Custom Creations: Vespa Douglas Model G

Created by Dietrich Limper at 09:02 on February 21, 2024

The world of restored and converted scooters never ceases to amaze us with its incredible variety and creativity. Donat from Scooter Equipment Schwabach (S.E.SC) realised a very special project a while ago, which we would like to show in our "Custom Creations" series. It is a very special scooter, of which not too many have survived.

Rather rare - the Vespa Douglas Model G

A Vespa from the Kingdom

Only around 3,300 of the Model G Vespa Douglas were produced between 1953 and 1954, in Kingswood, UK. The well-known British motorbike manufacturer Douglas built more than 120,000 Vespa scooters under licence from Piaggio between 1951 and 1965. The Model G was a 125 cc Vespa and was roughly equivalent to the Vespa V15T. However, the G Model already had the more modern cable control instead of the linkage of the V15. The frame of the G Model was also a transitional design, the sheet metal division at the rear was still the same as with the beaded frame, but the beading itself had almost disappeared, almost like on the subsequent Faro Bassos without beading.

Donat bought his Vespa from an owner who had had an accident with the scooter, so he had to put a lot of work into the Douglas. The Frame was straightened and the Legshield completely renewed. Apart from a 12-volt Ignition System, the Engine is original. After three months, the Douglas was ready and Salvatore "Patina Pope" Sambataro gave the oldie the right look. Donat was able to draw on the large selection of parts from SIP Scootershop: Legshield from Carlucci, FlyTech Ignition from Pinasco, Handlebars from SIP Premium, Centre Stand from Pascoli, Ulma Hood from SIP Premium and finally a Cable Kit from SIP Performance. "These parts were a great help to me," recalls Donat, "but the Smith angle drive from England was really hard to get. And the aluminium headlight housing is very rare, collectors pay up to 1,500 euros for it."

We would like to thank Donat for the cool story and impressive photos. We hope you continue to enjoy the Douglas and other upcoming projects.

Photo gallery: Vespa Douglas Model G

Dietrich Limper

Dietrich Limper works as an editor for SIP Scootershop and also writes for local and national publications. When he's not geocaching, he enjoys the amazing antics of Bayer Leverkusen.