30 Years in the making!
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 10:26 pm
Well apart from getting an MOT done, my project is now completed after probably 18 months or so (I don't rush!).
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..............
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..............
