We have one special relationship with the modern Vespa motorbike around. Our founding editor, Chris Hunter, used to commute in one in Sydney, I used to commute in one in Cape Town, and our good friend, Winston Yeh, travels around Taipei in his car (a black one, of course). But we won’t have the first clue how to customize a modern Vespa.
They’re cute enough, wishing they were a little more accessorized instead of heavily modified. It takes a lot of imagination to look past the iconic bodywork and see something completely different. Luckily, Adam Eldridge has a rich imagination.
Based in Austin, Texas, Adam is a fabricator who has spent the last two decades honing his skills. Working under the direction of Python Lair Designs, he has built custom bicycles, helicopters, and hand trucks, and even handled interior architectural metalwork.
The order for the Vespa came from Guido DeVita – a mysterious old man of about 70 years old, with an equal love for cars and motorbikes and no regard for convention. Adam works regularly for Guido’s business, ilGaragista, and describes it as “a custom shop with no boundaries other than the checkbook.”
Thanks to their relationship, Adam had the right to freely play with the 2003 Vespa GT 200. So, he went all out, tearing the Vespa GT 200 apart until only the engine cover, front fork and wheel. But first, he measured every inch of the stock bike, entered those measurements into SolidWorks 3D design software, and designed a new frame.
Once the new frame was built, Adam began shaping the Vespa’s new body from aluminum panels. The scooter’s shell consists of four pieces on the inside and five pieces on the outside, with a special skeleton structure supporting the rear part of the body. Each piece is made by hand, using English wheels, planing hammers, nylon hammers, sandbags and TIG welding.
The design draws on a series of references, creating an interesting aesthetic that is part art deco and part retro sci-fi. Hints of classic aeronautical design come from Piaggio’s heritage as an aircraft manufacturer, with classic automotive touches stemming from Adam’s passion for racing cars.
“The concept of reusing surplus has always appealed to me,” says Adam. “I have long admired Bill Burke’s P-51 Belly Tank—a 165-gallon P-51 Mustang wing tank, repurposed to reach speeds of up to 131 mph at El Mirage. Ideas were swirling around in my head, especially about building a car for the lake – a pursuit driven by a clear, numerical goal. Some of these ideas were expressed on the Vespa.”
Adam cites another influence on his Vespa—the PTG Racing BMW E36 M3 racers of the mid-90s. “My father and I visited Road Atlanta several times,” he recalls, “where I found himself captivated by PTG’s E36 M3s, especially the No. 6 Yokohama car. I vividly recall pictures of that car on my disposable 35mm camera on weekends at the track.”
On the surface, Adam’s Vespa has very little in common with the (admittedly awesome) PTG BMW. But as soon as you get closer, the connection becomes clear.
While the Vespa is all about style on the outside, it’s all about the performance under the hood (at least equivalent to a 198cc scooter). Climb aboard and look straight down, and you’ll be faced with a custom-designed vehicle turbocharger setting.
Adam told us: “The engineering of the turbo and piping poses challenges, especially in integrating them with the transmission, which functions as a unified assembly. The use of aircraft hoses for the turbocharger is necessary to compensate for the vertical movement of the suspension at the rear. We have carefully considered the design of all the lines connecting the main systems to the engine, ensuring they can move in parallel with the transmission.”
Adam also includes a low PSI regulator, a lift pump, and a new ECU. There’s a lot going on between the rider’s legs, including a custom fuel tank, a battery tray hidden under the seat, and significant modifications to the Vespa’s liquid cooling system; None of these are off-the-shelf solutions.
Next, Adam threw some running gear updates into the mix to accommodate the increased output. Frando brake calipers handle duty at both ends, along with new Bitubo shocks and Pirelli Diablo Scooter tires.
The cockpit features a heavily modified classic Piaggio steering wheel set. The switches are from Motogadget and the stylish speedometer was a lucky Amazon find. Both are integrated into the handlebar housing via more streamlined metalwork.
New grips and Motogadget handlebar end turn signals complete the package. The brakes are linked and operated via custom foot pedals, eliminating the need for any levers on the bars.
Both artistic and technical, Adam’s modern reworking of the Vespa makes it a worthy addition to ilGaragista’s ever-expanding collection. We’re sure this won’t be the last time these creative minds collaborate, but we’re not sure how they’ll achieve this feat.
Python lair design | Image by John Jacksonshoot in Austin Speed Shop
