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Hi all

New to the forum and would like some help with a restoration project that i am helping my brother in law with.
We are restoring a 1971 douglas vespa 150 super that has been in his garden for 25 years in the rain. The frame mudguard and sidepanels are as rotten as a pear, this doesnt bother us as we are both fabricators and i admire his optimismn as if it were me i would look for a better frame. My questions are thus.

What if any are the differences between this model and the italian scoots
Are floor section repair panels available and how big are these, i think we will probably end up making these from scratch if they are unavailable.

do we just order parts for a 150 super (italian)

Already realised that the engine numbering system seems different to the italian ones.

Will post some pictures of the scoot soon prepared to be horrified as i think we will end up putting in more new metal than what is there. Any help would be appreciated thanks matt

I would imagine the floor sections that SIP do are compatable. As to how large, I'd guess at 'large enough'.

I'm pretty sure that engine components are interchangable, I just hope you are aware that if the 150 Super was launched now, it would infringe the trades descriptions act?

I also bought a super as resto job, ive not had time and now have no intention of doing anything with it except put it on ebay, so if there's anything you want, no reasonable offer refused

Hi there thanks for the replies. I gathered that the 150 super and being on 8 inch wheels wasnt exactly a speed machine , as for the floor sections thanks will look on sip website both sides are rotted away right up to the curves on the front part of the legshields so the repair panels would have to be full length so will have a look.

would be interested inyour side panels and mudguard if your interested maybe interested in the complete bike if its cheap thanks matt

Beedspeed also supply these repair panels.

http://beedspeed.com/product_info.php/cPath/76_89_228/products_id/4617

Thanks had a look half the price too.

No difference. It IS an italian scoot, PIaggio built. Douglas ceased manufacture of Vespas in 1965, although they continued to be registered as Douglas for many years after.
How exactly is the engine number different?

Ok thanks ive really only had experience with lambrettas but was under the impression that the engine number should prefix with some letters this scoot is purely numeric is this correct for the model thanks matt

Yes, you are right a Super will be VBC1Mxxxxxx. AFAIK just numbers were used on UK Douglas models, is it a Super according to the frame number?

If you need to check look at scooterhelp.com

Not unusual if it's had a different engine fitted at some time..

The rear of the frame is really rusted and i havnt had chance yet to clean the rust off im presuming that the frame number will be under the right hand side panel. Thing is the bike looks origional in every way and has only covered 8000 Miles if the speedo is to be believed,but i think from the fastenings that this is probably the first time it has been apart so will investigate further. If the engine number is purely numeric does anyone know who used this sytem or what model it would be the engine number is *135639* thanks matt

Can you post a pic? if you are not sure, then check the 8" wheels, if it has seperate wheel rims and hubs with a centre nut then it's a Super if they are solid with 4 bolts in the middle, then it's possibly a Douglas Sportique, IFAIK Douglas used numerical with no prefix on the engine. Other easy way to ID a Super is the side panels which are flat sided (more like a Sprint, Rally etc) with no trims, Sportique and variants used a much more rounded panel.. Bill Drake of the VVC would be able to ID the engine number, I've not come across a list of Douglas ones anywhere.. that said, have you cleaned above the engine number? that's where the prefix is, not before it..

Thats great will go back and have a look in the next few days thanks again matt