Hopefully this post works out OK as I've never used photo hosting sites before! If not, maybe a 'grown up' can assist?
To give a bit of background to this project, way back in 1982 as a youngster (!), I built a scoot named Precious Metal seen here in some old pics in it's original guise and a slightly later revamp. It was quite well known in it's day but it was definitely built down to a strict budget as most of them were back in the 80s!:
Taken in Skegness in 1983:
'Somewhere else' after a bit of a revamp in 1984 before it was stripped down & rebuilt:
I was perfectly happy with it for a couple of years but then a magazine called Scootering came out and pictured in it was the now infamous red, white & blue DTC bike 'Rosa Bianca'. From the moment I saw it I thought that the colour scheme was great & really suited a Lambretta.
In 1985 just before the Donington rally, DISC85, I used the motor & some other bits from Precious to power a GP I bought from a mate (for £80!! Them were the days) and after a dozen spray cans, 2 rolls of masking tape and a weekend in my Dad's garage, I created a rather budget replica of the DTC bike which I named Suspect Device (after a Stiff Little Fingers song - I believe there has been another one since. Still a great name though).
Sadly, the one & only remaining photo that I have of this bike has my ex-wife sat on it so it's probably not appropriate to post it up here.
To be honest, it was done in a bit of a rush & despite it being well received, it was not too long after that I rebuilt Precious Metal yet again.
By 1987 I'd got myself a Ford Capri (oh yes!) and PM was sold due to lack of use & to fund a big car stereo! (Audioline - ask ya Dad!)
Many years passed by & in 2003, despite now being into 'proper' bikes, I bought myself a nice little genuine Italian GP125 just for old times' sake and I vowed that one day I would rebuild it into the scooter that I always wanted but could never afford. However, it took rather a long time to get around to it!!
Anyway, in early 2012 I finally took the decision to get on with it and after a lot of time, trouble & money, grazed knuckles, temper tantrums etc, here is the end result. Precious Metal 2013 I suppose!
It's still been built to a bit of a budget compared to many that I see on here but it's my bike & I'm really happy with the way it's turned out.
I do hope that other people like it too as I suppose that's really why we do these crazy things.
Thanks to anyone who answered my daft questions on the forum during the rebuild. I probably couldn't have done it without you!
Also, thanks to Sticky for writing 'The Bible' - (after 25 years away from scooters, you do forget how to do things) and very special thanks to a good mate of mine (he'll know if he reads this!) for encouraging me to keep my chin up when things weren't going right & I was all for giving up on the damn thing & selling it all for parts on Fleabay!
Finally, many thanks to my brilliant wife for not hassling me, being ultra-patient with me, never asking how much it cost and for allowing me the use of 'her' utility room for well over a year!
Now let's get that MOT done..............
