Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza - Jalopnik Comments

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

joneez — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:09:25 EDT

@kleinlowe: Ya, I mean, you already took the Smart's motor out when you GSXR'd it, so there ya go.

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

kleinlowe — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:49:55 EDT

Just drop the entire butt-end of a Smart in and call it a day. All the mechanicals are back there so it wouldn't be too much work and in a few years Smart bits will be common on the American market anyway.

kleinlowe

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Jonee — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:08:09 EDT

Actually, this is a pretty good project for the price. Sure, it's a lot of work, but these are beautiful cars. Put that transmission back together right and you've got one of the smoothest shifting gearboxes I've ever driven. Seriously.

Jonee

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

NovaloadMissesPolar — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:28:29 EDT

Top Ten Reasons Why I Can't Buy This:

10) I'm on the wrong coast

9) My $2300 has to go for kitchen upgrades

8) My driveway is too steep at the top and it would scrape or get hung up

7) I thought these were clown cars

6) I have to buy the super deluxe complete Sears toolkit first

5) The only Vespa I know about has 2 wheels

4) Seriously, isn't this what clowns pile out of at the circus?

3) I don't know how it works

2) Some assembly required

And the Number One Reason is:
1) My ass is too fat.

NovaloadMissesPolar

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

DucatiChuck — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:58:39 EDT

@TheTooth: i'm with you. you can pick up a 900SS motor for peanuts. 85 horsepower, great torque, air cooled...

DucatiChuck

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

ChasG — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:07:26 EDT

I started thinking about some ungodly combination of a Vespa body and a Legends Car chassis. To the point of looking up the dimensions of the two. Turns out the Vespa is smaller than a Legends car.
Vespa: 66.75" wheelbase, 112" long x 43" wide
Legends car: 73" wheelbase, 126" long x 60" wide.

ChasG

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

TheTooth — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:09:22 EDT

@Pope Dearthair the Awesometh: Muah ha ha ha... my work here is done.

TheTooth

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Deartháir and his eight little drained beers — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:40:56 EDT

@TheTooth: That suddenly got me excited about that project. Hmm.

*starts counting coins in piggy-bank*

Deartháir and his eight little drained beers

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Spasticteapot — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:39:20 EDT

I'd go for a used R1 engine as well. Sequential gearboxes are nifty.

Spasticteapot

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Tanshanomi — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:26:36 EDT

Or V-Max-4.
Polaris triple.

Whatever. You get the idea.

Tanshanomi

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Tanshanomi — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:25:40 EDT

Nah. Gotta be a two-stroke. I'm thinking TZ750 power.

Tanshanomi

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Lackey — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:12:50 EDT

Keep it in the family. How about a 500 cc single with 40+ hp? [www.piaggiousa.com]

Lackey

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

TheTooth — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:48:28 EDT

@Bret: Or maybe a Ducati engine?

TheTooth

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Bret — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:46:34 EDT

This needs to stay Italian. I'd say it needs to be Guzzi'd.

Bret

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Mad_Science — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:39:29 EDT

So tempting.

Mad_Science

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Deartháir and his eight little drained beers — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:34:59 EDT

Screw it. None of this motorcycle nonsense. Find a VR6. I'd say "Lower it", but the VR6 (and you) should take care of that. 17" wheels. (I'd go with 21s, but they won't fit... because they're bigger than the car.)

Oh and a crash helmet. You'll need it.

You would be creating a 1/2 scale replica of the GTI W12.

Deartháir and his eight little drained beers

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

combat chuck — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:34:32 EDT

This comes to mind:
[upload.wikimedia.org]

combat chuck

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Hart88 — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:21:43 EDT

I know a few vintage Vespa (scooter) enthusiasts who would kill for this.

Hart88

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

vwminispeedster is actively searching for a $500 Citroen — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:15:33 EDT

if junkman doesn't already have one of these he should.

vwminispeedster is actively searching for a $500 Citroen

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Smells_Homeless — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:04:55 EDT

Forget the bike engines, this thing is small enough to be propelled by a sterling engine.

Smells_Homeless

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

boosted-lego-wagon — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:04:01 EDT

"Makes Everything Feel Italian."

Actually, no, it feels like I'm sitting on a tire.

boosted-lego-wagon

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

CharlzR — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:34:28 EDT

At 17 hp, maybe I could just rebody my John Deere lawn tractor on the cheap.

CharlzR

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

dculberson — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:28:04 EDT

If that paint isn't hiding nasty body work, it actually looks pretty nice! Oh wait, I just noticed he says "...requires serious rust repair." Looking at the pics again, it would be a ton of work.

I'll go against the grain here and say instead of a 'busa motor, use something like a GS500e motor. Super cheap, 50hp, air cooled so it would sound right and you don't need to add a radiator or a ton of plumbing.

Or, if you wanted deadly performance, a Yamaha R1 motor would be a lot cheaper than a 'busa.

dculberson

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

GrandMarquis_de_Sade — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:27:16 EDT

@Number_Six: D'OH.. a Fez is critical.. good call.

GrandMarquis_de_Sade

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

TheTooth — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:22:54 EDT

Oh God... how glad my fiance must be that I don't have room for a new project. LOL

TheTooth

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

deckard97 — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:20:58 EDT

Yup, go-kart frame, busa everything else. Flat black paint with flame. Call it Fireball, or Sting, (Vespa means wasp in Italian).

deckard97

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

TheTooth — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:19:38 EDT

Let me be the fourth to say that all it needs is a 'BUSA to be fantastic!

TheTooth

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

acidic — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:16:30 EDT

acidic

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

Number_Six — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:16:23 EDT

At least there's already a hole in the roof to accommodate my fez.

Number_Six

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

NatefromOgden — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:14:35 EDT

Like minds today- that was my first thought, "that thing needs a 'busa". And some stealth black paint.

NatefromOgden

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

jchabotte — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:11:05 EDT

I was thinking Hyabusa motor as well!!

jchabotte

Basket Case Vespa 400 Will Be Check Writing Extravaganza

GrandMarquis_de_Sade — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:10:02 EDT

'Busa that thang like the SMART. Where's your imagination guys....?

GrandMarquis_de_Sade