1948 Vespa Faro Basso "Rod" 125 cc. (IC204)

This 1948 Vespa is from one of the very first years of production.  Just imagine, the first Vespas were made in 1946, and serious production only got going in 1947.  We have been fortunate to have found several of these very early scooters on our searches in Italy.  Even in Italy, these very early scooters are coveted by collectors.  In the US, there are only a handful of them.  Indeed, sales of Vespas in the US didn’t begin at all until 1952 (through Sears).  

This is a scooter for a serious collector.  It is in wonderful condition, and is ready to display and enjoy.  These early Vespas display the purity of design that is the hallmark of the Vespa throughout the years.  They are simple machines, but utterly pleasing to the eye.  While the bodywork hides much of the mechanical parts, much more is visible on the early “faro basso” than on the later models.  As the scooters evolved, much of what is visible in the early models moved inside the frame.  For example, this scooter has a “cut away” cowl, with a louvered fan cover on the motor.  Most notably, the gear change mechanism on this scooter is exterior to the frame, and accomplished through a complex series of rods.  These rods articulate with the handlebars and translate the rotary motion of the handlebar gear change with the horizontal rotation of the gear change on the motor.  Ingenious!  For someone looking for the crown jewel of their collection, look no further.

Price (before tax): $22,495

Make: Vespa

Year: 1948

Inventory number: IC204

License needed: Yes

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