Restoration of your prized Lambretta or Vespa

Scooters Originali are known within the USA and around the world for our top quality, concourse restorations. We can restore your scooter to "like new", just as it was when it rolled off the factory line, or with custom paint and artwork and a performance engine.
Prices range from $4,500 to $7,500 depending on the model of the Vespa or Lambretta, and the condition it is in. For instance, a Vespa Smallframe would probably be in the $4,500 range whilst a Vespa GS160 or a Lambretta SX200 with panels missing, a frozen engine, and in general overall sorry shape would hit the $7,500 mark. A Vespa GS160 or a Lambretta SX200 is worth that kind of money and time. A 1964 Allstate is probably not. (unless the scooter holds real sentimental value for you). Any custom paintwork, or performance engine work will push the cost higher.

General Estimate of the various stages

1. Strip Down:
Your scooter is stripped down to its component pieces: bodywork, engine, forks, and other parts. This is a pure Labor charge. On average, it takes 8 hours to do all this. On older, rusted or bodged scooters, this time can double, or even triple. Labor Rate: $65/hour Job: $520.00 plus.

2. Media Blasting:
We have your scooter body work media blasted down to bare metal, so that the painters have the best possible surface to start bodywork and paint on. Subcontracted Labor: $250.00 - $350.00

3. Bodywork and Paint:
Bodywork and preparation is the key to the best looking paint. A Vespa or Lambretta that requires a lot of welding and corrective bodywork will cost more than a scooter with very straight bodywork. Two tone paint costs more than a single color. Custom artwork will add more cost. We can discuss your bodywork and paint reqirements with you, and suggest a plan that meets both your wants and budget. Subcontracted Labor: Starting at $2,000

4. Engine Rebuild:
While your scooter is being painted, we are rebuilding your engine. All parts are media blasted, all adjusters and external hardware replaced or zinc coated. You get a perfect running engine, which also looks brand new to go along with your brand new looking scooter. $680 + parts.



5. Powder Coating:
For Vespa restorations we have forks, stands, stand brackets, wheel rims, hubs, swing arms and more powder coated back to the original silver/aluminum color. This stage is usually not required for Lambretta restorations, as these parts are painted rather than powdercoated. Subcontracted Labor: $200 on average.

6. Polishing/Chroming:
While the painters and powder coaters are busy, we send out your metal bits to be polished and/or chromed. Polishing is the cheaper, more original way to go (especially for aluminum items) but we can chrome anything you want as well (hubs, wheel rims, etc). Items like panel levers, switch housings, hand levers, choke knobs, fuel rods and fender crests are polished to a nice shine. Subcontracted Labor: Vespa restorations $100 plus. Lambretta restorations $200 plus.

7. Parts Replacement:
This is arguably the hardest section to average out a price for. This is the replacement of all wearable parts of your scooter, which is the key to making the scooter look new. Everything that is worn or old is replaced. This includes but is not

8. limited to:
cables, wiring loom, rubber grommets, tires, inner tubes, brakes, switches, switch covers, seat covers, seat frames, tail lights, headlights, speedometer face and lens, floor channels, endcaps, locks and so on. This is the section where a huge price variable is to be expected, as every scooter is treated differently and each requires a unique list of replacement parts. Price: $800 to $1,500 plus depending on model.

9. Final Assembly:
Once the painted frame and body parts are back, the engine is built, and the powder coating and polishing are back in the shop, we can start the reassembly of your scooter. This is very labor intensive. It includes running new cables and a wiring loom, rebuilding the forks, installing the engine, installing new floor channel kit, installing forks, and so on. This is also the most important aspect of the restoration to ensure that your Vespa or Lambretta will run perfectly as well as look beautiful. Labor Rate $65/hour Hours: 30 plus hours Job: $1,950 plus.

Posted in: restorations