1957 Vespa GS VS3
Rare in the UK

Registration No: Unregistered
Frame No: VS3T 0031411
Engine No: VS3M 0031585
CC: 150
MOT: Exempt

• Rare machine in the UK
• Imported and owned by an Italian national
• Restored in 2012 in Italy and in excellent condition
• Low mileage at 7885 km ATC
• Original Italian registration documents confirming correct numbers

The Piaggio industrial group was devastated by the consequences of World War 2. Amongst the projects muted to rescue the company was an idea to help mobilise the Italian public with a new transport concept ‘The motor scooter’. This was inspired by the Cushman scooter of Nebraska USA as used by the US paratroopers and seen in the Italian campaign of WW2. Aeronautical engineer Corradino d’Ascanio, normally associated with inventing helicopters, was given the job of designing the scooter. D’Ascanio did not like motorcycles and designed the new vehicle from scratch with a vision for clean reliable personal transport for both men and women. During trials the buzzing noise of the engine and body shape combined for the scooter to be christened the ‘Vespa’ the Italian translation for wasp. From the first appearance of the Vespa in 1946 it was such a success that it has become a symbol of taste, fashion and style and one of the favourite global design icons of all time.

The GS (Gran Sport) was the culmination of all of the speed racers and trial versions of Vespa that had gone before including the famous Sei Giorni’ factory racers. It was the first mass produced sport Vespa to enter the market. The main VS1 production started at the beginning of 1955 and the ‘Vespone’ or big wasp was a tremendous overall success. A great many of the features experimented on the Sei Giorni racers transitioned to the GS. Larger 10 inch ‘star’ wheels, 4 gears in a 150cc 8 HP engine and a new body design with the machine presented in Silver. The VS2 followed in 1956 with very few technical changes save the hidden cables and White speedometer. The leg shield was protected with a chrome trim. The VS3 was all but the same as the VS2.

This VS3 was first registered in Milan in 1957 and was re-registered in Bergamo in 1977 when it was also some quality repainting of the scooter occurred. She is in a very nice condition. The paint has a deep attractive lustre in the original colour however the floor has been painted, as was the style in the day. She has the original keys and a spare wheel holder. The chrome leg shield trim is genuine original Ulma 041 accessory replacement for the original. The current owner bought the scooter in 1992 and was a former member of the Vespa Club Milano. The scooter participated in several rallies in northern Italy and was again subject to a full mechanical restoration in 2012 at a cost of 2000 Euros (the invoice is included). The current owner is an Italian national who brought the scooter with him when he relocated to England five years ago, hence it has not been known in any collectors circles in the UK until now. The owner informs us that she is running well but needs a battery to operate. This is a very nice scooter. The GS VS3 was only produced for approximately a year and is a very rare scooter to be seen in the UK.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Diamond
info@vintagescooters.co.uk
07768 313001