[Project] - Kickin’ It Back (Old Skool) - My 1983 Vespa P200E Restoration Page
I’ve finally decided to dedicate a page here on my website to feature my 1983 Vespa P200E 200cc scooter restoration project.
Background Information
I have to admit a guilty pleasure. I originally started out with a 49cc 2006 Yamaha Vino scooter which I purchased on December 24, 2006. I picked up the little bugger in the new year of 2006 from Pacific Yamaha (Don’t go there - major rip off!) I originally fell in love with its classic European retro frame styling which convinced my purchase. On top of that, I was transportation-less as I had sold my first car, Pamela, the 1988 Toyota Supercharged MR2 which I still miss very much to this day.
I had gotten bored of the Vino due to its performance output. 49cc didn’t really cut it and in the back of my head, I had always known that this was not the true scooter I wanted. I had always wanted a Vespa but settled for “second place” with the Vino. I had cursed myself throughout the summer for getting the Vino until oen day, I had told myself that I had to let the Vino go. And so I did, I had sold my Vino to a nice lady in her 30s who lived with her boyfriend and needed something to get from A-to-B and I believe she loved it so very much. In 2 days time, I jumped on to the local Vancouver Craigslist forums in search of a Vespa which needed work and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. To my luck, I found the perfect Vespa - the 1983 Vespa P200E - most reliable Vespa ever built.
I had purchased the Vespa, and by coincidence, an exact year today as I type this write-up. Due to my longing for the Vespa to be running and constant procrastination, I felt that it was time to finally get started on the restoral project. I purchased this scooter for $800 from an Irish fellow who lived in my old neighbourhood of Strathcona, infact, in the house my relatives once used to live in on East Georgia Street across from the old “Fung’s Grocery Store.” He was a busy guy as he worked in construction. Nice guy, infact, I had learned that he was getting married in a week and wanted to have the scooter sold. The interesting part to all of this was, he bought the bike from the original president of the Vancouver Vespa Club (who apparently, is a weirdo.) The seller was really honest about its problems and took the time to explain to me in detail as to what the problems were but unfortunately, I’m a moron and have forgotten all of them. What I really liked about this scooter was that the guy who sold the scooter to me met his (now) wife with the scooter. He met a Japanese girl and took her on a ride over the Lions Gate Bridge down Marine to Whytecliffe Park where the Vespa Club usually goes to for their meets and cruises. I felt that was almost a blessing to me as it was pretty cool to hear such an interesting twist to life with a scooter involving it.
To this day, the scooter has been sitting in my garage, only fired up twice since I had purchased it. I haven’t drivin it much except for up and down the block. The engine and exhaust is excessively loud to the point where I’d want to puke out my inner organs out. Not only that, the amount of exhaust gases it pumps out is disgusting. The summer is here so I felt that it was time to bite the bullet and to work on the Vespa, whom I will refer to as Audrey. The weather is nice, I’ve landed myself a secure and important job function within the company and I’ll be earning a few more dollars so hey, why the heck not? I’ve already taken the first step into purchasing the service manuals and I can’t wait for them to arrive so I can get crackin’ on Audrey.
Interesting Facts & Photos
An interesting fact about my scooter is that it has been modified for performance but you know what? Melanie looks like a dirty crackwhore. She looks disgusting. The paint looks half-assed and the performance on it, I’m sure is great, but is too loud and obnoxious, just like an annoying girlfriend. I pulled out the Owners’ Certificate and found out that this scooter was originally Black. It’s now something like a Japanese Takata Green similar to the one posted below [Thanks to Clunky Robot], however, nowhere in such a beautiful condition as the one below. Ultimately, I’d like this scooter to be fully restored back to the original Vespa P200E specs as much as possible using the flat Vespa silver as shown below.
Clunky Robot’s P200E
My Ideal End Result
