PL170 VESPA – MADE IN INDIA
Andhra Pradesh Scooters Limited was an Indian state-owned and run factory that ran from 1974 to 1986. The governmentbacked factory initially produced the Allwyn Pushpak scooter, which was more or less a GP150 Lambretta with a few superficial changes. Piaggio’s presence in India was initially via a hook-up with Bajaj, which ran for a decade from the early 60s to early 70s, the licence expiry in ’71 coinciding with an Indian government-introduced privatisation programme. Bajaj did continue to manufacture ‘Vespas’ for many decades; despite them being Vespa lookalikes, it was without Piaggio endorsement or licence. During the early 80s Piaggio brokered two deals in India, both with input and agreement with the Indian government. One was with Lohia Machines Limited to produce what we know as the LML, based on the PX model. The other was with APSL to produce a smallframe scooter. This would be for the short-lived PL170; its model name is an abbreviation of Pay Load 170 kilograms. It’s believed the deal with APSL was similar to much earlier ones made between Douglas (Bristol, England), AMCA (France) and Piaggio. With the APSL PL170, it seems, in the main, Piaggio supplied scooter parts in kit form, assembled under licence to be marketed in India. The PL170 Vespa is what some older scooterists would describe as a bitsa, as a hybrid of several Vespa smallframe model parts that have been combined in its construction. The basic frame is the longer 50 Special type, stamped V9A, with a drilling in the legshields, high up the steering column area, to house a combined PK type ignition key and steering lock. On the engine side of the frame, the door flap access/panel retaining clasp has a larger hole to accommodate a larger (than its Italian counterpart), more robust, screw close secure clasp, with the opposite side panel housing a toolbox within the panel, complete with a Primavera-style door. Handlebar assembly is basically that of a 50 Special, including headlight and speedo, to the right-hand side is a PK horn and light switch, and a black blanking panel on the left. The engine was pretty much a PK100 with a 12v electronic ignition and 16/16 carburettor. The PL170 was only made/assembled by APSL over a threeyear period, between ’83 and ’86. Several variants unique to the PL170 model include the horncast, a PK/PX style one, except, instead of being plastic, the PL variant was metal. Additionally, some of the later PL170 models boasted an Indian-made MNMCO speedometer instead of the Italian-made Veglia, as fitted to Italian-made 50 Specials as well as early PL170s. After the initial models of PL170, an Indian-made mud flap and centre floor rubber mat was fitted. Also, the rear light unit on most PL170 scooters was similar to that of a Primavera ET3. It was marketed with a single seat and rear pad as standard. The APSL PL170 Vespa wasn’t much of a commercial success; how many examples of the PL170 were produced is currently unknown and unsubstantiated at the time of writing. There is relatively little documented information available regarding this particular Vespa model, made under licence.
Sarge