Reader’s Ride: Diamonds Are Forever
Immortalised by The Who on the cover art of their 1973 rock opera concept album, Quadrophenia, the Vespa GS is a true style icon.
Immortalised by The Who on the cover art of their 1973 rock opera concept album Quadrophenia, the Vespa GS is a true style icon...
That particular Vespa model is also name-checked in the lyrics of I've Had Enough, on that same Who double album. The Vespa Gran Sport is regarded by some as the ultimate Mod scooter, although the TV175 made in Milan at the Innocenti factory could equally stake a claim to that accolade. Manufactured between 1955 and 1961, the piston-ported wideframe scooter is of the correct vintage to have been the top of the range, most desired two-wheeled machine for many of the originators of the Mod subculture. Going exclusively on appearance, the smooth curves of the GS create a thing of beauty. Guernseybased Jason Shambrook is among those who subscribe to the GS Vespa 150's visual impact as being truly stunning, having finally joined that group just over a decade ago when he purchased one for himself; a 1961-registered example (VS5T) of which there were 80,000 made at the Pontedera factory. This particular Vespa GS has been registered for use in the UK for 60 years now. “It's the curves, the styling, in my opinion, there's not a better-looking scooter anywhere. It's a work of art, you can't help but keep looking at it.”
When he first became the new owner after paying £2500 back in 2010, Jason had realised an ambition he'd held since he first developed an interest in scooters as a youngster during his formative and impressionable years in Northampton during the early 80s. All was sunshine and blue skies, as it tends to be often in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, for a while. Until, that is, Jason began experiencing some annoying niggly issues with the engine. “It started misfiring at random times, and from being a pleasure to ride it started to become a mild concern every time I took it out for a spin. It began to misbehave whenever it felt like it, usually at the most inappropriate moments too. At this point, I need to say that I'm not at all mechanically minded, so I took the painful decision to remove the original, standard GS150 motor and replace it with something a bit more contemporary and also reliable, but without compromising or changing the stunning looks of my classic GS150 Vespa. Besides, basically swapping the engine for a newer one would, I thought, be a straightforward operation.”
It’s the curves, the styling, in my opinion, there’s not a better-looking scooter anywhere. It’s a work of art, you can’t help but keep looking at it
After a bit of research, as well as weighing up the pros and cons of his shortlist of possible options, Jason eventually made his decision, settling on a new engine with a Malossi 221 rotary valve engine, built by Ben Nowak at Vespmoto in Germany. “Top end and Polini exhaust apart, it's a fairly standard P-range. It was entirely an intentional decision of mine, so it would retain reliability, but with a little bit more power. Not that I'm what anyone would call a quick rider, (ask the Jersey Royals SC for their opinion, after me riding with them to Weston-super-Mare rally in 2019!). It flies along and goes through the gears well. Changing the engines over was a relatively easy exercise, I've got the original GS150 engine stored should I ever feel the need to go back to standard, or in the unlikely event of deciding to sell my GS150, the original engine is there. Although as it is it'll need stripping down, thoroughly checking over and whatever work is required carried out, including parts replaced, to cure those annoying niggles. Despite the new engine going in nicely, getting the lights and electrics to work was more of a mission than it should have been. I got a wiring loom tailored to allow a P-range engine to work electrically in a GS frame, it was a real effort to get the two to work together. I, wrongly as it turned out, assumed it would be something along the lines of fit the loom in place, plug it in and all would work as it should. It didn't. My electrical skills it seems are about as good as my mechanical skills, pretty much non-existent. Got there eventually, since which my GS has not missed a beat.”