with a cracked pivot link and a front damper shroud that went missing somewhere :-( Thanks to Ashley and Matthew of the Veteran Vespa Club for helping me out here. The handlebars have now been fitted and built up. The next job will be fitting the floor runners.  I have had this waterslide Pin-Up Girl for some time now and will be putting her on the legshield, I have a problem though, she doesnt have a name. Any ideas ? 19th June 99 : Finally got some more time to work on the SS. No real hassles with this lot which makes a nice change, you can probably see from the pictures whats been done this time. 
26th June 99 : Although it doesnt look like much a fair bit of progress this week. The wiring was completed The petrol tank was fitted, choke and throttle cables and the brakes finished. Today was the big " will it start" day and I can happily report it started second kick and sounds as sweet as can be. I need to thank Simon and Pete for their help today, I think they could sense how desperate I was to hear it run and Jim for not moaning for it taking up his workshop space for yet another week. Ta. Hopefully I will be riding it by next weekend. 
 
 29th June 99 : The SS passed its MOT easily and I registered it the same day, was given the registration ( age related 1965 ) of FKJ 151C, recorded mileage ( in kilometers ) of 46,181. 16th July 99 :OK, finally can you belive its finally finished. I have now covered about 400 miles on it and its ..... GREAT ! I rode it down to Camber Sands and onto Hastings and it runs just great. I did take a batch of photos but the weather was so horrid they just came out horrible. The only probs I've had so far was a blocked jet ( easy fixed ) and a voracious appetite for brake light bulbs ( the SS not me ), I have not traced this yet and I KNOW its not the earth 'cos they are alll soldered. I took a quick picture this morning with a borrowed digital camera so you can all have a sneak preview. NOW where did I put that phone number of the guy with the GS in bits :-)  I will take some better photos just as soon as we get a sunny day. I hate taking photos 'cos when ever I take them I always compare them to Mark Posselt's and get all gutted - well he gets more sun thats my excuse:-) |