The strangest thang

Jun 04, 2004 5 Replies

I gave one last go at selling the last few rangie bits on Ebay, B4 we either threw them out, or, put them in the Old Sodbury bin LOL



But a chap bid on and bought a couple of bits, and turned up today to collect them, with the darndest motor on his trailer.



Anyone heard of a Piaggio Vespamotor?



Well, It's a Vespa, with no changes to the front end, except a cab is over it, a bit like an old daihatsu van cab, on the back is a pretty big pickup/flatbed (compared to the engine that is), and under that is a 2 wheel axle, with the 50cc vespa engine bolted (or almost not in this case) to it. That is bolted to the diff pretty well.



An interesting motor, most of the mechanicals where pure Vespa, circa, probly 60's/70's I dunno, the back end was Vespa engine with a bit of mod to do the double wheels and flat bed..



A VERY interesting bit of kit, had a good nosey after it almost fell off the trailer on the way to pick up the RR bits, but the VERY interesting guy who was transporting it said it was not the most unusual motor he had, then explained an old 60's car that had very strange brakes, where the brake pads encircled the entire wheel, which was one of "thirty odd" motors the guy had as projects.



But has anyone got one of these up and running, I'd LOVE to have a go... Looks great fun.



Anyone ever built a 109, with the front chopped off, inc chassis, and a RR front end put on instead... IE Cab end RR, Rear end 109/110? That's his next project.


Bristol City Council use them for their parks and gardens department. Great little things ... about a zillion miles on a gallon of petrol but alas flat out at 30mph.

Regards Steve G

(snip)

Couldn't have told you the name, but I remember them!

(snip)

I would have guessed late 40s/early 50s

Sounds like a Panhard.

(snip)

JD

LOL, With all the extra weight, I'm surpised they make 30mph... A great little toy tho, and this guy picked it up for free in belgium.

Looking at the shape, I wouldn't have said 40's.. 50's, late 50' maybe, but it wuz a Piaggio Vespamotor, if it rings a bell anywhere LOL.

I'd love to give a working one a drive/ride, it's sort of a cross of the both, it looks fun, even if it may be a tad on the slow side

Very common in Italy - hmmm, that unforgets me - I have a photo somewhere of ojne of these with 6 full size fridge freezers sat on the load bed of one (upright!) - rather funny it looked too - loading it wasn't!), We thought the thing was going to tip going round the roads and up the sort of hills you seem to allways get in the alps!

Must dig it out for a laugh!

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