1955 Vespa VL3
A well built classic Vespa evokes scenes of young men in Italy, a girl on board on their way through the Piazza to find a bite to eat. However, this 1955 VL3 is built entirely for other purposes, and that is to compete in the Classic Australian Scooter Mille, where entrants ride 1000 km over 2 days, with no GPS, and only vintage gear boxes need apply.
Scooter Meccanica’s custom vintage Vespa ‘Alchemy’ was uncovered at Throttle Roll Custom Motorcycle 2020. She blew & away. The ridiculous 4 week build time pushed Sandy Symeonides (the head owner of Scooter Meccanica) to his limits, but with the help his son Ryder Wolf they turned a vision to reality. The frame was rotted through the floor and rear wheel channel. But as such a rare model and Ryder’s vision in mind to create a 1950’s inspired Sei Giorni styled racer, Sandy used all his skills as a master fabricator and scooter restorer to pull off the impossible.
Careful attention was paid to expose the brazing lines, and together with the custom gold plated Bitubo shock absorbers, help give this custom scooter its name- “Alchemy;” turning rust into gold. A custom set of bars join the PK disc conversion, and a custom Sei Giorni fuel tank, create the classic 1950’s Vespa racing lines, while still retaining the patina of the original carcass. But where this Vespa really stands out, is in the Horsepower department. It has been taken from a humble 2 hp engine, to a monster 45hp at the rear wheel. This little scoot was built to haul, utilising a BFA 306 engine block, reed induction with a 35 ml TMX carb, custom built expansion pipe, and reinforced BGM clutch will prevent any slip while chewing up the hill while touring around Australia.
However, covid unfortunately put a halt to the Scooter Mille that year, and as fate would have it, Jay Collins a great friend of Sandy and Supporter of Scooter Meccanica, was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 47. At Jay’s request to own the ultimate Vespa in Australia to be able to ride to the hospital everyday for treatment, Jay’s last ride on two wheels was on Alchemy. This Epic build is now ridden in memory of Jay Collins, Rest in Peace brother.
